30. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. The Lord Jesus, Son of David, had mercy on him.

22 September 2020

Bright Future: Joseph Tristan Marayag.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Matthew 20

Two Blind Men Receive Sight

30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Christ and the two blind men by Julius Schnorr, 19th century

Public domain

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 

30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Imagine it was you, one of the two men. Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. (Matthew 20:32)

Although, let's discuss my above proposition to you here later.

Allow me to dwell first on the plight for mercy by the two blind men.

I had reflection on the top verse this 19 July (parallel with the story of the blind beggar in Luke 18:35-43), second run of one on 3 March 2019, and here's my closing.

Are you "blind" or a "blind beggar", literally or figuratively? Then, call out to Jesus, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!”, and tell Him in faith what you want Him to do for you. I shall pray with you.

I had an earlier blog about Joseph Tristan Marayag who as a teenager, fourth year level high schooler, started to be partially blind due to a freak accident during a basketball game, and he later became totally blind.

I had the privilege to hear his story now about 24 years since that unfortunate accident. He is now with the church Online Platform Team, he is an IT person and a content writer.

In his journey in darkness, he was healed, that is spiritually. He has that light countenance and contagious smile unmistakable despite his visual condition. I am blessed with his life.

Let me also share a devotional from Our Daily Bread, titled: Heavenly Perspective, about a blind person named Fanny Cosby.

Fanny Crosby lost her sight as an infant. Yet, amazingly, she went on to become one of the most well-known lyricists of Christian hymns. During her long life, she wrote over 9,000 hymns. Among them are such enduring favorites as “Blessed Assurance” and “To God Be the Glory.”

Some people felt sorry for Fanny. A well-intentioned preacher told her, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.” It sounds hard to believe, but she replied: “Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I was born blind? . . . Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.”

According to WHO, globally the number of people of all ages visually impaired is estimated to be 285 million, of whom 39 million are blind.

People 50 years and older are 82% of all blind.

We are privileged to hear the story of two people among the millions who are blind. Let's pray for people we know personally who are visually handicapped that they find comfort in the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now about mercy, as referred in the Bible. Here is a definition from Christianity.com.

God’s mercy means His pity, compassion, and kindness toward people. His mercy shows up in the believer’s life at salvation, and then God continues to show mercy in forgiveness. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

In simple terms, mercy is forgiveness.

Why the two blind men asked mercy from the Lord Jesus. It is said, in Bible times, physical affliction is associated with commission of sins. Although, there is another story in the Bible that says otherwise.

John 9

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Now, about God's mercy. From the words of Apostle Paul.

1 Timothy 1

16  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

Ephesians 1

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 

5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

The Bible is clear. God's mercy, that is forgiveness of sins, is through faith in Jesus Christ.

Who needs mercy. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

Romans 3

Righteousness Through Faith

20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

The Bible is clear. All have sinned and God's mercy is through faith Jesus Christ.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

Eternal life is by faith in Jesus, Son of David. 

Eternity, what my eyes would see, by MercyMe.

“I can only imagine

What it will be like

When I walk by your side

I can only imagine

What my eyes would see

When your face is before me”

The Lord has forgiven my sins, I have accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior.

My children's children will one day say, wala ka sa Lolo ko, the Lord Jesus, Son of David, had mercy on him. Amen.

My Dear Friend, going back to my proposition at the start. Imagine it was you. Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. (Matthew 20:32)

I pray that the Lord Jesus, Son of David, open the eyes of your heart if you haven't yet put your faith in Him. 

No sin is greater than God's mercy, that is the testimony of Apostle Paul, the worst of sinners.

If you happen to be already a believer in Christ, and you know somebody who needs to hear this message, then I ask you to please share it.

God bless everyone.