Notes to the Lord:Seeing

Scripture Reflection: Matthew 20

29As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"

Lord Jesus--The setting in which these two men meet you is what stands out to me. On the road to the cross you still had time to meet the needs of these two desperate men. I wonder what these two lives consisted of before they met you...begging for a living...judged by the society as sinful because of their lack of sight.

31The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"

Lord Jesus--These blind men knew what they were looking for from you. It was clear it was clear to them even though they had never seen before. They may have been the more clear eyed in their view of you than many others on that road that day. These two blind men saw you as Messiah who needed to have mercy on them to change their lives.

You were surrounded by your disciples and the crowd that was collecting has you headed toward Jerusalem just outside of Jericho. I wonder if the crowd that tried to muffle the voice of these men in their need saw you as clearly and their need for mercy. I need your mercy today Lord Jesus, I so often view you and your work through my expectations and not your message and mission.

32Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 33"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."

Lord Jesus--These men in their need were very focused. They knew what they needed even if they did not know what they were really missing being blind. They had never seen sun rise in the high country. They had never seen the smile of their wives at some silly joke...they had never seen the faces of their children.

The first thing on earth they saw was your face...a face I have never seen. In so many ways these two blind men are way ahead of those who surrounded them in their view...their understanding of you.

34Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Lord Jesus--It is interesting what you did not say to these two men...You did not mention their sins...they were already aware of their need for mercy. You did not ask them not to tell anyone about their healing...it probably wouldn’t have done any good.

I wonder how far they followed you? Did they follow you down that road that lead to Jerusalem? Did they follow to the temple? Did they hear the shouts of the crowd during the riot that brought about your death sentence? Did they see the empty tomb?

Lord Jesus--These healed blind men, whose names I will never know until I am home with you, were so far ahead of me. They saw you and they followed you without hesitation. Help me in this day Lord Jesus to follow like these two unnamed men.