Physical And Spiritual Blindness

 Luke 18: 35-43

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

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.

No one wants to be plagued with physical blindness but we all admire how those so impaired manage to lead full and effective lives though their own determination and the aid of others.  Spiritual blindness might not be as apparent, but nevertheless, it impairs personal spiritual growth and effective relationships with others.  The spiritually blind do not see how focused they are on themselves, often eliminating God entirely from their lives and alienating others with their self-centeredness.  Everything revolves around them; others do not matter. The cure for this blindness, as with the blind beggar, lies in calling out for help from Jesus.  Calling out to Jesus sets the stage for healing, for it is an admission of both the blindness itself and the need for Another, Jesus, to cure it. May we make the blind man's plea our prayer: :Lord, I want to see", or in another translation, Lord, that I may see."

Bro. Rene