Despondency can find hope; all that is needed is faith. One need not despair; Jesus is going by my way. Despondency continues to cry out in faith; for a better future, the Lord gives eyes to see.
Jericho, in the Jordan valley, is the rich man’s paradise, an escape to an oasis “well watered like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). Abundant palm, sycamore, and pomegranates trees; music and laughter for all but one in the newly built Herodian city. A blind man (two according to Matthew 20:29) sat by the road hoping for charity from the pilgrims going to the feast of Passover in Jerusalem.
When he heard the crowd following Jesus approaching, he asked what was happening (36). Jesus’s popularity attracted many. When he heard it was Jesus, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Son of David is a Messianic title. Jeremiah 11:1-3 states, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse (David’s father)… the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him…” It goes on to speak of the character of Jesus. Jeremiah 23:5-6 and Ezekiel 34:22-24 agree and add that a good shepherd will come from David to heal his people. The blind man had faith in Jesus, the Son of David, the Messiah (42).
The blind man’s faith is shown that although those who led the way tried to discourage him the man showed faith instead of despondency (39). He cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Despondency disappears with persistant faith when dispair is presented.
