Lord, That I May See

Page 1 Problem in the Text

Knowing and understanding who Jesus was and what His mission was while on earth was something that was always miss understood. The general public did not understand, the religious leaders for the most part refused to understand, and His disciples I am sure wanted to understand but as says, but they understood none of these thing; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. They did not understand what Jesus meant when He said that He will be killed and will rise on the third day . Although the disciples followed Jesus there was always this aspect of His life and mission that were a mystery to then. We can see the lack of knowledge the disciples had of Jesus in other account in the book of Luke such as the disciples preventing the children from coming to Him in . As the disciples “sternly ordered” the children not to approach Jesus we see the same happening in as the followers of Jesus who were in front of Him “sternly ordered” the blind man to keep quite.

What would happen in the times of Jesus was that as a rabbi would walk to his followers would follow because the rabbi would be speaking and teaching while traveling. We could then presume that as Jesus was walking to Jericho He was teaching, and this blind man was now posing a problem because now people could no longer hear what Jesus was saying. Jesus was “tow engizein” coming near a term used in the New Testament to depict the end time fulfillment, a turning point in world history. We know this now looking back that the turning point was the death of Jesus on Calvary as this ushered in God’s Kingdom. The problem was that no one saw this, no one realised that this was going to happen.

What would happen in the times of Jesus was that as a rabbi would walk to his followers would follow because the rabbi would be speaking and teaching while traveling. We could then presume that as Jesus was walking to Jericho He was teaching and this blind man was now posing a problem because now people could no longer hear what Jesus was saying. Jesus was “tow engizein” coming near a term used in the New Testament to depict the an end time fulfillment, a turning point in world history. We know this now looking back that the turning point was the death of Jesus on Calvary as this ushered in God’s Kingdom. The problem was that no one saw this, no one realised that this was going to happen.

Jesus was trying to get those He spoke to see the bigger picture. This journey to Jericho was only a few days before the Passover and also only a few days to the death of Jesus. So, Luke tires to emphasis that people just did not know what was going on all the while Jesus was trying to say that His Kingdom is soon to be established.

Jesus was trying to get those He spoke to see the bigger picture. This journey to Jericho was only a few days before the passover and also only a few days to the death of Jesus. So, Luke tires to emphasis that people just did not know what was going on all the while Jesus was trying to say that His Kingdom is soon to be established.

Page 2 Problem in the Word

As we look back to the messages of Jesus, we are able to understand for the most part or we are able to understand a little about the plan of salvation because we get to look back at what already has taken place. However, as we look forward to the Second Coming, we look through very veiled eyes. the glasses we look through are very very dirty and therefore we find ourselves in the same position as the disciples of Jesus. As we look at the world and Christianity, we can but notice the great variances of theological thought as all attempt to understand how things are going to unfold the closer, we get to that great day of our Lord and Jesus Christ. All that we are often occupied with or concerned about is what we want to hear. Like the he disciple in they were not concerned about the blind man even less so what Jesus would do for him as they tried to prevent the man from having an audience with Jesus.

they were not concerned about the blind man even less so what Jesus would do for him as they tried to prevent the man from having an audience with Jesus.

Could it be that we only want to have an encounter, relationship with God that meets our desires? Are we dictating God how we want Him to save us?

Could it be that we only want to have an encounter, relationship with God that meets our desires? Are we dictating God how we want Him to save us?

Page 3 Solution in the Text

When the blind man hears that it is Jesus coming, he calls out. the crowd hush him but then He cried out. The impression created here is that he called out in a scream or a shriek. It was a cry at the top of his lungs. A cry in utter desperation, a last-ditch effort. Christ could have ignored the pleas of this blind man. The mission that He was one could have been seen as greater than attending to the needs of blind beggar and this is just the view of the disciples. But He does not. Even though Jesus was moving towards the cross He still had the time to pay attention to people that society had thrown away. In an atmosphere of what lay ahead Jesus stopped. He stopped and had compassion for someone that no one cared about.

Jesus ask, “what do You want Me to do for you?” The mans response, “that I may receive my sight.” Jesus honors his request and restores the man sight but He does not just leave it there. You see this man had a different belief about Jesus than did the rest. He called Him “Son of David” a name the indicated Jesus to be the Messiah. This man saw Jesus not like the rest of those around him because when the blind man asked who was coming the answer was Jesus of Nazareth. Two very different ways of seeing who Jesus was. Because of this mans faith he is healed. However, there is more. This man is also made well. Because of his faith Jesus says, your faith has made you “sozo”. You will remember “sozo” from a sermon a few months ago where sozo refers to being saved.

Jesus ask, “what do You want Me to do for you?” The man’s response, “that I may receive my sight.” Jesus honors his request and restores the man sight, but He does not just leave it there. You see this man had a different belief about Jesus than did the rest. He called Him “Son of David” a name the indicated Jesus to be the Messiah. This man saw Jesus not like the rest of those around him because when the blind man asked who was coming the answer was Jesus of Nazareth. Two very different ways of seeing who Jesus was. Because of this man’s faith he is healed. However, there is more. This man is also made well. Because of his faith Jesus says, your faith has made you “sozo”. You will remember “sozo” from a sermon a few months ago where sozo refers to being saved.

Not only is he healed from blindness because he saw who Jesus truly was, but he is also declared by Jesus as being saved because of his faith in Him. He has received the promise of he has been clothed with the garments of salvation, for He Christ covered him with the robe of righteousness.

Not only is he healed from blindness because he saw who Jesus truly was but he is also declared by Jesus as being saved because of his faith in Him. He has recieved the promise of he has been clothed with the garments of salvation, for He Christ covered him with the robe of righteousness.

Page 4 Solution in the World

The issue of this text deals with the matter of being saved. It distinguishes between the view of salvation the followers of Jesus had and ultimately how a person is saved. When we come to Jesus like the blind man in true recognition of who Jesus is and with the faith that accompanies that we are saved. We find that we are covered with His righteousness. The beggar did not change who he was before he came to Jesus in the midst of unhappiness, in the midst of his life struggle he called out to Jesus. He screamed for the attention of Jesus. He came to Jesus just as he was and he recieved rest.

We need to realize that our salvation is not determined by us. It is Christ who saves. It is He who draws us to Himself. We need to ask that our eyes will be opened and that we will see Jesus for who He is and what He desires to bestow on us.

Our sight can be restored as we call on Christ in all our difficulties, weakness and we will see Him as our only Saviour. And like the blind man we will get up and follow Him where ever He may go.

Amen