Luke 18:35-43

Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Luke 11:5-10 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Is Jesus passing by in your life? Do you need him as desperately as this blind man? Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Do you truly want Jesus to address your needs? We grouse about our failures and problems, but do we really want Jesus involved with them? Do we actually want to do the things necessary for change? We often weep over our situations, but we don't want to deal with the needs in our lives with action. Jesus Christ is not an idea: He is a reality. He is not a nebulous concept of goodness: He is the Master. This blind man wanted a change. He was willing to embarrass himself to receive healing. He was willing to distinguish himself from the crowd and willing to do anything. He knew this probably would be his only chance to be near Jesus, and Jesus came near him because of his desperate cry for help. He desired Jesus to change his life that day.

This scene illustrates well the parable Jesus told the disciples about a man who wanted three loaves of bread late at night. His boldness, his willingness to cry out, secured the bread. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. Today, are we willing to cry out with that boldness? Are we willing to change? If so, He will answer us, either supernaturally or by giving us steps to proceed with our lives. An athlete with natural talent will not reach the top of his sport without a one hundred percent desire to improve. If he really wants to change, he will willingly accept any instruction, do anything to build up his body, and spend any amount of time on the process.

Do we Christians wholeheartedly desire change and cry out to the Father for bread? Jesus offered this prayer: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. The New Testament calls Jesus the Bread of Life. Do we want him, his servant life? Do we want to do everything necessary to be like him? Will we seek, knock, and cry out for the answer or are we satisfied with our lives the way they are without much change, without the obedience, dedication, and pain of change?

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. Most of us around this breakfast table have received our sight. Christ has changed us, and we no longer sit in spiritual darkness. But are we following Jesus with every part of our lives or have we compartmentalized our lives, allowing Jesus in certain areas but baring him from others? Do we want Jesus as our daily bread in every aspect of our existence? Most of us want change, but we do not cry out with desperate hearts. We are like an athlete who wants to improve but does not want to pay the price. We desire our lives to be different, more Christlike, but we don't want the struggles and responsibilities change requires.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24) We are new creatures in Christ: therefore, let us cry out to him, for He literally passes by every day. Don't let him pass by this morning without crying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. Ask Jesus to fill you with songs of praise and to help you follow the steps He has planned for you, to accept the discipline, instruction, and courage to change. HE IS NEAR YOU.