Community and Unity
J.A. Macdonald Matthew 20:29-34 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.… Journeying to Jerusalem to the Passover, Jesus, with his apostles and other disciples following, was also followed by a crowd. This grew into "a great multitude" as he moved out from the populous town of Jericho. In the scene here described we may study - I. COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS PHASES. 1. We see it here in excitement. (1) "A great multitude." In numbers there is a strange sympathy. This occasions the panics which frequently occur in crowds. They are also subject to fits of passion - sometimes generous, sometimes violent, often insane. We should beware of the spirit of the crowd. (2) The presence of Jesus was the occasion of this excitement. The multitude "followed him." Christ is followed from various motives. Some follow him from love: his apostles and disciples were moved by this holy inspiration. Some follow him from curiosity: the mixed multitude had heard of his character, claims, teaching, and miracles. Many still follow him for the loaves and fishes. 2. We see it here also in suffering. (1) "Two blind men" - Bartimaeus and a companion in affliction. Friendships spring of community in suffering. The multitude who enjoyed their vision had little sympathy with those who were deprived of it. (2) They are sitting by the wayside, viz. in company, and for the same purpose, viz. to beg (see Mark 10:46). The privation of sight reduced them to this dependence. Sufferings bring with them entailments of suffering. Partnerships come with the entailments. (3) But privations have their compensations. These blind companions had the use of their ears. Blind persons generally enjoy acute hearing and sensitive touch. We do well, when we meditate upon our afflictions, to meditate also upon our mercies. 3. And we see it in contention. (1) The blind men cried to Jesus for mercy. Affliction has a voice to Christ. (2) But "the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace." Probably they thought the cry for mercy was an appeal for alms, and that the blind men might be troublesome to Jesus. Men too readily judge of Christ by themselves. The multitude will ever rebuke those who cry after the Son of David. (3) But the blind men "cried out the more." So must all who would not come short of a moral cure. We must never heed the counsel that would keep us from Christ. When a true sense of misery urges, neither men nor devils can stop the cry for mercy. (4) In the prayer of these men we note: (a) Importunity. The stream of fervency, if stopped, will rise and swell the higher. (b) Humility. They sought not gold, but "mercy." The cry for mercy disclaims all merit (see Psalm 130:7; Hebrews 4:16). (c) Faith. They called Jesus "Lord" (see 1 Corinthians 12:3). They identified the Messiah (cf. Matthew 12:23; Matthew 21:9; Matthew 22:44). (d) Persistency (see Luke 18:1). Now or never: Jesus is passing; will soon have passed. Christ did not return to Jericho. "Now is the accepted time." (e) Here was that concurrence in prayer which is especially pleasing to Christ (see Matthew 18:19). II. UNITY IN VARIOUS CONTRASTS. 1. One leading many. (1) "A great multitude followed him." Note here the ascendency of a great character. (2) Note here also the subordination of the physical to the spiritual. The multitude, as compared with Christ, were as an aggregation of physical units. 2. One compassionating suffering. (1) "Jesus stood still." His standing rebuked and silenced the thoughtless clatter of the unsympathizing throng. Wherever there is suffering there the Blessed One stands. (2) He "called" to the blind. What a contrast to the multitude who would have silenced their cry to him for mercy! Jesus invites those whom the world repulses. (3) The one condition of mercy, viz. to those who are prepared for it, is - Ask. "What will ye that I should do for you?" Like as the waterman in a boat who hooks the shore does not so much draw the shore to him as himself to the shore, so do we in prayer draw ourselves to the mercy of the Lord. 3. One wonder-worker. (1) The blind men raised their voices, not to inquire who was with Jesus, but to cry to him for mercy. (2) What a sequel (see vers. 33, 34)! (3) Spiritual blindness is ignorance of the truth. Many who say, "We see" are spiritually blind (see John 9:41). Blindness of heart is a disease of which the patient too seldom complains. This too can be cured only by the one great Light of the world. (4) Christ is the one Illuminator of eternity. "Earthly blindness may be berne; it is but for a day; but who could bear to be blind through eternity?" (Beecher). (5) Attendance upon Christ evinces the condition of spiritual illumination. Bartimaeus and his companion now "followed," now only requiring the one great spiritual Guide. No longer are they dependent upon alms. Religion has the premise of the life that now is, as well as that which is to come. It fulfils that promise by opening the eyes of its subjects. - J.A.M. Parallel Verses KJV: And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. WEB: As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.