Eyes of Faith. Luke 18:35-43 For several months, the Lord Jesus Christ and His followers had been traveling from place to place on their journey to Jerusalem. People had been healed, and the message of the Gospel had been openly proclaimed. The Lord Jesus taught His disciples many lessons along that journey. From Luke chapter ten to chapter eighteen, a wide range of spiritual truths was taught to His disciples and others who listened to Him. He explained the fundamentals of living according to God's intentions, both through words and examples. Today, as then, many people who hear God's truth from His Word choose to ignore and reject what He teaches.
Much of what Luke wrote early in the Gospel, based on many witnesses he heard from, is not found in Matthew, Mark, or John. Starting with his teachings about children in chapter eighteen, verse fifteen, and continuing to the end of the book, the presentation is similar in Matthew and Mark.
Jericho was a thriving city not far from where the Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. It wasn’t far from Jerusalem, but it was an uphill journey because Jericho is well below sea level, while Jerusalem sits on the hills of Judea. Herod spent the winter in his lavish palace, also called Jericho, near the city. It’s likely that between these two parts of Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus found the best way to meet his needs through begging. Blind people had little hope of surviving in those days, apart from begging for food and funds. By spending all day, every day by the side of the road, the blind beggar would have heard from others about Jesus of Nazareth, who healed other blind people. Perhaps some of Jesus’ teachings also reached his ears.
The first step to gaining spiritual eyesight today is admitting our need and inability to do anything about it. Our ears must be open first, and we must be willing to listen to and believe God's word. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” There are no social or religious barriers created by hearing the truth. Barriers arise from what we do with what we hear and whether we believe the Bible is truly the word of God. Ignoring it, despising it, and rejecting it are common, sad responses that many people make. Others, aware of their own need and inability to meet it, are willing to open their minds and then their mouths to seek help. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The blind man had heard enough to believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah without having seen or heard Him himself. The large crowd of people walking together toward Jerusalem perhaps made him think they would be willing to give him some money. Giving money to the poor was part of a religious Jew’s duty, especially when going to Jerusalem for the Passover feast.
When his question about what was happening was answered by, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” everything was changed in his mind. This was not one of the many people named “Jesus,” a common name in those days, but this was Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah who having not seen, he believed in. This passing moment was his one opportunity to get his eyesight. He was not interested in food or funds from Jesus. He wanted the root of his problem dealt with.
Opportunities come when we are compelled to call on the Lord to meet a need, and a wise person does not hesitate to do so regardless of what others may say or do. It doesn’t matter to an earnest seeker when others try to keep them from Christ; they will call upon the Lord in faith, no matter their circumstances or conditions. Many words are not needed to reach the ears of our God. “He is near unto all who call upon Him out of a pure heart.”
Like the blind man, don’t try to impress Him with a dignified manner of speech, hoping that will make Him more inclined to listen. His ear is open to the call from the heart of any earnest person in need. The only requirement to reach the ear of our Lord is an open and honest heart, along with genuine faith in Him who can meet our needs.
The blind man didn’t make a quiet, casual, polite request; instead, with an assurance of faith and a loud voice, he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” In those few words, he made his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ known to all, and it was clear to everyone that, despite their presence and actions, he sought the attention of Jesus. He didn’t stop his earnest plea until Jesus stopped and others brought the blind man to Him. Likely, everyone there wondered what Jesus would do. All the blind man knew was that Jesus was nearby, but he couldn’t see where He was or how to reach Him.
His loud cries of desperation from his heart were heard by the One who knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Instead of Jesus going to where the blind man was, He had others bring the blind man to Him. It is God's purpose to use those who know Him as their personal Savior to lead others to Him for salvation. We may not know who around us desires to have their sins forgiven or who needs spiritual sight, so a few words in the form of a question can often open the door for someone to express their need.
Those who belong to the family of God can often recognize the sincerity of a seeking soul because we were there ourselves before God saved us. When we see a genuine desire to know the Lord, we lead them to Jesus by opening the Word of God and allowing them to hear Him speak to them personally. When it comes directly from God’s own word, there's no need for them to ask for our opinion. The word of God is clear and must be believed. Believing God’s word is trusting God Himself.
Bartimaeus didn’t ask for money from Jesus like he would have from other people. He wanted the root of his problem addressed, and he had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that He could do what was needed. His answer to Jesus’ question was clear and straightforward. “Lord, I want to see!” The Lord’s response to his faith was to give him sight. The same is true for a seeking sinner who sincerely says, “Lord, I want to be saved!” He eternally saves those who call on the name of the Lord.
Not only did the man receive his sight, but he also followed the Lord and expressed his gratitude through praise. This response caused everyone who saw what happened and heard him praising God to join in the praise. When a person gains spiritual insight, those who witness and hear the evidence of faith in someone else are eager to praise God alongside them. The evidence of faith in one person blesses those around them. Hearts of God’s people rejoice at the sound of new life in Christ. As a person follows the Lord in their life, that joy extends into heartfelt praise to God.
LUKE 19 JESUS CAME TO SAVE THE LOST.