Cries that stop Jesus.  The 2nd Jericho with mercy that fondles.

Cutting right to the chase, the ones who shout for mercy get Jesus’ attention.  The ones with shameless audacity, who cry aloud, and who persist are heard and responded to by Jesus.  

It’s not the only example, but the Bible tells of two blind men who persist with great success.  They shout and then they shout even more loudly.  They were insisting that Christ have mercy upon them.  They shout all the louder after public rebuke.  This is behavior oh so contrary to our “civilized” ways.  What we are very adverse to do in public, what we probably judge as foolish, unstable worship behavior, Jesus looks upon with compassion and lovingly responds with his healing hand.  

God does not change.  God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He still does.  He loves the outcasts.  He lifts up the humble.  His compassionate personal touch carries miraculous power that heals and transforms.  He gave complete vision (both human and spiritual) to the unrelenting blind outcasts.  Spiritual walls came down outside the city walls of Jericho once again, except in different form.  Those once blind, could now see; and they followed him.

Matthew 20:29-34- 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.

Many thousands of years earlier, God’s people shouted loudly on the cue of Joshua and the walls of Jericho fell, Joshua 6:10, 16, 20).  What type of shout is this that harnesses the power of God?  

It’s a joyful noise.  One of confident dependence.  It has roots in a word that means to split the ears with sound, to send an alarm, sound an alarm of triumph!  Oh that in our day, God’s people would break forth in loud shouts of praise.! Oh that we would not withhold a joyful noise from the One who paid the highest cost so that we may live, Philippians 2:8, Isaiah 53:1-12.    

If you feel as though there is no life in answers to prayer, is there life in your cries for mercy?  Is there passion, volume, conviction, joyful song that is unashamed in His presence?  Alone in your prayer closet, are you willing to act this way?  In public worship?  As you drive around in your car?

​Find a place to be loud and shout for mercy.  Joyful shouts, loud cries for mercies will always get the Savior’s attention.  Notice Jesus stopped at the blind men’s cries for mercy.  

He asked them, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Powerful.

Jesus is merciful.  Did you know that God’s description of being merciful has it’s roots in a word that means to “fondle”?  Our minds might quickly go to sexual context; but that is not the context at all.  It is along the lines of the loving caress from a parent.  Think of a father kissing the forehead of his child.  Think of a pregnant woman who rubs her belly as she tenderly thinks of that baby within.   

Jesus touched the blind men, verse 34 above.  He touched their eyes.  

Now with the images above, think of the tenderness of his touch.  Meditate upon the Savior’s compassionate fingers releasing power into the blind outcasts and healing them.  What a blessing to have his personal touch, all the loud cries for mercy, all the public humiliation was worth it!

Cry out for mercy, then cry out all the more loudly!  See if He asks you what you want him to do for you.  In what ways are you blind?  In what new ways do you need to see?  Is the Savior clear in your sight and are you following him?  Blessings be upon your cries for mercy!