Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 20:29-31 (New Living Translation)

29 As Jesus and the disciples left the town of Jericho, a large crowd followed behind. 30 Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them.

Two blind men wanted Jesus to heal them. As Jesus, and a large, noisy crowd, passed by, these blind men shouted to gain Jesus’ attention. The commentaries and commentators I have read claim this “shouting” was more like the “screeching of madmen.” They were hysterical. The image that comes to mind is the “Don’t taze me man! Don’t taze me!” I saw on TV a few years ago.

The crowd reacted with, “Hey, quiet down. You’re embarrassing us.”

I can see them turn to Jesus and the disciples and say, “Sorry about this. Yes, these fellows live here with us, but, you know, they’re just sort of not with it. You know, the town nuts. Please don’t think the rest of us are like them.”

I guess things aren’t much different today. The cry to see Jesus is sort of embarrassing to most of us.