One of my long-time friends has gone blind in recent years. When we first met, the two of us played in our church gym with the children of church members who were in choir practice. He was one of the most enjoyable and faithful people to serve in that role.
When the church’s music program transitioned from traditional to contemporary, he played bass in the praise band. Like his time with the children, he was always a joyful and dependable member of that team.
Some health issues resulted in blindness. Yet, this man continues to be a faithful and joyful servant of the Lord. Because of his blindness, he lives in a care facility. He is well known to the residents for bringing his guitar into the common area and playing for their pleasure.
A couple of men from the church regularly pick him up for services. The worship leader provides him verbal instructions about upcoming music, and he plays either bass or guitar during church services.
I hope I have captured how this friend of many people has made the best possible life out of a very difficult situation. That being said, I’m certain he would love to have the same experience as the two men who met Jesus in His travels.
Blind Men Encounter Jesus
The crowds of Jesus’ day didn’t need social media to announce the good news of what happened when Jesus was near. The word of His healing power filled the region with hope, and two blind men decided to try to obtain a meeting with Him.
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you have faith that I can do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened (Matthew 9:27-30).
“The Jesus Prayer” in the Orthodox Catholic tradition comes from this encounter. There are different forms of “The Jesus Prayer,” but the one I use is: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. We can match the phrases of this prayer with our breath.
Breathe In: Lord Jesus Christ
Breathe Out: Son of God
Breathe In: Have mercy on me
Breathe Out: A sinner
The Way of the Pilgrim is a small book that tells the story of a pilgrim who wants to learn how to follow Paul’s command to pray without ceasing. I have read this book numerous times and have attempted to use the Jesus Prayer as a way of keeping God continually in my heart and mind.
I fail more often than I succeed in this practice; nevertheless, God uses it to lift my inner self closer to Him. When I read the Bible, I use this prayer to quietly connect with the Lord.
For example, when I read about the blind men, I recognize my spiritual blindness. Then I pray with each breath, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
When I think about the leper in Matthew 8, I see the leprosy of my own sin and pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
The centurion in chapter 8 knew that if Jesus merely said the word, his son would be healed. Our world needs healing, and I name countries that need Jesus’ authoritative word of healing and deliverance. As each nation or situation comes to mind, I pray: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
Another way to intercede for people we love is to bring them before the Lord and pray this prayer on their behalf. It doesn’t take long to take each member of our family and invite God’s presence and will into their lives. When I pray for them, I use another form of the Jesus Prayer. I say, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.”
This prayer can be used during worship services. While singing or listening to the sermon, we can let our eyes scan the crowd and pray for the people we see: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.”
Learning from the Blind Men
The blind men only asked for mercy. They didn’t tell Jesus what to do; they simply asked for mercy and left what would happen to the wisdom of Jesus.
When we use the prayer that these men taught us, we bring the need to Jesus and leave it before Him. There is no one more merciful and loving than Jesus. We can trust His wisdom and character to respond to our prayer in the best possible way.
I hope these thoughts on the Jesus Prayer will enhance your prayer life and bring you closer to the Lord. If you have never tried praying like this, please give it a try and see what the Holy Spirit will do with you.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 