Now as he approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me!" Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He replied, "Lord, please let me see." Jesus told him, "Have sight; your faith has saved you." He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. (Lk 18:35-43)
The man sitting by the roadside and begging was blind. As a blind man he inquired about the reason for the crowd and as soon as he was told that it was Jesus he asked Jesus to have mercy on him. So the news about Jesus had reached even to the blind people. This blind man not seen Jesus and his doing yet the information about him he had received. He wanted to make this information into an experience. He wanted to make it personal.
The crowd that was there rebuked him. Yes the work of the crowd is to prevent another to have an experience or the experience that they have had should not be shared by the other. The crowd tends to silence the other (individual). When an individual does not fall in line with the crowd physically (like in the case of the blind man) psychologically or emotionally) then the crowd silences the individual.
The blind man keeps calling on Jesus. The individual’s keeps his interest for the experience of Jesus and here, Jesus also moves towards the individual. Both the blind man and Jesus sideline the crowd. They do not give importance to the crowd. Jesus goes after the individual (like in the case of Zacchaeus). Jesus does not look at a crowd but for him even a crowd is a gathering of individuals. He deals with them as individuals.
