Matthew 20:29-34 (NIV)
As Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. Two blind men were sitting by the road side, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Jesus stopped and called them, "What do you want me to do for you?" He asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him.
This is a brief encounter with two unnamed, seemingly insignificant people towards the very end of Jesus' earthly ministry, yet this encounter's conversation is given to us word-for-word. Jesus had performed so many miracles described in Scripture that this miracle of restoring sight seems almost common place and expected. Yet, is there more to this stop along the side of the road than we see?
Jesus, now resolute about His final actions on earth is heading towards Jerusalem. He has left Jericho and is now approaching Bethphage and will soon send two disciples to retrieve the donkey and her colt so He will ride the animal into Jerusalem on Lamb selection day in what we call, "the Triumphal Entry." The Pharisees, Sadducees and leadership of the Jewish people have been questioning who Jesus is and will soon question His authority. Yet the words of the two men along the walk towards Jerusalem are revealing.
As Jesus leaves Jericho, there is a large crowd that follows Him. I get the impression the crowd is more of a spectacle atmosphere we would see today - almost circus like - rather than a crowd of serious followers of Jesus and His teaching. We know that within the crowd are the 12 students of Jesus - 11 of these disciples will soon be permanently designated as Apostles (Judas Iscariot is not included). We know there are the women who follow Jesus, caring for Him and the 12. Some of these women are related to the 12, some are not related to anyone. From there this crowd changes regularly with some joining as students to Rabbi Jesus and then leaving when Jesus' teachings become difficult to personally follow. (Matt 19:16-22; John 6:69)
Throughout Jesus' three-year ministry, He has been the source of publicly calling out the Jewish leadership for their lack of leading God's people correctly according to God's truths. The Jewish leadership have been questioning and challenging Him at every opportunity and Jesus cuttingly tells them what is right and wrong in God's eyes. Jesus has also been the source of countless miracles. So, I think the crowd is also more of a spectacle entourage than a crowd of true seekers of God's truths; more like entertainment groupies.
People hear that Jesus is in town and go out to hear Him talk, hopefully watch Him be confronted by and answer the Jewish leadership ("Oh my! I can't believe He just said that to them!") and see all of the miracles. I can almost see street vendors and smell food vendors following the parade to take advantage and profit from Jesus. If you have nothing to do, "it's a great way to spend the day."
So to me, the crowd has a handful of serious followers who are not 100% certain of whom Jesus is but have chosen to follow Him believing it's worth the past three years' of time. There are those who join and leave as half-serious students. There are those who are there for the entertainment factor. They enjoy Jesus, like what He says. These people want the "awe inspired goosebumps" when He heals someone, want to watch the comedy when He cuts down the leadership, and they want to be seen by others in the crowd. Then, there are those that profit off of the "Jesus experience." I assume the crowd isn't any different than today's entourage of groupies.
Now this crowd is moving from Jericho towards Bethphage blind to the fact that Jesus is facing His final week on earth. From the side of the road along this parade route two voices are heard shouting, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" The shouts are loud. The crowd around them tries to hush these two silly men; they don't want to miss anything Jesus might say or do. I can imagine this scene: Mothers push their little children in front of Jesus; He smiles and rubs each kid's head as the child shyly smiles and scampers off. Maybe Pharisees are spotted in the crowd as well as temple leadership. Maybe people are spotted carrying a friend so badly lamed as they try to press their friend towards Jesus to be healed. This is it... Jesus is going to heal this lame person, the Pharisees will challenge Jesus and He will cuttingly reply. The anticipation builds - "Oh! I'm so glad we got to see Jesus today!" - and the two guys beside you shout a second time even louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" Now angry, those around the men shout "Shut up!"
Jesus turns towards the shouts and calls the two men. He asks them what they want. Bam! Jesus heals them and the two men now tag along with Jesus. Seems reasonable and expected. And at first I think, "Finally! Someone healed follows Jesus." Yet, there is more to this encounter than grateful followers.
Lord - The two men call Jesus Lord giving Him authority over them as God to subject man. Not Rabbi like those who follow Jesus who simply know Him as teacher. A great teacher. A teacher from God. Even Mary Magdeline calls Jesus Rabbi after the resurrection and Jesus tells Mary not to hold onto Him in that manner (John 20:16) Soon the Pharisees will again question Jesus' authority yet the two blind men do not. These men seem to recognize who Jesus is and call Him Lord.
Son of David - A Messianic title; the Anointed One of God qualified to sit on the throne of David. The Jewish leadership who have studied the Torah (the Law) and have memorized those first five books. They have studied the Psalms and the Prophets. They know the history of the Jewish people, know the predictions, and their very daily existence is based off of this knowledge. Yet, the Jewish leadership didn't recognize who Jesus is and/or refused to recognize Jesus.
More over, the 12 core disciples of Rabbi Jesus didn't fully recognize Jesus and yet have lived with Him day-in and day-out for three years witnessing everything. Even Peter, James and John who witnessed the transfiguration, heard God say, "This is my Son" and earlier Peter uttered "You are the Christ," failed to truly understand who Jesus is, at this time. Yet these two blind men shout "Son of David."
Have mercy on us - The two blind men recognize God's characteristic of merciful through Jesus who has told the Jewish leadership and those around Him that God desires mercy not sacrifice (Matthew 9:13). That God wants us to live lovingly and compassionately (Hosea 6:6) and not restrictively, routinely or in a regimented way. Love God, love others; choose God, choose others over self.
Ever wonder how two men who cannot physically see have recognized Jesus so clearly that they see Him as Lord, the Messiah, possessing and living out God's mercy? These men see better than the entourage following Jesus. These two weak, blind men are chosen by God to shame the wise and seeing who are relying on themselves (1 Corinthians 1:25-29).
So, Jesus calls the men to Him and asks what they want. To see. And Jesus heals the men giving them the physical sight matching their Spiritual sight. Although Jesus doesn't say these words in this instance, I can almost hear Him saying to the men, "Your faith has made you well." (Your belief - in me and God - has made you well.)
The response of these men? They now follow Jesus. We don't know for how long - if they just followed Jesus to Jerusalem, for the final passion week or were part of the group of disciples who made up the beginning of the church. The point is the men followed Jesus and Jesus allowed them to follow.
The Bible recounts the numerous healings Jesus did. (Matthew 15:30) The authors of the inspired Scriptures focus on a handful of healings so we get more of the details surrounding the events. Some people when healed are appreciative and go on with their lives. Some when healed leave never thanking Jesus. Some, Jesus sends off with specific instructions. Some want to follow Jesus and in this instance Jesus allows the two healed men to follow Him. Perhaps because the blind men are living testimonies of the Gospel. (Matthew 11:5-6 - The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." The fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-2.)
The men were physically blind yet had Spiritual sight to recognize, believe in and follow Jesus. Their faith more seeing than ours.
We're Spiritually blind with physical sight not recognizing Jesus, missing who He truly is thereby electing not to follow Him. What good is our so-called faith if it's blind to who Jesus is truly? That blindness of faith prevents us from exchanging our current life for His new life. We have blinded faith.
It's time to have Jesus open our eyes to God's truths. This make me think of the tried and true words of Amazing Grace:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
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