“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 18:35-43 NIV
Another ”Sunday School” story with a treasure hidden deep in its details!
We know the story of this blind man well. In fact, although he is not even named in Luke’s version, he was just another blind man whom Jesus healed…or was he? A hidden jewel in the story sets him apart.
Let’s unpick the story.
Jesus was on His way to Jericho. Thronged by crowds, hemmed in by an excited mob, the noise around Him must have been ear-splitting. Middle Eastern people are excitable and vocal! Despite the noise, Jesus heard something…the urgent cry of a man in need.
A blind man heard the crowd approaching from a distance. As they came near, he learned from people in the crowd that Jesus of Nazareth was “passing by”.
“When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
Jesus of Nazareth! The blind man could not believe his good fortune. Here in Jericho! Miles from Jesus’ stamping ground in the precincts of Jerusalem! What an opportunity! The blind man began to yell! Despite the din, he needed to get the attention of the man who was “passing by”.
Jesus of Nazareth was ”passing by”. What did this mean? Was He just on His way to somewhere?
This phrase appears more than once in Scripture, not just a random expression but with a specific purpose. Let’s examine a few examples.
Moses interceding for Israel…
“And he (the Lord) passed (by) in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,”
Exodus 34:6 NIV
Elijah at the end of his tether…
“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to “pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.”
1 Kings 19:11 NIV
The disciples in peril on the lake…
“He (Jesus) saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to “pass by” them,”…
Mark 6:48 NIV
Bartimaeus blind and helpless…
“When he (Bartimaeus) heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is “passing by.”
Luke 18:36-37 NIV
A strange expression! What does it mean?
In each of these circumstances, Jesus, (who was God manifested on earth), was about to show up…to reveal something about Himself to the person or people concerned. To Moses, He would reveal His name, mercy… to Elijah, His purpose for the depressed prophet, a new assignment…to His disciples, His presence and power over the storm…and to Bartimaeus, His power to heal.
In each of these circumstances, God’s people were in need of revelation about Himself that would perfectly meet their need. In their distress, He came to them and, in His “passing by”, He revealed His nature and His ability to be to them what they needed at that moment.
Passing ”by” (Greek…parerchomai) can have the meaning of “coming near” or “making an appearance”. This mans that Jesus “showed up” to meet a need in a specific circumstance.
What a difference the presence of Jesus makes in an impossible situation! We know that He is always with us although we cannot see Him. However, when we cultivate an awareness of His presence wherever we are, whatever is happening, the most impossible situation becomes “a piece of cake”.
To Bartimaeus, Jesus’ “appearance” was the beginning of a new life. Gone his blindness, his dependence on others, his hopeless state, even his beggar’s cloak…his badge of office…and life, for him, began again.
No matter what, Jesus is always “passing by”. He is “making an appearance” in our distress, and turning an impossible situation into a revelation of Himself that will change despair into hope.
To be continued…