Day 4 Lamb Selection Day-the morning (later today the Triumphal Entry)
Where is your voice the crowd?
Last night began the 10th of Nisan, the day the unblemished, perfect lamb was to be selected. On this very day, the entire nation of Israel was picking their special lamb and it was this same day Jesus rode into Jerusalem to celebrate Passover with his disciples. Jesus, the Passover Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.
Exo 12:3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. Exo 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year.
Jesus now arrives in Jerusalem to be inspected and selected as the perfect, sinless sacrificial lamb. But just before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Lamb Selection Day, He encounters blind Bartimaeus. Mark 10:46-52 The roads were packed with joyful worshippers going up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. Suddenly, He stops the entire processional and gives this blind beggar His full attention while others were rebuking (criticizing, judging). “Be quiet! Quit being a nuisance. Stop trying to put a damper on our party. We’re trying to celebrate here. We have religious duties and laws to tend to.” (paraphrased) But the blind beggar sees more than the rest, and he cries out all the more. “Son of David have mercy on me!” Buried in the middle of a cacophony of noise from the multitude, Jesus hears this single cry for mercy. He hears His name. Someone who sees and knows Him—the Messiah. This is the first time this title, Son of David have Mercy, has been publicly proclaimed and it stops Jesus in His tracks.
We cannot separate the Lamb from who He is—true Mercy. Let’s cry out to the Son of David for mercy, the One who rescues in this present darkness. The world is blind, we see and know Him to be the Son of David, merciful. This will stop Jesus in His tracks and give attention to our cries. Blind eyes need to be opened so they may know to repent and flee judgment finding rest under the refuge of His wings.
He will show Himself mighty as He did in the days of old as in the first Passover. He will again revive His mighty acts of power and glory. And He will use us (once blind, but now we see) to perform His deeds. “Stretch forth your staff!” declares the Lord. And His Spirit wind will blow to part the waters of destruction. Mercy will prevail and the cold poisonous wind will cease. (“hearts of many will grow cold”Mat. 24:12-means a malignant, poisonous spirit wind. A cold heart is a blindness).
Hab 3:2 LORD, I have heard the report of what you did; I am awed, LORD, by what you accomplished. In our time repeat those deeds; in our time reveal them again. In turmoil, remember to show us mercy!
The Light of the world wants us to see Him, to see Him who has paid the complete redemptive price. The question is still being asked by Jesus, “What do you want Me to do for you?” I answer, “Lord, I want to see You” He responds, “Go! Rise! Your faith has healed, restored, saved you and go do the same.” Rise up as Bartimeaus in the midst of the crowd, abandon the darkness and your old identity. Follow Him as one who sees even in the darkness.
He did not say to Bartimeaus “My power has healed you”. He said, “Your faith has healed you”. Believe now like never before! See like never before! Follow Him like never before! Power and authority have been given to us. Select the Lamb and cry out, “Son of David, have mercy”.
Jesus enters the city, humbly on a foal, and weeps for His children who do not see Him. Luke 19:41-142