40: The Cry for Mercy (Mt 20:29-21:17)

I’ve been on a cleanse this past week. Tonya hid all our candy so she seemed pretty surprised to find open candy wrappers laying around. She approached me and asked, I got rid of all the candy so where did all those candy wrappers come from.

So, I told her, I’ve gotta a lot of TWIX up my sleeve.

I know what you’re thinking, that’s a pretty SWEET Dad Joke!

And don’t tell me you didn’t think that was funny, cause I saw you SNICKERin’.

Turn to somebody and tell them, YOU are VALUABLE!

AND…aren’t we blessed to hear such great Dad jokes!?!?

Can I Stay With You Tonight?

About 30 years ago Tonya & I were a young married couple serving teenagers at a small church. One of the teenagers who lived 3 houses down knocked our door late at night and asked if he could stay the night with us. When I pressed about what was going on, he told me his Mom’s live-in-boyfriend was drunk and the teenager was obviously scared.

So, we prayed for him and sent him back home…NOPE!

He had a NEED. He knew who could help. He asked for HELP.

And We showed him MERCY - a Bible term that refers to showing kindness or concern for someone in serious need. There was no way we could refuse his cry for mercy.

When’s the last time YOU cried for mercy?

When’s the last time humbled yourself and asked for help?

Today’s study will reveal WHO Jesus is and HOW He responds to The Cry for Mercy.

Matthew 20:29 (NIV) As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.

Jericho is the 1st city the people of Israel conquered when entering the Promised Land (where the walls came tumbling down).

This is also the city where Jesus had lunch with Zacchaeus (Lk 19:1-2)

It’s also the city Jesus uses as an illustration about the Good Samaritan helping the Jewish man who had been attacked and left for dead on this road.

Matthew 20:29–30a (NIV) As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by…

Mark & Luke here focus their attention on 1 blind man, whereas Matthew mentions that there were two blind men.

Kent Hughes writes a brilliant novel-like commentary on what this might have looked like from the perspective of 1 of the blind men, and I would like to read it to you.

The day had begun like any other day for the blind man. Waking up, he shook the straw from his shabby, torn garments, stretched, got to his feet, and began tapping his way along the familiar turns leading to the main gate of Jericho. Perhaps he was able to beg a crust of bread or two at some familiar stops along the way. Arriving at the gate he took his regular place with the other beggars, where he drew his greasy cloak tightly around him because, though it was spring, the sun had not yet dispelled the morning chill. As he sat there, just like so many days before, he listened to the city come to life—first a donkey loaded with melons for market, after that several women chatting as they bore pitchers toward the well, then the clomp of camels’ hooves. Soon Jericho abounded with the sounds of life, and the blind man was intoning his beggar’s cry.

Suddenly the blind man tensed and lifted his head, for his blind-sensitive ears heard the hubbub of a great crowd approaching. First came young boys running ahead with shrill cries, then more people hurrying past the gate talking excitedly. The blind man, brushed by a robe, reached out and asked what was happening.

The passersby, pulling away, called back, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by”... The word was out about him and his healing exploits. The blind man had likely heard first-person accounts from those who had heard Jesus or who had seen or even experienced his power. Messianic speculation was high among the Jews in the first century. Perhaps the blind man had heard that Jesus called himself “the Son of Man,” that he had the right blood line, that he was from the tribe of Judah.

With amazing blind sight, the beggar came to the conclusion that Jesus must be the Messiah. His heart began to pound, and he was trembling, though the warm sun was now standing high. The crowd was passing. The blind man was jostled. Jesus would soon be gone. The man had to do something!

And here we have a great example in how we approach Jesus.

1st - SEE your NEED.These men knew they were blind and knew they needed help!

It’s then that Matthew tells us what this man and another blind man did.

Matthew 20:30 (NIV) Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

2nd - TRUST WHO JESUS IS.

Son of David is a term for the Messiah, the one who would sit on David’s throne as king. Many of us are familiar with Isaiah 9:6 (700 BC).

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

But not many of us have considered the significance of verse 7:

Isaiah 9:7 (NIV) Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

In fact, this is how Matthew started this letter from the first drops of ink:

Matthew 1:1 (NIV) This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David…

Further, this Messiah was to bring powerful miracles to His people.

