“And those who were in front scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He replied, ‘Lord, let me see again.’” —Luke 18:39–41
Those that led the way, the ones out front, the ones that the crowds looked up to, began to chide, berate, and censure the beggar for pleading for mercy from Jesus. When we cry out to Jesus in our emptiness, begging for His compassion, we should not be surprised to encounter opposition.
“Those who earnestly seek Christ’s favours and blessings will not be deterred from the pursuit of them, though they meet with oppositions and rebuke. They who went along rebuked him as troublesome to the Master, noisy and impertinent, and told him to be quiet. The check given him was but as a dam to a full stream, which makes it swell so much the more.” —Matthew Henry
And yet, how often do we scurry away from the needy for various reasons, not the least of which boils down to pure selfishness? We are called to walk as Jesus did through the power of the Holy Spirit. Often we miss many opportunities presented to us for kingdom work because we are too preoccupied with this world and all that it has to offer.
However, Jesus responds to seekers quite differently. He tells us:
“Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.” — John 6:37
God’s Word through Jeremiah has this same message for us:
“‘When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,’ says the LORD. ‘Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,’ says the LORD. ‘I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.’” —Jeremiah 29:13–14
Jesus never turns away those who seek after Him! Indeed, those who earnestly seek Jesus are never troublesome to Him. In fact, He says:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” —Matthew 7:7–8
Do you want more of Jesus manifested in your life; more of the precious Holy Spirit made conspicuous rather than quenched? The verb tense in the above verses actually implies “Keep on asking,” “Keep on seeking,” “Keep on knocking.” Why? Because the Father loves to give good gifts to those who ask. And what is the good gift? Luke clearly tells us:
“So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” —Luke 11:9–13
Matthew Henry says:
“Christ has more tenderness and compassion for distressed supplicants than any of His followers have. Those who had checked him must now lend him their hands to lead him to Christ.”
Jesus is graciously willing to come to our aid!
Become More
“Yes, He does ‘exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think;’ granting not only according to the notion of our narrow hearts but according to the riches of His glory, as becomes His majesty. Christ delights in great petitions; for He is a great Lord, and is ‘rich unto all that call upon Him.’” —K.H. Von Bogatzky
Further Reflections
“What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?” —Romans 8:31–32
“The LORD deserves praise, for he has heard my plea for mercy! The LORD strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude. The LORD strengthens his people; he protects and delivers his chosen king.” —Psalm 28:6–8