The Blind Can See

N.T.#624 "The Blind Can See"

Sept. 1, 2025 

Luke 18-Part 9 

LET IT GLOW

Do you pray before you rise to meet the day? I always pray for my family, each by name. Today we read about a man who keep seeking Jesus. 

This situation is recorded in three of the Gospels. However, one differs in the time it took place. Matthew says it happened when they departed Jericho. (20:29) It could be the Roman city about a mile east of Herod's winter headquarters, which was also called Jericho. Matthew says there were two blind men involved. 

It was a bandit-infested road from Jericho to Jerusalem. Remember the Good Samaritan? Jewish pilgrims usually traveled the road to the Temple, banding together for safety. It would have been a 20 mile climb to Jerusalem, the city on a hill. 

It is a paved highway now, I recall riding on our tourist bus seeing hills on both sides as we went through the area down to Jericho. It would have been scarry walking back then.

This event is known as the healing of blind Bartimaeus. He was sitting by the road begging and heard a noisy crowd pass by, then wondered what was going on. The blind man was told that Jesus of Nazareth was going by. 

What did the blind man do then?

So he began shouting, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (verse32, NLT)

Bartimaeus recognized Jesus as the Messiah., Israel's future King. But the people in front yelled at him to be quiet. Yet, Bart said it again. Only Jesus could heal his blindness. Jesus had heard the pleas, stopped, and ordered the man to be brought to Him. Jesus asked Bart what he wanted Jesus to do for him.

Do we reach out to Jesus when we have a need? Do we keep on seeking Him, waiting for His grace? Is prayer a priority in our life?

LET IT GROW

"What do you want me to do for you?" (verse 41a)

Of course, Bart wanted to be able to see. He wanted to receive his sight. (verse 41b) 

Do we seek to see Jesus' will in our life? Do we pray to see the needs of others?

What did Jesus do to meet Bartimaeus' need? He spoke and it was so. 

Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. (verse 42)

That could have been how this event ended, but it wasn't. Immediately he received his sight, followed Jesus, and glorified God. His faith believed Jesus could heal his blindness.

Bartimaeus was not only physically healed, but spiritually healed, too. That day he had something to praise God for-a new citizenship in God's kingdom. Can you hear his excitement?

I almost missed something here. The people gave praise to God, also. They saw God working in their midst, firsthand.

LET IT GO

Help us bring the spiritually blind to You, Jesus.

We all need Your forgiveness of our sins, Precious Jesus.

Amazing grace-I once was blind but now I see.