Faith Turned to Sight
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Introduction
Introduction
As we’ve worked our way through the Gospel of Luke, one of the common phrases that you’ve heard me say in my introductions, at least since chapter 9, is that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem.
Well, in our text today, we find that He’s still on His way to Jerusalem. He will eventually make it there!!! Just a couple more events that Luke records along the course of this journey to Jerusalem.
In fact, by the middle of Luke 19, we will find the record of His arrival in Jerusalem.
In today’s passage, however, we find Jesus in Jericho. This would not have been precisely the same Jericho that the Israelites entered as they came in to the promised land. The Jericho of Jesus day was slightly to the South of that, although situated very close by.
The miracle we read of here is the fourth and final miracle in Luke’s journey section.
When we consider the miracles of Jesus in the Gospel accounts, we do need to keep in mind some of the purposes behind the miracles that are performed. Certainly, Jesus didn’t just come into the world in order to perform miracles without further intent.
All that God does as He works out His purposes in this world is intentional. God is intentionally seeking the glory and honour of His name through the salvation of a people that are to be called by His Name.
The miracles that Jesus performs are thus not random.
If we think of the blind man in John 9, when the disciples asked Jesus who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind, the response of Jesus was…
3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
4 “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
5 “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
There was purpose behind the miracles.
Beyond this, the miracles also served to demonstrate something of the power of Jesus. They were a demonstration of the fact that Jesus was the promised Messiah. That’s essentially what Jesus told John’s disciples back in Luke 7:22…
But there is also a spiritual picture behind most of the physical conditions afflicting the people that Jesus heals. Richard Phillips points this out. He writes:
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 What the Blind Man Saw
“Leprosy shows sin’s corrupting power and condemning presence. The lame show sin’s debilitating power. The dead proclaim the wages of sin; the demon-possessed show the destructive domination that is always the result of our bondage to sin and to Satan.”
All of the physical afflictions that we read of in the Scripture are very real afflictions. They are not merely stories.
But while the physical miracles were just that - physical miralces - we find also that they pointed to deeper spiritual truths.
In this account, the blind man that Jesus encounters is struggling with a very real and dibilitating condition. But as we work through this, we should not allow the specific instance of a physically blind man to lose sight of the importance of its implications to us today.
Yes, there was a physical malady here. A man (who in Mark’s Gospel is given the name Bartimaeus) was really physically blind, and was also a beggar. A physical healing takes places.
But beyond this, we are reminded through this account of the spiritual blindness that plagues the world. In 2 Cor 4:4 we read…
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The Gospel is veiled, apart from the gracious work of God through Christ.
And so, as we work our way through this miracle account, I will draw the parallel to our own spiritual blindness, and the desperate need that we have for the opening of our eyes in order to see Christ, and behold Him for who He truly is.
As we turn to the text then, notice firstly with me…
1. A Wretched Condition (vv.35-37)
1. A Wretched Condition (vv.35-37)
We read in verse 35…
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
As Jesus approached Jericho…
Note that Jesus is appraoching Jericho. (Note there is a difference between Luke’s account and the other synoptic Gospels). This Jericho in Jesus’ day was slightly to the South of the Jericho of the Old Testament where the walls were broken down.
The city of Jericho was one through which many Jewish Pilgrims would travel on their way to Jerusalem in order to observe the various feasts that were required.
And so the scene here would be that of many travellers along the way, heading towards Jerusalem for the Passover feast.
A Blind Man .... Begging…
As Jesus travels along the road, we read of this blind man sitting along the side of the road.
This is the man’s first real struggle - his blindness. We are not told in this account if he was blind from birth, but that is the most probable scenario.
Either way, this man was blind, and could not participate in society as any normal person could.
This comes out clearly as we read that he was not only blind, but also a beggar. He would not have been in a position to provide for himself through productive labour. And so he was here relegated to sitting along the side of the road, calling out for mercy to those who were passing by.
Just picture the scenario for a moment. Given this time of the year, as things were building up to the time of the Passover feast, this would have been an opportune time for beggars to receive handouts from the pilgrims on their journey.
Given the increased number of travellers at the time of the Passover, this would have been an opportune time for beggars to gain an income.
