The blind that see Jesus

**Luke 18:35–43**

35 Now as He approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 Hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 39 The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” 40 Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” 42 Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” 43 He immediately received his sight and followed Him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

You, who can see with imagination, can visualize the scene: there is a blind man on the road, someone who needs others, like crutches, to approach Jesus. He asks them to tell him what they see, and even though they can see Jesus, only he can see the Christ. Because before Jesus opens his physical eyes, He opens his blinded soul with the gift of faith.

Here is the contradiction: “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” (John 9:39)

Jesus passes to offer faith and pardon, but those who do not accept remain blind. They can see the external Christ—His church, the buildings, the organization—but they cannot recognize the Son of God who abides on it.

Christ passes many times on the road of our lives, but we do not recognize Him. We believe that we are self-sustained, but that beggar recognizes that he cannot do it by himself; he needs others.

Who is that person? Jesus of Nazareth. And then he recognized the opportunity: *Christ is in front of me; I must reach Him.*

They tried to stop him, but he cried out all the more… When Jesus is in front of you and you decide to follow Him seriously, it’s a battle. Hell will cry out, be silent, don’t pray, be a lukewarm Christian, resist with your rebellious flesh. But if you persevere, healing will come.

The more the world, hell, the flesh, and lukewarm Christians try to silence you, the more you must cry to Jesus, “Have mercy on me.”

Let the words of chilling rebuke come, for they did not follow Jesus and even tried to prevent others from doing so. But you, if Christ is passing by, do not stop crying out in prayer. Your healing is at hand. Those who persevere certainly will reach Him.