Remember months ago as we studied how John the Baptist, while in prison, struggled to hold on to belief that Jesus was the Messiah? When he sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus replied saying,

Matthew 11:4–5 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

We have already seen where Jesus healed 2 other blind men during His ministry around Galilee (Mt 9:27–31).

And now, these men - who had heard of Jesus and His miracles - called to Jesus as if He were “Son of David”, the ONE who would reign on David's throne forever! These men trusted WHO Jesus was!

But the crowd they were pushing through certainly didn’t appreciate the blind men shouting to catch the attention of Jesus.

Matthew 20:31 (NIV) The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Matthew 20:32-34 (NIV) Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” He asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

They didn’t care what others thought of them. When others were trying to push them away, Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes…and then…

These men who hadn't seen figures or colors, experiences an explosion of life in HD! And likely, the first face they see is to whom they cried out to, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Why did Jesus respond so graciously to these men?

Even though physically blind, they SAW their NEED. They knew they needed help.

Secondly, they TRUSTED that Jesus was the Son of David - the Messiah - the ONE who could heal them,

so…they CRIED OUT for His MERCY!

From this we learn a most valuable lesson:

Trusting Jesus Transforms Lives

They didn’t just walk off after having their physical eyes made well.

So as Jesus continues the long journey toward Jerusalem, these blind men followed Him there. I can only imagine what people must have heard their overflowing thankfulness to God!

Mark’s Gospel actually names one of the blind men - Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46). Some scholars think the reason is because this man likely became a dedicated disciple in the Jerusalem church and known to the the audience Mark was writing to.

We know this man followed Jesus from Jericho to Jerusalem on that day, witnessing the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday.

I wonder if he was there days later watching the horror of the Crucifixion, and even experiencing the joy of seeing the Resurrected Jesus! If so, than this blind man SAW what we only wish we could!

Jesus and his disciples now travel the difficult journey from Jericho to Jerusalem. that I want to you see to better appreciate. This YouTube video was done by a channel called SatelliteBibleAtlas, and shows an American group traveling this 14-mile journey. [1]

VIDEO Jericho to Jerusalem.

This was obviously a long & difficult journey.

Matthew 21:1–3 (NIV)

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Matthew 21:4–5 (NIV)

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet [Zechariah]: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

This is prophecy from over 500 years before the birth of Jesus (520 BC). [2]

Zechariah 9:9 (NIV) Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Matthew 21:6–8 (NIV) The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Why would they throw their clothes down for a donkey to walk over them? And what’s the deal with the branches?

The cloak was the outer clothing often used as a blanket at night. Those throwing their cloaks down were following the example of those who did the same when Jehu became king (841–814 BC - 2 Kings 9:13). This symbolized submitting one’s life to the authority of the King. You are the authority in my life and more important than the possessions I own.

John’s gospel tells us these were palm branches they laid before Jesus (Jn 12:13).

Almost 200 years before (165 B.C.) when Judas Maccabees and the Jews ran Antiochus Epiphanes IV out of the temple and rededicated it, palm branches were used in the celebration (1 Macc. 13:51; 2 Macc. 10:7). This became an annual celebration known as Hanukkah. Palms were even stamped on coins minted by rebels during both major wars with Rome. [3] So, palm branches had both a religious and political symbology of freedom from oppressors.

And so, here comes Jesus, riding down the Mount of Olives and into Jerusalem and the people are PUMPED! They had heard of His miracles including where Jesus just left - Bethany - where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead! It’s no wonder why many think Jesus is the long awaited Messiah and they are ready to CROWN Him King!

Matthew 21:9–11 (NIV) The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Further, the people called out to Jesus: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Hosanna is an Aramaic term that means “save us”, and the Son of David was a phrase that recognized Jesus as the Messiah who was in the family tree of King David.

While these people didn’t have the BIG PICTURE yet, they SAW their NEED - freedom from their slavery under the Roman Empire

Trusting WHO Jesus was - the Son of David - the Messiah!

Crying out for Mercy - Hosanna - “Save us! Save us!”

In fact, both John and Luke note that some in the crowd specifically called Jesus “the King of Israel” (Jn 12:13, Lk 19:38).

This is a recognition that Jesus is the Messiah, and they were asking that God would SAVE (hosanna) through His Messiah! They are ready to CROWN Him King!

But many of the religious leaders are not so thrilled, especially when Jesus shows up the next day, walks into the temple and does something NOBODY was expecting.

