I am a huge fan on baseball. I played many years, I have done some coaching, but now I am just a fan. There has been a lot about the game that has changed, especially recently. Change sometimes ruffles the feathers of some. One change in baseball that has ruffled feathers is the showmanship of some players. I tend to chalk it up to a different culture and youthful exuberance. I won’t say that I like it all, but I will say that seeing these players personalities and their love for the game is enjoyable. Two nights ago, we saw a change that has happened and immediately the “unwritten rules of the game” argument was thrown out to tamp down the way a particular player plays the game. For the record, I think some of these “unwritten rules” are ridiculous, and the one supposedly violated by Fernando Tatis, Jr. is one of those I classify as ridiculous. I won’t bore you with the details of it, but Tatis, Jr. simply did what he is paid to do. Immediately people were calling him out, including his manager after the game. Tatis, Jr. handled himself very well in the press conference calling it a learning moment and promising he will do better. While I respect him for respecting his manager, I’m saddened to see a youthful player’s excitement for the game tamped down.
In today’s text, there was a man who was blind. He was sitting by the road, probably like he did every day, trying to beg for money or food just to survive. On this particular day, he hears more of a crowd, more of a buzz being generated. When he asks a passerby about what is happening, he is informed that Jesus is walking down the road. Immediately, this man begins to shout, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” To the crowd this was undignified, and so we see an exchange between the man and someone in the crowd recorded in Luke 18:39, “Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!'” The crowd thought that Jesus wouldn’t have time for blind beggars, so they wanted to silence him. However, this man would not be silenced. Even though this man couldn’t see, he saw Jesus’ true identity while many who could see what Jesus was doing missed who Jesus truly was. The title “Son of David” is an Old Testament reference to the covenant God made with David that the true ruler of Israel would come from the line of David. This blind beggar was saying that Jesus was the promised Messiah sent from God. He never saw the miracles Jesus performed, up to this point He never heard a sermon that Jesus preached; yet this man knew who Jesus was. This verse is one of many that show that those that God calls will respond to Him.
I wonder if we see ourselves as this blind beggar, as someone who desperately needs Jesus? Do we know that without Jesus’ healing and help, we are in a dire situation? Are we willing to act in a way that some consider undignified in order to praise our Lord and Savior? For far too long, people have been told in church to keep their problems to themselves. I grew up in the era when the two things you never talked about were religion and politics. I understand how both can ruffle feathers, and cause contention. However, it is only as we admit our need that we will receive the help we desperately need. By sharing our weaknesses, it also opens up the door to publicly praise the Lord Jesus when He answers our desperate cries for help. This world doesn’t need Christians who act like they have it all together. This world needs to see Christians who admit their weaknesses, cry out to Jesus, and then praise God for His goodness, grace, and mercy. Don’t let people discourage you from admitting your weaknesses. Just make sure that you are just as vocal about telling how God has worked in your life as you are in talking about your need for God to work in your life. In our weakness, God’s strength is revealed, and God can be glorified. That is what we desire. Therefore, let us shout, “I need Thee every hour” and shout how Jesus has answered our cries and been our ever-present help in time of need.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin