| Church School Lesson: Breaking News! |
"A Cry for Help"
December 29, 2024
Background: Luke 18:31-43; Print: Luke 18:35-43;
Key Verse: Luke 18:39; Devotional: Luke 4:14-21
Luke 18:35-43 (ESV)
35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant.
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”
42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”
43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Luke Chapter 18 (Commentary)
18:35-39 As Jesus and his disciples approached Jericho, a blind beggar asked what the commotion was all about (18:35-36). When he learned that Jesus was passing by, he knew he couldn’t miss this opportunity (18:37). He had heard of Jesus’s healing ministry, so he cried out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! (18:38). Though the crowds tried to shut him up, he kept crying out all the more (18:39). He knew that if this man were the Messiah, he could transform his helpless situation. How desperate are you for Jesus to intervene in your circumstances?
18:40-43 Though Jesus had planned to walk right by, he stopped in response to this cry of faith and asked the blind man what he wanted (18:40-41). Did Jesus really have to ask? Could the man’s need be more obvious? But Jesus wanted the man to make his request for all to hear. Lord . . . I want to see (18:41). With the blind man’s verbal proclamation of faith in Jesus’s ability to restore sight, Jesus healed him instantly. As soon as he had regained his sight, he became a disciple, following Jesus and glorifying God. This is the only appropriate response to the work of God in your life. As a result, the people who witnessed it gave praise to God (18:43).
This served as a spiritual lesson to the nation of Israel. If they would respond to the Messiah and acknowledge their spiritual blindness, God would grant them spiritual life and entrance into the kingdom that Jesus was offering. But would they humble themselves and receive him?