Matthew 21:12–13 (NIV) Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves [John 2:15 adds that He made a whip out of cords]. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

As we have studied previously, it seems that this is near the Court of the Gentiles - who could only go so far on the temple complex, to pray & worship Yahweh.

Imagine trying to pray in the middle of a live stock show & a stock exchange - full of animal sounds & smells along-with wheelin’ & dealin’ money changers. Jesus certainly believed that many of these people had wicked intent and were ripping people off.

Even if these WERE fair deals, they shouldn’t be taking place on the Temple grounds, but easily could have been set up somewhere close to the Temple.

I can only imagine the look on Jesus’ face as he grabbed some cords and started twisting them together - so says John’s gospel (Jn 2:15) - he started cracking that thing and ran their rear ends out! “Get out! Get out! You’ve got to go!”

And they guys who allowed it!? What about them? We’ll see them enter the scene right now.

And sometime after the animals were gone and the money changers had skedaddled…

Matthew 21:14–15 (NIV)

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

The Mishnah (a collection of oral and written traditions including rabbinical teachings relevant to the time of Jesus) notes that Jewish people were expected to journey to Jerusalem to bring their offerings to Yahweh, but there were exceptions made for many with physical abnormalities including the blind and the lame. [4]

Some scholars even think that traditions had developed that didn’t allow people with physical abnormalities to come into the temple complex.

Yet Jesus welcomes these hurting people. He touched them and he healed them! In response, the children probably echo what they have heard adults saying, and the children raise the decibel level around the temple complex SHOUTING, “Hosanna to the Son of David”! They are crying out SAVE US! SAVE US! Oh what laughter and excitement there must have been there!

But the religious leaders the chief priests (those who allowed the animals and money changers to be there in the first place) and teachers of the law who taught the people, were indignant - ticked off, angry - about what was going on! They confront Jesus, saying…

Matthew 21:16 (NIV) “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” [Ps 8:2]

Matthew 21:17 (NIV) And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Jesus isn’t gone for good. There will be more ministry & confrontation that will take place in Jerusalem before the Lamb of God spills His blood to pay for our sin.

And then it will become crystal clear…Jesus didn’t come to rescue those who think they are righteous. Instead, Jesus comes to rescue those who:

See your need. You have been blind to the truth about sin & the purpose of life. Your purpose matters more than your pleasure. And your sin is a stain you can’t rub out. You can’t be good enough to earn God’s forgiveness…that’s why you have to…

Trust WHO Jesus is. He is the Son of Man and Son of David - the Conquering King - who laid aside his crown to come as a Suffering Servant.

Cry Out for Mercy. He will respond to your faith. Ask Him to open your eyes, clean your heart, & follow Him.

And here’s what you’ll find out…

Trusting Jesus Transforms Lives

Listen to this list. Jesus transformed:

Fishermen, tax collectors, freedom fighters, religious leaders, farmers, prostitutes, demon-possessed, the crippled, blind, deaf, & the mute, rich & poor, old & young.

He's STILL transforming the lives of those who trust Him! In this room, He is transforming the lives white-collar & blue collar, children, teenagers, young adults, & senior adults.

Would you give Jesus your life today? If you already have, would you ask Jesus to use YOUR LIFE to offer hope to those who cry for mercy?

___________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVmagXx-n34

https://ref.ly/logos4/Timeline

Gary M. Burge, John, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000), 341.

Jacob Neusner, The Mishnah : A New Translation (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1988), 328.

Discussion Questions

How did the video about the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem impact you? How does it humble you to note that Jesus went to Jerusalem…ON PURPOSE, to make payment for YOUR sin?

Share about the moment that you 1) Saw your NEED to be forgiven 2) Trusted Who Jesus IS 3) Cried Out for Mercy.

Read Matthew 20:30-34. What do you appreciate about these blind men and why didn’t Jesus just treat them like the rest of the crowd did?

Read Matthew 21:1-15. Why were the religious leaders so upset with Jesus? Why was Jesus so upset with them? TRUE or FALSE: Many Jewish people were believing Jesus was the Messiah. What part of Jesus’ mission did most of them not yet understand?

Today’s BIG TRUTH: Trusting Jesus Transforms Lives. Take some time to tell some stories of folks whom Jesus has transformed.

Share any ‘aha’ moments in today’s study - what you learned or how you were challenged. What’s God want YOU to do with what we studied today?

Share prayer needs and pray for one another.