As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
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!”
Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God (Luke 18:35, 38-43 NIV).
There are many beautiful sights to dazzle the eyes this time of year. But there’s none so glorious to behold as our Lord Jesus Christ!
Blind Bartimaeus could not see Jesus. But “where eyes could not lead him, his voice was sure to find the Messiah’s heart” (The Jesus Touch). So, in faith, he called out. And he kept calling.
Bartimaeus received the merciful, healing touch of Jesus. He received physical eyesight. But a more tragic fate affects those who are spiritually blind.
God revealed His glory in the incarnation . . . in Jesus. But aren’t we all blind beggars (whether from sin, darkness, hardness of heart, willful pride, or the Deceiver) in need of healing in order to “see” it?
Though we’ve not seen Jesus in person, we believe. We believe because we’ve heard the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17). It is that faith that gives sight to our hearts. The Word opens our eyes to see truth. To see Him. And the Spirit continues to reveal Him to us (1 Corinthians 2:10).
There is a very real danger, however, in looking to Jesus only for His gifts . . . and to completely miss seeing Him. But Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46). The light of the Son has shone in our hearts so we can see! Let’s now examine daily where we focus our gaze.
Almighty God, I want to see! I cry out for mercy. Give me understanding and depth of insight. Grant to me, as Solomon, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding as great as the sands of the seashore (1 Kings 4:29). Remove every obstruction to my clear view of Jesus. Help me fix my eyes—not on what is seen, but on what is unseen—on the eternal things of the kingdom of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:18). Please open the eyes of the spiritually blind to the glories and excellencies of the Lord.
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