Matthew 20:29–34 – Responding to Jesus’ searching question

For two blind men by the roadside of Jericho to ask for help and assistance would seem like an ordinary thing. It must have been an all-too-custom scene. Everyday scores of people would have passed them by, and many must have taken pity on them and toss a few coins to help them. But that day, by the roadside of Jericho, was different. Jesus, the person whom most people thought was the Messiah was passing by. The two blind men heard the news. It certainly would be a once-in-a-life-time opportunity. So they raised their volume calling out for the attention of Jesus. Notice how they addressed Him, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” When the crowd tried to silent them sternly. They doubled their volume and cried out all the more.

 

How many times people of importance had passed them by without stopping to even take a look. But this Jesus was different. He stopped. He always stops to hear the desperate cries of people in need. What He did next was even more startling, He called them over. They didn’t expect Him to call them. But He did. But what’s more unusual was the question He asked. “What do you want me to do for you?” What sort of question was that? “Master, our sight obviously.”

 

We were not told how long they were blind. Wouldn’t it be obvious for people who couldn’t see to request for sight? So the question seems to be redundant. Is it? No, it isn’t! The two blind men each had a choice to make. They could ask for a few coins that would have satisfied their needs for the moment. Or they could ask for their healing which would forever mean that they could no longer beg for their living. The decision to ask for sight would mean a total change of lifestyle for them. Which is better, to remain living in a world of darkness and beg, or living in a world of light and work?  

 

Thankfully, they said, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” Wise choice! Jesus must have looked at them and knew what it would cost them to make that decision. Both of them dug deep down beneath the shell of their lifetime of begging and ask for the one thing that matters - their sight. Moved with compassion. Jesus touched their eyes and they saw, and rose immediately and followed Him.

 

What happened to these two blind men? They have left behind one set of lifestyle to adopt another. What happened to them can also happen to anyone of us who comes to Jesus asking for something. We will experience His sharp question penetrating the veneer of our life’s casing to find the real and obvious request we have. And when He meets the request, there can only be one obvious response – to follow Him. It may be costly but for the One who meets all the needs of our life, what better response can we give?