But as this beggar sits begging for money, he hears a particularly loud throng. Notice verse 36…
36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.
Clearly, this was not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill crowd of people going past. This blind man could discern that there was much hype in this crowd. There was something peculiar that was distinguisable to Him.
We’ve seen all along through the Gospel account that there were large crowds of people that would follow Jesus as He walked along His way. Here we see this truth from another perspective, from the perspective of the blind man.
You can almost sense this man’s curiosity here as the crowd is going by.
As he asks the question, the answer provided to him is found in verse 37...
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
We don’t know who the “they” is, but probably it was just a number of those that were part of the large crowd, that were in the vicinity of this man as he posed the question.
Notice their reply, that “Jesus of Nazareth” is passing by. They refer to Jesus in terms of the place from which He came. You will recall the discussion bewteen Philip and Nathanael, as recorded in John 1:45-46
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Nathanael’s perception of “Jesus of Nazareth” was not great. Indeed, he questioned if anything good could come out of Nazareth.
But clearly, by this time, the word has spread concerning this Jesus of Nazareth. No longer is “Jesus of Nazareth” looked upon with any kind of scorn or contempt, but rather, word has spread concerning this Jesus, and it has come to this blind man… We will see in a moment how he responds, but before we look at that, I want us to note the connection to us today… all humanity really...
Applied to us...
Before we move on, we must link this to the plight of the human race. For those who are participating in our mid-week bible study, you’ll know and understand just how serious the plight of man apart from the grace of God is.
Indeed, the Scriptures are very clear that man is spiritually blind, and that no one seeks after God.
In the Old Testament, we find the prophets speaking out against the people of Israel due to their spiritual blindness, and their ears that do not listen.
Notice Psalm 135:16-18, which begins in verse 16 in speaking about the idols that people have created. And then note what verse 18 says about those who worship such idols...
16 They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes, but they do not see;
17 They have ears, but they do not hear,
Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
Essentially, God warned that these people would become just like the idols that they worship - having eyes but not seeing, having ears but not hearing.
The prophet Jeremiah then addresses this very problem with Israel in Jeremiah 5:20-23
20 “Declare this in the house of Jacob
And proclaim it in Judah, saying,
21 ‘Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people,
Who have eyes but do not see;
Who have ears but do not hear.
22 ‘Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord.
‘Do you not tremble in My presence?
For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea,
An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it.
Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail;
Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.
23 ‘But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart;
They have turned aside and departed.
Here were the Israelites, being prophesied against due to their own stubborn and rebellious hearts, even though God had worked great wonders among them.
In the New Testament, Romans 3 brings across that picture with great clarity. Romans 3:18
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
The spiritual blindness of the natural man, apart from the grace of God, causes man to turn away from God and not seek Him as they ought.
This is not to say that they know nothing of God, or they do not even agree with certain truths and facts concerning God. Rather, it means that they do not acknowledge God for who He truly is. They do not confess and submit to Him as God. Romans 1:21
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
That is spiritual blindness. It is the condition where a person (who may even know a good deal about God) does not honour God through submission to Him, and walks in spiritual blindness according to their own lusts and desires of the flesh.
This is the natural state of man.... of you and I...
Notice then, as we go on...
2. A Desperate Cry (v.38)
2. A Desperate Cry (v.38)
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Two important things are worth noting here. Firstly, this man saw his desperate condition, and knew his need for help. He also wanted this help. He was not content to stay in a condition of blindness, if there was indeed a way out.
But the second thing that we must see from this man’s cry is in the words that he spoke. Notice how he refers to Jesus. The crowds had said that “Jesus of Nazareth” is passing by.
But as the blind man cries out, he calls out to “Jesus, Son of David!”
We need to recognise that this designation by the blind man was an acknowledgement of the fact that he believed Jesus to be the Messiah. Any Jew of that day that was familiar with the Old Testament would have recognised the reference to the promised Messiah.
And so, as this man cries out to Jesus, he is calling upon Jesus as the promised Messiah of God. This alone is a wonderful declaration of the faith of the man.
Further down in verse 41, this blind man refers to Jesus as “Lord.”
It was somewhat ironic that while the crowds have failed to see the true nature and character of Jesus, a blind man has the clarity of perception to see and understand that Jesus is truly the Son of David, and is prepared to call Jesus Lord.
