Matt. 20:17-19, 29-34, Meditation on Compassion

Let’s meditate on Matthew’s account of Jesus’ encounter with the two blind men,  Jesus has been on the road for some time with the growing crowds headed to Jerusalem for Passover.  This is the last trip on this road for Jesus.  He had made it clear to the Twelve that they are headed to Jerusalem, that He will be betrayed, condemned, mocked, scourged and crucified.  And He will rise the third day.  The disciples, we know, do not fully catch all of this.  But the point is: Jesus knows!

The Holy Spirit through Matthew records the conversation Jesus had with the mother of James and John about who is the greatest (20:20-28).  The next event (the salvation of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, Luke 19) and then this story, show Jesus fulfilling just what He taught the disciples: whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. … just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (20:25-28).  Jesus’ question of Bartimaeus is the servant’s question: What do you want Me to do for you (v32)?

So Bartimaeus cries for mercy and Jesus shows mercy.  In doing this Jesus did not stumble over some potential hurdles.

·       The hurdle of being too busy (v29).  There is a large crowd and Jesus needs to be ministering to them.  He has an important destination: Jerusalem!  And yet, Jesus stood still (v32).  We must be willing to take time, to be interrupted, to set aside our personal goals to show compassion.

·       The hurdle of “my own problems.”  It’s not like Jesus didn’t have His own needs.  He knows what awaits Him.  Yet he called them (v32).

·       The hurdle of “numbers.”  We are often obsessed with numbers.  Jesus turned from the multitude to two blind men.  Sometimes our concept of “ministry” doesn’t allow us to do that!  Sadly!!  There were needy people in the crowd.  And the crowd’s presence was more visible than two men sitting by the road.

·       The hurdle of crowd pressure.  Jesus reproved the crowd by paying attention to the blind men.  The crowd is sure Jesus is too important for these beggars.  Jesus teaches the crowd and the Twelve: What do you want Me to do for you?

·       The hurdle of being taken advantage of (v32).  The servant’s question opens us up for abuse.  What do you want me to do for you?  He had asked the mother of James and John a similar question and, in fact, had to tell her that He could not do what she asked (20:21-22).  But here, He was willing and able!  But what if we ask this question and get a request that we hadn’t anticipated, that will require more of a commitment, and that we are able to fulfill?

·       The hurdle of indifference.  We have said that this is the opposite or enemy of compassion.  There is absolutely no indifference in Jesus.  He had compassion.  He touched their eyes (so often He made physical contact with people likely not too clean just because they were beggars), and immediately they were benefited!