Matthew 2:29-30 tells us, "And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David." Blind beggars are mentioned frequently in the New Testament (Matt. 9:27; 12:22; 20:30; John 5:3). Their daily task was to beg for their sustenance if they were not taken care of as God instructed in the Old Testament (Lev. 19:14; Deut. 27:18). Job said, "I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame." So long before the law was given it was a given to care for those who were "physically challenged" in some way or form.
If we consider the beggars mentioned in the New Testament, we could easily conclude that they were not being cared for as God would have them to be. Services as we have them today for the blind were not available but they were to still care for them. Whether these two men were being cared for as they should have been or not, one thing is certain - they would not stop crying for Jesus to have mercy on them even though "the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace. . ." (v 39). Why they should hold their peace is not clear. Perhaps some in the "multitude" were of the Sadducees and Pharisees and did not want to see Jesus heal another person. Perhaps some in the "multitude" were disciples of Christ and thought they were doing him an honor by silencing these noisy screamers. Perhaps some in the "multitude" were selfishly thinking of themselves and wanted Christ's attention for themselves. Whatever the reason for silencing them, "they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David." Twice here in the Scriptures they called Him Lord and twice here in the Scriptures they cried for mercy. No doubt, they cried it many more times and would not be silenced. Jesus granted their request and also to "many that were blind he gave sight." (Luke 7:21b)
It amazes me that when the odds seemed against those persons who cried for Jesus, he would stop and ask what they wanted. These two blind men responded to His question, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." Now, it could be said that blindness is one of the worst disabilities that one could have (though some would strongly state that the inability to physically see does not deter them in the least in our day). While physical blindness is a terrible state to be in, spiritual blindness is much worse.
Jesus admonished his disciples to steer clear of those who are spiritually blind. After rebuking some of the religious leaders his disciples came to him and said, "Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?" (Matt. 15:12) Jesus told the crowd that it is not what goes in the mouth that defiles a man but what comes out of the heart. The Pharisees had accused Jesus and his disciples of not washing their hands before they eat. Jesus then brought to light the way they dishonored their father and mother by being so duty bound to the temple and not caring for their parents as they should. He called them hypocrites. In fact, he described those who were hung up on the religious ceremonial law, to the point of sacrificing justice, mercy, love and grace, as being "blind." He warns his disciples, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matt. 15:15).
Do we continually cry to the Lord to open our spiritual eyes so that we may see. Or do we think that we are not spiritually blind, at least in some degree? The Gospel of John gives an account of a man born blind. Jesus met the man in the temple and washed his eyes with mud (spit and dirt) and told him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam. He did and came seeing. The religious leaders did not like this and tried every way possible to discount this miracle that Jesus had performed. They even accused Him of being a sinner and also ostrasized the blind man that was healed. At one point Jesus said, "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." This caused indignation in the Pharisees. Their response was, "Are we blind also?" Then Jesus replied, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth."
Would it not be better to have our spiritual eyes washed with "spit mud" than to have such "ignorant arrogance" as to say, "we see everything clearly in the spiritual sense?" Is there an inkling of pride somewhere that causes the attitude of being self-sufficient and keeps one from going in and out of the "DOOR" to receive what is needed day by day? O Lord, its hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way.
Crying out to Jesus is not "old school" or "new school." It is the "cool school" as my five year old granddaughter would say. Cry out to Jesus! Cry out to Jesus lest the "blindness of [the] heart. . ." continues. (Eph. 4:18) Cry out to Jesus for the light that only he can give. "O great Light of the World" come open our spiritual eyes that we may see You more clearly; that we may serve more fearlessly; that we may love more perfectly; that we may give more simply; that we may live more abundantly; that we may laugh more deeply; that we may weep with intercession for others; that we may glorify you in all things - by your mercy and grace. AMEN!
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