Be Louder

"Put a lid on it, ya old geezers."

Wasn't that just so kind and thoughtful? The people in this town really showed their true colors.

"Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" His friend's voice boomed over the scoffers' voices.

They bobbed in this dark ocean for far too long. Beaten down and broken, they had nothing. Truly, his friendship with Brail had been the only thing to keep him afloat in this sea of darkness.

For weeks, they had heard of a man who could heal people. The blind, deaf, there were even rumors of the dead being raised. They had decided that they would camp out on the side of the major road, hoping and praying that the man called Jesus would come this way.

"Lord, have mercy on us!" He shouted.

"Son of David, let our eyes be opened!" Brail bellowed alongside him.

"Shut up." A young man's voice assaulted their ears, and somebody stepped on his outstretched foot.

"Move!" The shrill voice of a woman ordered.

"Be quiet. He won't help the likes of you." An older man proclaimed. Someone whacked his hand away.

What did they do? Give up? Shut up? Die like this?

Brail started screaming even louder. "LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US, SON OF DAVID!"

No. They would yell all the louder. Together they screamed, louder and louder ignoring the physical and emotional abuse of the crowd. They yelled for so long that their voices grew horse. They kept yelling until...

A warm hand rested on his head. An equally warm voice said, "What do you want me to do for you?"

Based on Matthew 20:29-34

"The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, 'Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!'" Matthew 20:32

This is my favorite part of this story, this encounter with Jesus. These men. Their boldness. Their courage. Their fight.

When the crowd beat them down with their words - possibly even physically - they just cried out even louder. They didn't stop. They didn't give up. They dug their heals in and let loose screams that got Jesus' attention.

What about us? When the crowds tell us that we should shut up, stand back, and go home, do we listen to them?

"Since we have such a hope, we are very bold." 2 Corinthians 3:12

Or do we cry out even louder? Do we pursue the call God has for even more? Do we cry out to God saying, "God, I need you to provide because I can't" Do you keep shouting, going, walking, and believing?

"In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him." Ephesians 3:12

Be louder.

V. Joy Palmer