The Cry of a Raven

One of the last stops that Jesus made on His way to Jerusalem was just northwest of the city in the town of Jericho. You may recall the Old Testament story of when the Israelites marched around Jericho and God made the walls fall down. Jericho dates back to some 11,000 years ago. Scripture says that as Jesus entered this town that a great number of people was with Him. The Greek word ochlos describes it as a multitude of common people gathered without order. Imagine walking through your city and people just begin to walk towards you from out of the woodworks; houses, parks, stores, shops and buildings. These are people of all walks of life and backgrounds. And they are all converging on you at once. None of them have spoken to the others about a meeting of sorts. They just heard you were here and they are all coming to you at one time. This is what was happening to Jesus as He entered Jericho.

In the midst of this multitude of excited people was a man named Bartimaeus. He was blind. But he heard the excitement in the crowd and no doubt he heard Jesus was on the scene. He couldn’t see Him, but he had heard of His power and authority of even the diseased, the sinner and the demons. This Jesus - He could heal. And this could be Bart's last chance to receive his sight. But how could blind Bart get the attention of this Jesus of Nazareth? He cried out the name of Jesus. But don’t read too fast. Keep the story in perspective. Remember the multitude of excited people moving through town like a wave with no order. Blind Bart cried aloud. The Greek word is krazo which means "the loud cry of a crow." Our friend Bart cried loudly like the sound of a crow ringing out in the sky above. But no word from Jesus. Bart cried out so loud that many people around him “charged him that he should hold his peace.” (KJV)

What did old Bart do then? “…but he cried the more a great deal, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me!”” So what happened next? Walking among this crown of juiced up people, what of Jesus? What of the man whom Bartimaeus cried so loudly? “And Jesus stood still…” Mark 10:49 KJV.

Are you trapped in your own proverbial city of Jericho, surrounded by walls of burdens that isolate you from peace? Does your heart ache with the agony of sin, the regrets of the past, the sorrow of loss, the fear of the future? Are you surrounded by people who you feel are getting to the source of the strength and hope that you cannot seem to attain? Are you blind to the way that leads to joy and that final release of a breath of fresh resolve? Cry out! Jesus passed through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem where He would die on a cross and then the power of God Himself would raise Him from death to life everlasting. This power and strength to bring down your walls is alive today and available to those who have faith enough to cry out to Him.

The cry of blind Bartimaeus was enough to make the Son of God stand still in the midst of a pressing crowd. He got the attention of God. He received his sight because of his persistence. And he “followed Jesus in the way.” Don’t give up. Don’t give in to those around you who may tell you to simmer down and deal with your burden. Jesus walks among us. Get His attention! You won’t regret it.

Mark 10:46-52