Although he was blind, this blind man saw far more than most in the crowds did.
Very clearly this man had heard about Jesus, and believed that He was the one with the power and authoirty from God to bring healing. Recall back in Luke 7, that Jesus was healing many blind people along with others…
21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Evidently the word had spread concerning Jesus, and this blind beggar of Jericho had heard about what Jesus had done for other blind people in healing them.
Now, imagine his excitement as he sits along the roadside, and the crowds tell him that the man coming by was Jesus. This was probably the only opportunity that the man would have to interact with Jesus, and hopefully be healed.
This blind man had a clear understanding of both the power and authority of Jesus, and so he calls out to him for deliverance. He calls out for Jesus to “have mercy” on him.
Romans 10:13, quoting Joel 2:32 says...
13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
In a real sense, this man was not only crying for mercy in terms of his blindness, but he was offering up a confession of faith in Jesus. He cries out to Jesus for mercy.
Applied to us...
The application to us is easy to see, is it not.
The blind man recognised his blindness, but also the power and authority of Jesus to deliver him from his condition. And so, he cried out to Jesus for mercy.
So too, those who are in spiritual blindness, which is all of us by nature, must recognise and acknowledge our own spiritual blindness, which should lead us to call out to Jesus for mercy to deliver us.
In this regard, the starting point is actually seeing our own blindness. It is a matter of seeing the depravity and wickedness of our hearts, and even the fact that while we may know about God and about Christ, we very often do not want to submit to Him. We often do not want to see Christ for who he truly is. There is a sense in which we would rather continue to not truly see and understand Christ so that we may continue in our own paths.
Spiritual blindness is far more dangerous than physical blindness.
As the blind man called upon Jesus to have mercy on him, this is the need of every person in spiritual darkness. They are to call upon the name of Jesus Christ in order to be saved. They are to cry out to God, pleading with Him to open their eyes, that they might see Him.
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
This profession of faith must flow out of a deep acknolwedgment of personal unworthiness!
As we continue on, note thirdly...
3. An Unwavering Persistence (v.39)
3. An Unwavering Persistence (v.39)
We see from our text that as this man cries out, probably with the mixed emotion of both excitement and a sense of deep desperation, that there is a hinderance to the man. The crowds around him are not at all happy with what he’s doing.
Luke 18:39 (NIV84)
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet,
Now, let’s just consider this for a moment. The crowds were so self-centered in their perspectives here that they had no concern for the man, and saw him only as a noisy pain.
In our Wednesday morning men’s meeting, we’re reading through a book by Jerry Bridges on humility. In one of the chapters he recounts a story of being in a library, sitting waiting for his wife, and some men who lived on the street walked into the library to get away from the cold. And all he could think was, what are these dirty (somewhat smelly) men doing in this comfortable, sophisticated library. Obviously, he does say that he later recognised his own sinful thinking there.
But that’s the natural inclination of man. You’re imposing on my comfort. You’re imposing on my enjoyment of this moment. There’s very little consideration for this man whose in a desperate state. This was a callouness of heart that was being demonstrated by the crowds. And they were in unison here… they were in agreement with one another - this man must be quiet!!
Friends, we need to be very careful as Christians that we never develop such calloused attitudes towards those around us. At the very least, we need to consciously consider the condition of those around us, and ask God to develop within us a care and compassion - a genuine concern for those around us.
Looking back to verse 39, notice that even with all this opposition, the man never gave up in his cries for help.
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
This man was convinced of the power of Jesus to save, and he knew that there was no other hope for his healing.
In light of the opportunity that was available to him, and in light of the seriousness of his condition, this man was driven by a sense of his own deep need to ignore those attempting to hinder him, and to cry out all the more. He was desperate for the merciful work of the Son of David.
And so, ignoring the rebukes of the crowds, he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” He was prepared to make a commotion, and to be rebuked even further by the crowds. Whatever the criticism or the harsh rebukes of the crowds would be, he was not willing for Jesus to pass by him without interacting with him.
What a clear picture we have here of the deep sense of urgent need from this man, and the deep conviction that Christ alone would be able to meet that need.
This man’s faith in Christ’s ability to heal was deep and genuine, and because of that, he persisted in his cries, despite what others were doing to him to stop him.
