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Luke 18:31–43 (ESV)
31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. 35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
What is it that you want as you continue to walk through this year? What is it that you want out of your relationships? What is it that you want out of the work that you do? What is it that you want for your family? What is it that you want out of life?
What is it that you really want?
That’s the question that Jesus asks of the blind man. I wonder if the blind man was ready for that question. In that cultural context, it wasn’t uncommon for someone of wealth and means to pass street beggars and make a show of their wealth by giving generously.
Certainly, the beggar knew of this common practice and could have asked for a blessing of food or money. But not this blind beggar.
By now, word of Jesus has spread everywhere, and the beggar knew the stories about Jesus; what Jesus taught, the angry whispers and conversations against Jesus by the religious leaders, the incredible testimonies regarding miraculous signs, and the healings; the deaf hear, the lepers cleansed, the lame walking, the sick made well, those suffering being freed, and…, the blind receiving sight. Yes, the blind beggar knew that story well.
So he doesn’t hesitate as he asks to recover his sight, and when he does, he immediately follows Jesus and glorifies God.
Contrast that with the disciples who can’t quite see what Jesus is up to, at least not yet. This is the last of Jesus’ predictions regarding His suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection. But the disciples don’t see what Jesus is telling them.
However, here, Luke is tying it all together for us. The kingdom of God is breaking into the world, and verse 31 is the key: “… everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.”
Jesus is nearly at Jerusalem, and it’s here where God’s plans and purposes will be fulfilled. It’s here in Jerusalem where Jesus will bear the consequences of our sin and bring healing to us all.
In his death, Jesus will take on himself the blindness and despair of the world. N.T. Wright
Our response is one of simple faith; it always has been about faith, entrusting our lives to Jesus and following where He leads. The disciples did, even though they didn’t yet grasp what Jesus was telling them. The man who recovered his sight followed Jesus.
What will you do? What is it that you want out of your relationship with Jesus? What He offers you is forgiveness from your sin, freedom from the guilt of your past, mercy, love, a new way to go that is radically different from the culture, and new life in the Kingdom of God if you will simply have faith and follow Him.
Following Jesus doesn’t mean that everything will be picture-perfect. In our readings so far, we know that Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, where He will soon be falsely accused, handed over to the authorities, beaten, and crucified.
Following Jesus, then, is costly, challenging, and takes courage, strength, and commitment. It looks different for each of us, but if we are truly going to be His disciples, it’s the only response that we can offer to the only One who has, or ever could, embrace and heal the great darkness of our lives.
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers!
Scott
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