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Matthew 20:29-34 NIV
Two Blind Men Receive Sight
29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
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When a person is very busy, it is easy to see what is most important in their heart. Some prioritize their career, some prioritize health, and others prioritize family... For example, when parents see that their baby has a need, no matter how busy they are, they quickly drop everything to care for the baby because the baby holds a very important place in their hearts. The miracle recorded by Matthew in this passage was not the first miracle performed by the Lord Jesus. By this time, the Lord had already healed many blind people in various ways. However, what was different was that His earthly ministry was nearing its end. He had already predicted three times that He would be condemned to death by the chief priests and scribes in Jerusalem, handed over to the Gentiles, mocked, flogged, and crucified (Matthew 20:18). Yet the apostles still did not fully understand the meaning of the Kingdom of Heaven. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus had many heavy burdens on His heart. During this time, He also encountered many people who followed Him, seeking to satisfy the bottomless needs of their flesh. Most people were still living in darkness. Amid this heavy-heartedness, some blind men called out to Him for healing. Although they were stopped, they did not give up. They persisted in their cries because they knew this was their only chance to regain their sight. Their attitude reflected their awareness of their own pitiful condition and unworthiness; what they sought was the grace of the Lord Jesus. At the same time, they must have drawn a conclusion based on what they had heard about Jesus' deeds—that He was the promised Messiah. Thus, they addressed Jesus as "Lord" and "Son of David." The Lord Jesus would never be too busy to care for His children. His compassionate heart overcame all the burdens on His mind. He stopped, showed concern for these helpless blind men, and healed them. Unlike many other blind people who had been healed, these men recognized with their newly opened eyes that the Lord Jesus was the Redeemer and entered the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, they began to follow the Lord Jesus. Following the true light, they found true hope and had already obtained the most precious treasure (Matthew 13:44-46). The prophet Joel said, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Joel 2:32). This calling is like the desperate plea of the blind men—a cry for survival, as urgent as the desire to flee to a city of refuge. The compassionate nature of the Lord Jesus will surely fulfill His promises according to His faithfulness. Our cries reflect the extent of our desire to receive. Jacob longed for a blessing and would not give up until he received it. He even wrestled with God. Though he lost the use of his hip, God answered his prayer, and he received an immense blessing (Genesis 32:22-29). Will the Triune God respond to our cries? Do we have the attitude that we cannot do without Him? Do we recognize our own condition?
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