Application to us…
As we think about the application to us, we must note that there are any number of hinderances that stand in the way of us submitting to Christ, and crying out for His mercy.
These hinderances may come in the form of family or friends that draw us away from the Gospel, and tell us that it is foolish to follow Jesus. Perhaps it’s not even as overt… it’s just that they call you away from the things of Christ, and try to distract you. They tell you to spend time engaging with them in the things of this world, rather than time worshiping the king.
Perhaps it’s the lure of the things of this world that lulls you into a sense that you do not truly need Christ… you’re not that desperate in terms of your need for Christ. In other words, the things of this world stop you from recognising your own blindness. And so you don’t even cry out to God as you ought, because you don’t think you need him that desperately.
This blind man in this account knew that his only hope was Jesus Christ. He must lay hold of Christ, gain his attention, because here was the opportunity to be freed from his bondage.
Have you recognised your own bondage to sin. And is that sense of your sin, and the genuine knowledge that there is no hope apart from Jesus Christ, caused you to cry out to Him. Has this led you to persist in crying out, ignoring all of those things that would seek to disuade you, because your salvation and your deliverance from sin is far more important than the scorn that you may face?!
Friends, our most urgent need in all the world is for this Jesus Christ to deliver us from bondage to sin. If you don’t see that, you will stop calling out to Him… You cannot afford that!
4. A Great Reward (vv.40-43a)
4. A Great Reward (vv.40-43a)
We see from our passage that the persistence of the man paid off. Clearly the shouting of this man was loud enough to gain the attention of Jesus over the din of the crowd.
Luke 18:40–41 (NIV84)
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
Again, we need to keep in mind that Jesus was journeying towards Jerusalem where he would be crucified. He knew what was approaching Him. Even so, Christ continued to give thought and consideration to those around him who were in need.
The crowd had attempted to silence the man. They were so absorbed in their own enjoyment of the moment as part of the crowd, that they didn’t want a blind man - a man in desperate need - to cause a distraction to their pleasure and enjoyment of the moment.
But Jesus is not like them. Even though He is preparing his mind for his own impending death, he hears this man calling and has mercy on him. He shows pity to the man.
As Jesus hear’s the man’s cry, He gives an instruction, or a command, for the man to be brought to Him. He is probably commanding the very same people that had attempted to hinder the man.
Let us note here that Jesus truly had mercy and compassion on this man. And if we call out to Christ, He is one that will not turn a deaf ear to our cries!!!
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Our High Priest knows and understands our weaknesses and frailties, and He is eager to help us in our time of need.
Looking back to our text, We see that Jesus asks him a question… What do you want me to do for you?
We must recognise that Jesus knew full well that the man would have desired to see. This was not really about Jesus asking for His own sake, or to know how best to help the man. Rather, it was that this man would express with his mouth precisely what it was that he sought.
And so, we see the man’s expression of his heart’s desire at the end of verse 41…
Luke 18:41 (NIV84)
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
Once again, I just point out the term that the man used in addressing Jesus… “Lord.” We must not downplay the exalted view that this man had of Jesus.
But importantly here, we see him expressing his desire to be able to see.
Jesus’ response is immediate, and effortless…
Luke 18:42–43 (NIV84)
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight
There was no hesitation in the words of Jesus. There was no lack of power or ability on the part of Jesus. Simply speaking the word was sufficient to immediately grant this man the sight that he longed for. “Receive your sight” is all that Jesus needed to say, and the man’s sight is immediately and fully restored.
But we must also see that Jesus says, “your faith has healed you.” In other translations it says “your faith has made you well.” But the literal meaning there is, “your faith has saved you.” It’s the same phrase that is used elsewhere in the Gospels where individuals expressed faith in Christ to help them in their time of need, and I’ve said it before on those occassions, that this certainly referred to more than the mere healing of the physical ailment. These people were made whole, they were saved, through their confession of faith in Jesus Christ.
Applied to us...
We must see the application to us.
When we hear about Jesus christ, and about what He is able to do for us, we must ask if we are coming to him for the meeting of our deepest spiritual needs, or for something lesser.
