NOTES for Mar 10:48
Different people react differently to Jesus' appearance. As a rule, those who seek help from Him, most often healing, show the most direct reaction. This is understandable: such people usually have nothing to lose. What demand can be made of a blind beggar sitting by a major road? Those around him try to make him be silent, or at least not shout so loudly.
They can be understood: by this time all sorts of rumors about Jesus were already circulating among the people, and attitudes toward Him and His preaching were ambiguous. To many respected and authoritative people in religious society it seemed at least doubtful. But the blind beggar by the roadside cared little about these respected and authoritative people: none of them could help him. Nor did those respected and authoritative people need him. Of course, they gave him alms, and he did not die of hunger.
But that was all he could receive from society and from people respected in society. And now here is someone who can truly help, heal, free him from blindness. Some preacher. People say a prophet. Perhaps not a prophet, but He heals for certain. If such a person is passing by on the road, how can one not use the opportunity? How can one not call out? Especially if receiving sight is the chief goal and meaning of life. Here an important spiritual law operates: in order for relationships with God, relationships with Christ, to be full, they must become unconditional. A person must follow Christ without looking back.
Without looking back at tradition, customs, or religious authorities. Otherwise nothing will come of it. And to go this way requires inner freedom from all this, such as the blind man by the road has, who has nothing to lose, who wants one thing and wants it with all his soul, with his whole being. Of course, he does not yet understand with Whom he is dealing. But his resolve is great, greater than that of those trying to make him be silent. And thanks to this resolve and trust in the Stranger, the blind beggar receives what he wanted. Those who tried to make him be silent receive nothing. This is not surprising: they were not seeking anything.