Why Not You? Matthew 20:29-34

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People told a couple of blind guys not to cry out to Jesus! They heard him coming and they knew he was their hope for sight! A hope beyond all normal human experience! Here’s how Matthew described it:

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out,

“Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. (Matthew 20:29–34 ESV)

Why couldn’t you be one of those blind men? If they can call on Jesus, why not you?

Matthew’s whole point of telling this event was that the blind men were right! They saw three things that everyone else missed:

1. They were right about who Jesus was. He was the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to right all wrongs and restore all things. He would start by dying on the cross for our sins so that first things first, he could restore a holy fellowship between us and God! You can know God as your Father by faith in Jesus, that Jesus died on your account so that you can be counted as righteous before God. First things first, Jesus would deal with justice, sin, and death, through deep mercy and sacrifice. The blind guys were right about who Jesus is.

2. They were right about what Jesus could do. He was Lord of all things, including their optic nerves. They knew he could do it. They knew he was more than a teacher but a healer. And not just healer by some sort of magical awareness or scientific knowledge. He was a healer because he was Lord of all things. The blind guys were right about what Jesus could do. Can’t he do it?!

3. They were right about what Jesus was like. He was deeply compassionate. While everyone else believed him too important to stop for two insignificant blind beggars, they knew that Jesus would stop. They knew he was important, but that he was so wonderful that he had plenty of time for them without feeling bothered or rushed. Bothered and rushed is for limited beings, but Jesus is unlimited. He had no limits in status, in power, or in compassion. The blind guys were right about what Jesus was like.

They were right, so they cried out in full faith. They had total commitment to the concept that Jesus was the One they needed. If they could cry out, why not you?