Divine Dialogues: Conversations in Daily Devotions

TUESDAY, 5 MARCH 2024

TEXT: Luke 18:31-43

31: Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

32: He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him;

33: they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”

34: The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

35: As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

36: When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

37: They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38: He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39: 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!”

40: Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

41: “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42: Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

43: Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: JESUS IS PASSING BY

If you certainly know that if you go out today you will not come back alive, would you still venture outside? Of course not!

Jesus had predicted His own death many times. Now was the appointed time. He took the twelve disciples aside and told them to go to Jerusalem where He would be mocked, insulted, crowned with piercing thorns, humiliated, flogged to the point of laceration and hanged on a wooden cross.

Despite the psychological trauma of the prospects of such a humiliating death, coupled with exhaustion from trekking on foot, Jesus spared time for a blind man who was sitting by the road side and healed him. The blind man was not passive, he was proactive and refused to be silenced.

Jesus is still passing by even today and is more than willing to stop by and mend your fractured relationship with God, with your family and neighbours, etc. But are you ready?

QUESTION: In what area of your personal life do you need mercy?

PRAYER: Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. Amen.