Lesson 60L Christ's Death Foretold and Healing the Blind Luke 18:31- 43

Here Comes the Cross 18:31- 34

English Standard Version Chapter 18

31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, “

This is the third time Jesus has foretold His death. And yet, they still don’t understand He is the one going to die-vs.34. This is in reality the 7th time Luke has recorded about Jesus and His cross. Matthew and Mark also record this third time. When you hear of Jesus talking about His Passion, this is it. It is prophecy that is soon to be true. Psalm 22 comes to mind when reading this and we are reminded of prophecy of the cross. The entire Psalm is a picture of the suffering on Calvary’s Hill:

English Standard Version Psalm 22

6  But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

7  All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

8  “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

How did David know how to put this into words if the Lord did not put it in his heart and mind as he wrote?

Looking at the cross with a much clearer lens, the writer of the book of Hebrews profoundly puts the cross experience in perspective for us:

12:1-4

English Standard Version Chapter 12

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood

This is looking at the cross from two directions. One direction is Jesus in His passion of joy that had been set before him! The second direction is looking back for encouragement so that we do not give up or grow weary. Our looking is not perfect but the picture of the Word of God is perfect and just what we need. This is not just “feel good- sound good” platitudes. This is a doctrinal victory statement for the 21st century. The encumbrance of our daily lives should not prevent us from running a victory lap in 2025. Maybe even do a burn out or two. The victory is ours because Jesus authored, perfected, endured, despised, and sat down. He did so joyfully. So we press on!

I think about the first few words of this passage on the way: “ See, we are going up to Jerusalem and everything written will be accomplished about the son of Man as told by the prophets.” (My paraphrase.) The “going up” was not a bummer of a day or two. He was being elevated in stature as the prophetic Scriptures were being revealed. He may have been humbled on the cross but by going there He was exalting His position as Savior of the world. Centuries of Scripture prophecy would come due within the confines of His Passion week and the short weeks afterwards. this is a prophecy about a world altering experience and a mankind event. Boom. What a trip upward.

The trip upward was really that because after He was delivered over, He was lifted up on the cross so that all may see. As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so was the Son of Man lifted up for all to see. The Gentiles, though tremendous beneficiaries of the cross experience, were instruments of rage, torture, mayhem, and a killing of the sinless Jesus Christ. The mocking is making fun of or ridiculed in derision. The shameful mistreatment speaks of desertion by his friends and admirers. They turned to an indecent display of cursing and spitting. The scourging was a beating given with a whip laced with shards of metal and broken glass so as to break open the skin even further each time the lash was laid. Death resulted from this, the nails in his hands and feet, hanging high on the cross irritating the wounds, and the spear in his side. This was Friday, but Sunday is coming. He will rise from the dead.

The disciples were so close to Jesus, yet they were still far away in understanding His prophetic words. It did not strike a chord with the. It says the sayings were still hidden to them and they did not grasp the concepts and truth presented. They were not intended to please His listeners. The words were only intended to show that what was being done, pleased God. The cross would soon be empty, and so would the tomb. This what pleased God. Christ’s death completely satisfied a holy God so that we might live and reign with HIM! Another note of certain resolve by the Savior is that he was able to do all of this with his faculties. At no time was He proclaimed mad or out of His mind. His face moving towards Jerusalem was with peace, courage, and confidence that God’s will would be accomplished, despite the efforts of the enemy to thwart His progress.

The Blind Beggar Receives His Sight 18:35- 43

English Standard Version Chapter 18

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 “

Jericho is in sight. The place of the tumble down walls by faith is the home of the blind man. It is just a beggar at a roadside intersection. 50 years ago, this would be an uncommon scene in the United States. But today we are not surprised. Surprising to us would be if it were a blind man today. They have many things at their disposal, given to them by the government and and various organizations. Today, we are more used to seeing able bodied people begging. Anything helps? We see on this day Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. Immediately the blind man cries out. There is nothing wrong with his voice. He shouts at the top of his lungs, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” It is interesting that a blind man by the side of the road, knows quite a but already about what has been told, taught and proclaimed about Jesus. He definitely is not only of Nazareth, but He is the Son of David and his name is most certainly Jesus. It is a name for all occasions.

Jesus gets an earful as the blind man would not stop trying to get his attention. Finally the Savior stops and commanded that the man be brought to him. Jesus then asks what is he wanting Jesus to do for Him. It is not just have mercy. It is “I want to recover my sight.” Good enough request. Sight it is! Mark says this is the blind Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus. Jesus went to the trouble of stopping for the blind man. If you call out to Jesus He will stop heaven and earth for you if necessary. He even stopped his upward motion to Jerusalem to respond to Bartimaeus. He only wanted his sight back. Recovered. Jesus said, Done. Your faith has made you well.

The ending of the chapter is with blind Bart’s eyes opened for watching. He now follows Jesus-vs.43 He now praises God. What more could the Master teacher want except that he start telling others.