What Do You See? Part 2

What can learn from this blind man whose eyes the Lord has opened?

Perhaps the first thing to note is that this is the last recorded miracle related to people. It started in Cana of Galilee at a wedding in an insignificant town north of the Sea of Galilee and now ends in the south of Judea in the historically significant town of Jericho. His supernatural power
is evident throughout Israel by the thousands of healed bodies and souls.

Apart from His cursing the fig tree and rising from the dead, there would be no other miraculous signs given to the Jews concerning Messiah. However, there are four more remarkable stories of salvation recorded for us.

Luke records simply that they are in the vicinity of Jericho. Matt 20:29 and Mark 10:46 give us the same account and record that they were all leaving Jericho: Matthew records that there were two men; Mark gives us the name of the one doing the talking, his name is Bartimaeus (meaning Son of Timaeus). It may be that Mark gives us his name because at the time of Mark's writing, this man and his family was well known among the Christians.

Jesus with supernatural power and mercy

I love the response of the Savior when out of that vast crowd He hears the one plaintive cry and asks that man to come to Him. Then He asks that man "what can I do for you?" Isn't that precious? Isn't that a delight to know that when we cry out for mercy to the Lord that He is eager to serve us?

Jesus has already received from that man all that He ever requires from any soul. Now His desire is to do for that soul what he most longs for: the restoration of his sight. Luke records that this man followed Jesus into Jerusalem. This tells me that this man wanted to see Jesus.

The crowd initially tried to silence the man but after seeing the miracle of healing they erupted into spontaneous praise. They all followed Him to Jerusalem and laid the palm fronds down to usher Jesus in as the King. Here is the Messiah!

Jesus was not to be fooled. He knew their heart and he knew the superficiality of the religious. He knew that this same crowd would in a matter of days cry out for His crucifixion. 

They wanted to see Jesus also. 

They wanted to crown Him as Messiah and throw off the oppressive government of Rome. When it became clear that He would not do that, they turned their back on Him and wanted to see Him on the cross, with a crown of thorns rather than a crown of royalty.

Here are some lessons to consider:

1.      The Lord hears the cry of the true believer;

2.      The Lord is amazingly compassionate;

3.      The Lord is able;

4.      The Lord desires our hearts in worship;

5.      The Lord delights to give us what we need to follow Him.

Where do you fit in? Are you part of the patronizing crowd? Perhaps, you appreciate Jesus, you sing about Him, you celebrate his teaching and His miracles. Yet, in the end you refuse to give Him your life.  

You refuse to let Him rule in your life on His terms rather than your own. You stand among the same crowd that days later crucified Him saying we will not have this man to reign over us.

Or do you side with the blind man whose eyes the Lord opened to see beyond the physical? Have you, like this man seen Jesus for who He is? With this insight have you acted to throw everything off and follow Christ?

The Lord delights to give you what you need to follow Him.

smc