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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)

32. The Healing of a Blind Man in Jericho (Luke 18:35-43)


LUKE 18:35-43
35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” 42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Most of Jesus’ followers did not understand who he really was. They called him “Master”, “Lord”, “Prophet”, or “Nazarene”. But few dared to say he was Christ, the King sent from God. When the blind man who sat by the wayside in Jericho was told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by with his followers, he cried out saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The poor blind man knew three things and said them: First, that Jesus was the promised heir of David. Second, that Jesus was the one whose Father was God. Third, that God guaranteed him his Father’s throne forever. With this faith, the blind man interpreted the promise written in (2 Samuel 7:12-14), that it applied to Jesus, the wonderful Physician. He trusted that all the blessings and powers of God flowed from him.

When the multitude following Jesus heard the crying, they tried to silence the blind man, but he cried so much the more, for he knew with the eyes of his heart, in spite of his blindness, who Jesus of Nazareth was. He confessed faith in him, and did not yield to the multitudes’ warnings to him; but thought within himself: Now is the chance of my lifetime, which will pass if I do not make use of it. So let me cry as loud as I can.

In this certainty he believed that David’s successor was merciful, and not an arrogant sultan; and that he cared for the poor, and had enough time for a despised blind man on whom he had mercy.

Jesus stood surrounded by the multitude who followed him. He paused on his way to the cross, and commanded this poor believer to be brought to him. The multitude stood speechless, seeing that Jesus did not refuse this call to him as Christ, the Son of David. Thus he admitted the truth that he was really the Son of David, and the Son of Man at the same time.

And when the blind man stood before Jesus, he heard his tender voice, saying to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus raised all the blind man’s expectations that he might rest on his healing power. The blind man requested neither heaven, nor money, nor eternal life, nor forgiveness, but simply that he might receive his sight, which was exactly what Jesus wanted his disciples to ask of him. He thought they had understood everything and seen all the mysteries, but they were blind in spirit, in spite of their open eyes. Would that we observe our limited minds, our lack of knowledge of the word of God, and our weak works of love, and become prepared for the question of God’s love: “What do you want Me to do for you?” How do you answer this question put by Jesus? Do you answer it as that blind believer did, saying: “Open my eyes”? Do you pray that opening the eyes of your friends and enemies will be opened, or are you satisfied with your sight and insight? Ask the Almighty Lord to show you the selfishness of your heart, that the scales of blindness may fall from your eyes, and you may look at the world with compassion and mercy as Jesus looks in his divine love.

The Son of God spoke his authoritative word to the blind man: “Receive your sight.” In this command, he put his creative power in the will of the blind man, and encouraged him to obey his royal command, employing all the dormant powers in the poor man. Jesus also commands you to see first his unique person, and become aware of the wonders of the redemptive plan of God. The first experience that impressed the healed man deeply when he received his sight was seeing the face of Jesus Christ before him. When he saw that face full of kindness, love, and truth, he immediately understood: “This is my King, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.”

Before the healed man and the people exulted with praise and thanks, Jesus said to the man whose sight was restored, “Your faith has saved you.” This faith began with the poor man’s understanding of God’s promises given to David. He found them in Jesus and trusted that he was the merciful Holy One. He had seen him more clearly with the eyes of his heart. And when he heard about his coming, he cried to him faithfully, humbly, and determinedly, clinging to the gown of his Savior who was passing by. Such faith saves. Read the Holy Bible that you may see Jesus in all his beauty, and receive his great power.

The healed man followed his Master Jesus immediately, for the sudden restoration of his sight was an indisputable proof of the authority of Christ. His eyes did not hurt anymore. He did not have to bind them up with bandages, as after a surgical operation, for Jesus healed him with one word. Jesus is the creative God present among men, for God had visited them beginning with the setting up of his kingdom. But all those followers were blind, for they did not grasp that Jesus was on his way to the cross, where those who were presently rejoicing in him would crucify him.

PRAYER: O Lord, I am blind, and do not see your footsteps in the history of our age. Open my eyes that I may see you, realize that my heart is wicked, and hold fast to your kindness. Strengthen my faith and help me to come to you with my friends that you may open our eyes to see the blind around us, and bring them to you, our living crucified and resurrected Son of God. You are willing to give us sight and enlightenment.

QUESTION 114: What is the promise given from God to David about his heir? In whom did this promise find its fulfillment? How?

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