On the road to Jerusalem

Luke 18:35-43

35 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.” 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” 43 Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

We are to catch the undercurrents running in this passage.

They are coming to Jericho on a journey that will take Jesus to Jerusalem – it is a steep uphill climb from Jericho to Jerusalem. Here at the start of that demanding journey that will have Jesus lifted up on a cross, the discussion about who Jesus is is on full display. The crowd says, “This is Jesus of Nazareth.” From the northern part of Israel a prophet and crowd gatherer, but that is all. The blind man knows better 

The blind man sees what others cannot: Jesus is the Son of David, which is a Messianic claim. The blind man sees who Jesus is. Again the least and lowly, the one who is assumed to not be in the know (he does not know who it is that is walking, the one who is the source of the crowd and the commotion), knows better than those who should have known.

The crowd tries to silence the blind man, blocking his access to Jesus. But Jesus challenges the crowd just like he challenged the disciples when they blocked the children. Jesus will speak to the blind man and will offer him blessing, the healing of his sight.

Jesus does not tell the healed man to stop following him. Jesus is comfortable for the blind man to tell his story loudly. Why is this time different than the times when Jesus told those healed to not tell what had happened to them? Part of the reason is that Jesus will very soon be in Jerusalem, there is now no need to hide, Jesus is setting up for a very public confrontation in Jerusalem.   

PRAYER:

God of grace, we do not see as you see, and we need help to see what really is. Form us that we might see as you see and hear as you hear, and thus become faithful disciples of yours. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.