Matthew 20 - Sight beyond Sight

“ 29As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"

31The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"

32Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.

33"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."

34Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”

What an awesome testament of faith and determination. Though the blind men were rebuked by the crowd, they did not listen to them. Their faith and determination overcame the fear of the world and, because of that, because they sought Jesus with all of their heart, they were healed! They could not physically “see” but they saw with their hearts and faith, they knew they would be healed by Jesus. How strong is your faith?

The blind men were rebuked by the crowed but, instead of listening to them and shying away, they began to shout even louder. Instead of being silenced by the world, they took the negative attack of the world and turned it into fuel to seek Jesus even stronger. How do we respond to the world’s rebuke? Do we fold to man who fails us? Or do we use the world’s rebuke to seek Jesus even stronger?

Once the blind men were healed, they didn’t return to what they were doing before, they followed Jesus. They stayed with the one who could give them what the world could not. They knew before they were healed that only Jesus held the truth, only He would save them, the world could not and would not. So, they followed Jesus, not turning back to the world. Do we stay with Jesus after He heals us or do we return to the world that forsakes us?
There are many lessons we can learn from these blind men, who saw without physically seeing. We may not be physically blind, but do we really see?