My parents never let us say “shut up.” At one point in our history, one of us three would say “shut up…your mouth” as a way to avoid the inevitable look of disapproval.

“Shut up” is pretty much what a crowd of people was saying to two men who couldn’t see.

The men were by a road. They were likely begging, asking the people walking by for money. This day, they heard a crowd coming. They asked what was happening. They found out that Jesus was at the head of the crowd.

The men called out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

For guys who are begging crying out would have been pretty common. This was pretty focused crying out however. It would have been passionate. It would have pierced through the conversations going on around Jesus.

He was, after all, the only hope they had.

And the people in the crowd surrounding Jesus told the men to shut up.

I don’t know why. It may have been because they (the crowd) were afraid this hollering would spoil the reputation of the town (the chamber of commerce theory). It may have been because they wanted to hear Jesus themselves (the selfish theory).

What I do know is that it still happens. Crowds of seemingly religious people, looking like they are following Jesus, are telling people who need his help to shut up.

“You wouldn’t fit in our church.” “That’s my seat.” “I need quiet and space to hear from Jesus and so we need to keep the (pick one) crying babies, wheezing old people, wheelchairs, organists, drummers, imperfect people, perfect people, left, right, those people quiet.”

In this case, the two men kept shouting. Jesus healed them. They joined the crowd. Following Jesus.

I’m glad.

And I’m convicted.