27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this." 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
Is it not amazing how Jesus ever seems to leave behind Him a wake of the miraculous which continues on to this day? While restoring sight surely points to an all-powerful God, the changing of the human heart through the power of the Holy Spirit to alter the ways of the wanderer is no less miraculous. Our verses for today prove to be no different in the actions of Jesus. We discover two blind men following closely on the heels of the Healer boldly begging for mercy from His hand. Christ being the light of the world as well as the fountain of life:
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 (NIV)
37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." John 7:37-38 (NIV)
“Miracles are not the proofs, but the necessary results, of revelation.” Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The promise God made to King David that the Messiah would come from his body was well known among the Jewish people. These blind men not only knew but acknowledged and announced that Jesus was the long awaited One – the Son of David. Though deprived of physical sight they, by the grace of God, were given enlightened eyes of understanding to discern greater things from above - things hidden from even the wise and prudent. The “wisdom” of the world is as foolishness in the sight of God:
26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 1 Cor 1:26-29 (NIV)
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” Matt 11:25-26 (NIV)
We see next in these verses that whatever our needs or burdens may be, we need to seek first the mercy of our Lord Jesus for our sufficiency, strength, salvation and path. His will is pleasing and perfect – whether He chooses to heal us physically or spiritually. It is His desire for us to lean totally upon Him – those tired from excessive toil, those weighed down with burdens or sickness, those who have reached the end of their hope and rope and even those who perhaps wrongly surmise they have no needs whatsoever, He urges to come to Him and commit their way to His. The safest place to be is smack dab in the center of His will. His call is to all and when we come to Him we trade our inabilities for His abilities, our insufficiencies for His sufficiency, and our wanderings in a trackless waste for His Way. Later in Matthew He tells us:
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)
And come after Him these poor blind souls did. Not only did they come after they proclaimed His Messiah-ship in the process - following Him all the way into the house He entered. We would do well to remember that Jesus’ doors are always open to bold petitioners in prayer – we are never more bold than welcome. Our Lord next poses the question of faith to those seeking His mercy – faith being the great condition our Lord always favors. Those desirous of His mercy must believe in His achieving power to help for only God can open the eyes of the blind as in this particular case. This begs the question from us – do we believe Jesus is able to help us in our specific need. Is He our first resort or last? Remember, in response to their faith Jesus heals. The same is true today.
“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” Thomas V. Moore