Jesus asked this man particularly what it was that he wanted. Did he want healing, or did he want some money. Clearly the man wanted healing from spiritual blindness. He truly wanted to see.
In our context, what is it that we are seeking from Jesus Christ. Do we want Jesus to give us the things of this world? Do we want Jesus to provide us with comforts and pleasures? Do we want Jesus to provide us with friends and companions? Do we want Jesus to give us a promotion, or the next big job? Do we want Jesus to remove from us all forms of suffering?
If Christ had to ask you, seated here today, what do you want from me… is your desire that He would open your spiritual eyes that you might see the truth, and so worship God? There’s an old hymn with the words...
Give me a sight, O Savior,
Of Thy wondrous love to me,
Of the love that brought Thee down to earth,
To die on Calvary.
Oh, make me understand it,
Help me to take it in,
What it meant to Thee, the Holy One,
To bear away my sin.
Is this the desire of your heart? To know and understand the things of God, the ways of God, the salvation of God in Jesus Christ? Is this your deepest desire.
If that is so, let me assure you that the power of Christ has no lack. Christ may simply speak the word, and your eyes will be opened, and spiritual life given.
25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Christ has the power and authority to save, no matter your past condition. Have you called out to Jesus, the Son of David, to have mercy on you?!
5. A Fitting Response (vv.43b-c)
5. A Fitting Response (vv.43b-c)
The blind man suddenly has his sight. Having lived blind, and having sat as a beggar on the side of the road, possibly for most of his life (if not the entirety of his life) the man is suddenly able to see. He’s the happiest beggar alive. In fact, in this moment, he’s happier than most people alive!!
We see his reponse in verse 43…
Luke 18:43 (NIV84)
43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God.
There are two things that the man did. Firstly, he followed Jesus. That would most certainly have meant that he now joined this caravan of people as they travelled along the road towards Jerusalem.
But probably there is far more behind this phrase. This man had indeed acknowledged Jesus as Lord, and had trusted fully in His power. He was most certainly following Jesus as a true disciple of Jesus.
As he went, following christ, he was also praising God. This is the response of a person made whole, a person healed by the Saviour. To glorify God and to praise Him.
We see also in verse 43 that the crowds praised God...
Luke 18:43 (NASB95)
43 ...and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.
Application for us…
The person that has been made whole - the person redeemed by Christ from their sin - must turn and live a life of following Jesus in humble obedience, and giving thanks and praise to God.
These are at least some of the marks of genuine conversion.
The first is humble obedience.
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
What does it mean for Jesus to be LORD? It means that He is our Master! We listen to Him. We obey Him.
The first mark of a genuine saving faith is that the person so converted places priority on obedience to their Lord and master, irrespective on the cost of that obedience.
And then there is praise and gratitude.
If a person has truly come to know and understand the greatness of their salvation - what the truly means… the depths of their own depravity and unworthiness, and then the magnitude of God’s grace - then it must certainly lead them to thankfulness and gratitude.
The person converted will turn to God in praise. Paul says that we should be...
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Conclusion
Conclusion
Let me close with calls to two groups of people…
To those who have not repented of sin and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour...
I’m not saying you know nothing about Jesus. I’m not saying you don’t agree with much of what the Bible says.
I’m referring to those who have not come to the place of confessing their own desperate state of wickedness and sin before a holy God.
I’m referring to those who haven’t called out for Jesus to have mercy on you!!
Pray that Christ would open your eyes. Open your eyes to see the depths of your sin before God. Open your eyes to see the supreme value and worth of knowing Jesus Christ, and serving Him as Lord.
Cry out to Him for mercy, and He will have mercy on you, no matter the extent of your sin… He is a gracious and forgiving God.
And then to those who have confessed their sin, and professed Christ as Lord.
An appeal to you. Sometimes we lose sight of the depths of our own sin. Sometimes we become complacent in our lives as Christians. We fail to honour God and give him thanks as we ought. Or we allow ourselves to continue in sin, or even to live with half-hearted measures of following Christ.
My appeal to you is to humble yourself before Christ, commit yourself to obedience. Come again to see the extent of God’s love for you, and His grace towards you.
Following Christ in obedience requires ongoing, diligent effort. Pursue this.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
May God grant us this abundance, as we diligently seek Him, so that His Name may be exalted in and through us.