Sight or Seeing

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

SIGHT OR SEEING

Luke 18:35-43

35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 38 He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you."  43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

NIV

We are not sure if this is in chronological order as many scholars are convinced Luke did not record everything in that way, but rather made a very detailed account of the life of Jesus. It is interesting Luke places this event right after we are told the truth was hidden from the disciples. Jesus healing a blind man is sort of a normal event as Jesus healed many people. But because Luke places it here, perhaps there is some connection to the fact the truth was hidden from the disciples. This man as begging for Jesus to have mercy on him. He was calling out without any reservation, he wanted to get the attention of Jesus and he wanted Jesus to have mercy on him. When Jesus stopped and ask what he wanted from him, the man asked to see and Jesus told him his faith had made him see. Here is that connection. If the truth is hidden from people it is because they cannot see it, not so much with human eyes, but they cannot see it with spiritual eyes. But when we ask Jesus to have mercy on us, to heal our sight, to let us see the truth, and believe in faith he can and will do it, we will see, we will see the truth, it will no longer be hidden from our spiritual sight. As far as people praising God because we have received spiritual sight, which might not happen, but yet maybe it would, because with spiritual sight we are able to help others see as well that Jesus gives spiritual sight and thus they too might see and praise God because of it. Either way, Jesus gives us sight.