I can’t believe we are already almost finished with the book of Luke. Hope you all are pressing on with us!
Today I want to look at verses 35 to 43. These verses are talking about a blind man who hears a multitude of people passing by and asks what it meant. He is told that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. The blind man cries out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The people around him tell him to hush and he is persistent and cries out even more saying, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
This makes me think of myself and my sin or something I am seeking from Christ. Am I persistent in my prayers. Do I continually cry out to the Lord and pray to him with consistency and care. Knowing and believing that He is the great Healer and Comforter in my life. I know that I lack sometimes in this area. This story today was a good reminder in knowing and believing that the Lord hears me in the chaos of my life – just like Jesus heard this blind man in the chaos of the crowd.
Continuing forward with the story, Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to him. And it says that when the blind man came near to him He asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
I absolutely love this! Jesus stood still. He heard a cry and stopped what he was doing and stood still to hear this blind man. The picture of this is so beautiful! Jesus stands still for us as well. When we cry out to the Lord – He stands still for us. I love it!! Also Jesus already knew what the blind man needed and yet He asked him. Jesus knows everything! But isn’t it really awesome that He asked what it is that he wanted. I think so. I think of it this way.
I have friends who know how I am feeling, but isn’t it great when those friends reach out and ask us and we can talk with them about what is going on in our lives. This question gave the blind man an opportunity to speak freely with Jesus about what his need/want in his life was. Jesus wanted him to talk with him about it. Just like He wants us to talk to Him about our needs/wants in our lives. I love this!
The blind man responded to Jesus and said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight”
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” Jesus heals his sight and then tells him that it was his faith that made him well. He believed and it was his faith…..his belief in Jesus that made him well! I really love this! There are moments in my life where I let the doubt creep in and that doubt does nothing good for me. I’m constantly reminding myself that with God nothing is impossible!! (Luke 1:37 says “For with God nothing will be impossible.”) I am so thankful for God’s Word and the constant reminder that God can do anything!
Verse 43 just sums up the entirety of this story. It says,
“And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.”
Luke 18:43 NKJV
It says that he received his sight immediately! He didn’t have to wait. God answered his request and it was immediate. And then the now not-so-blind-man followed Him! and I love that he followed Him and glorified God. This makes me think of all the times that God has answered my requests and have I fallen short in my thanksgiving to Him? Help us always to remember to give God the glory and be thankful to Him in all the great gifts He gives us, especially now as we are nearing Christmas day and sharing gifts with one another. All these gifts we are able to give is only because God has given us the means to share with others around us. I know I am so thankful for that!
And the last bit of this verse that says, “and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.” This reminds me that people saw this interaction the blind man had with Jesus. And people see me and how I respond and react to certain situations or circumstances in my life. Do those people see me and walk away wondering where my faith is? Or do they walk away giving praise to God because they can see God through myself within my circumstance? I pray and hope it is the latter!
Hope today was uplifting to you all! I know I am really enjoying growing in intimacy with God as we journey through the book of Luke together. Love you all!
