12/23

Matthew 20:30

³⁰And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!"

The town of Jericho was known for its eye salve. Apparently it was not working for these two men. They were probably begging at the side of the road. Upon hearing that Jesus was coming they yelled out for mercy. They called Him, "Lord." The term could simply mean an important person, or it could refer to God. They also call Him, "Son of David." That is a messianic term. They expressed faith that He was the Messiah.

Luke's account tells us that the crowd tried to quiet them, but they yelled all the louder (Luke 18:39). Jesus stopped and asked what it was they were asking. They pleaded to have their sight restored. Jesus answered their request. What the local eye balm could not do, the Son of David could do with His touch. Then they followed Jesus.

There is a world of spiritually blind people that think they can see. I live in a town where many are ready to tell you just what their imagination has seen, but they are spiritually blind. Only those who realize how spiritually blind they are will call out for mercy to the Messiah who can give sight to the spiritually blind as well as the physically blind. Jesus told the religious leaders that because they said they could see, their sin remained (John 9:41). If a person recognizes His blindness and calls out to the Savior, his or her sin will be forgiven and they will see.

Consider: Can you truly see? Have you called out to the Savior to have mercy on you? Pride thinks it can see and invents a scene that verifies its own supposed greatness. Humility knows it cannot see and pleads persistently for mercy and then waits for His touch. When real sight is given, we follow the Giver.