MIRACLE ON JERICHO ROAD

Luke 18:35-43

Miracle on Jericho Road

The smell of dust and the sound of a noisy crowd

Interrupted the blind beggar’s cries for mercy.

As he listened to the ruckus approaching closer

His heart began to race and he started to tremble.

Could this be? Could this really be the one they call

Jesus causing such a stir? Surely the son of God

Wouldn’t take this road today would he? Maybe?

The news of the 10 healed lepers was still rattling

Through the man’s mind - part of him wanted to

Believe and another part simply could not accept it.

But "what if"? What if - this was his only chance to

Be heard - to be healed? His cry out to the Lord left

His lips before he even had time to contemplate further.

Almost immediately those at the front of the crowd

Ordered him to be silent - a typical response he thought.

The very same ones who wanted to see the Messiah

Were worried about being embarrassed by a poor beggar!

If there was a time to rebel, now it was and so he cried

Out even louder "Thou son of David, have mercy on me!".

Suddenly the crowd was silent, only the sound of robes

Rustling in the wind could be heard - and his beating heart.

He hears the voice and he knows it’s the Messiah, he feels

The hands of those around him helping him to his feet.

A few steps forward and he can feel the power of God

As it radiates out from this man who is only inches away.

Now the question comes and there is no hesitation in the

Beggar’s answer for this desire has consumed his entire

Life - it has literally shackled him to poverty and despair.

Silence and stillness seem to surround the beggar and

This man called the Christ as the most beautiful words

He has ever heard ring out, and almost instantaneously

The beggar’s world is filled with brilliant light and color.

The first clear image he sees is the face of the son of God

And how glorious a face it is - and it is a smiling at him!

Christ’s words are still echoing in the man’s ears as he

Drops to the Saviour’s feet, not only is he healed - he is

Saved - that one tiny ounce of faith that was contained

Within him has now grown into a mountain and even the

People in the crowd that surround him are divinely affected.

A burst of praise erupts and ripples through the mass of

Believers and skeptics - no one is unaffected, no one can

Deny what has just occurred and so the praise continues

Even as Jesus and the crowd begin to move on toward

Jericho and on toward even greater miracles.

Author: TOM DIFRANCESCA III