Jesus Stopped by a Beggar’s Voice
Mark 10:46-49

You ignored but in desperate condition? Take hope. Consider Bart’s successful case.

Jesus rarely stops in Mark’s Gospel. He’s always on the move, moving through all the green lights. “Immediately” is his routine. Each stop sign, each pause, would have been untimely for the great work of salvation. But on one striking occasion, Jesus stood still. He stopped. That’s sticks outs. Was it from hesitancy or fear or confusion? No, he stopped in response to the trusting but desperate cry of a blind beggar, a marginalized and forgotten member of society. In mercy, Jesus stopped for a voice.

“When he {Bart, a blind beggar-lowest of the low} heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth {passing by}, he began to shout, ‘Son of David {a Messianic term}, have mercy upon me.’ The crowd told him to shut up, but he kept shouting all the more, ‘Have mercy upon me, Son of David.’ Jesus stood still (στάς) and said, ‘call him.’” Mark 10:46-49.

A blind beggar brought the Son, the Son of David, the Messianic King of Israel, to a stand still. A beggar stopped the King in his royal tracks! It’s the only time in Mark’s Gospel that Jesus is said to have stood still.

But it wasn’t a melodious or baritone voice from a white, upper middle class concert vocalist looking for your money and applause that attracted Jesus’ attention. It was the voice of a poor, desperate, outcast with relentless trust in Jesus that stopped him in his tracks. Jesus stopped for a beggar’s voice. Bart couldn’t see but he could shout. And by shouting, he claimed Jesus’ attention, despite the crowds’ scolding.

Are you ignored but desperate for help? Do you have a voice? Then shout to the Son. Ignore the critics and hushers in your church crowd. Shout to the Son until he stops, and says, “Call her.” “Call him.” Jesus doesn’t stop for concerts; but he stops for desperate voices.

“Pass me not, O Gentle Savior, Hear my humble cry. While on others thou art calling, Do not pass me by.”