Joshua 16:1-17:18; Luke 18:31-43; Psalms 87:1-3; Proverbs 20:19
NT: “As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening. “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him. So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see.” “Receive your sight.” Jesus told him. “Your faith has saved you.” Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.” (Luke 18:35-43 CSB)
Blind faith usually has a negative connotation, but this blind man had faith that Jesus commended. This man had never seen Jesus work any miracles… he had never seen any signs to show him who Jesus was. All he had to go on was the word-of-mouth accounts he had heard… no physical evidence, just testimonies – yet he called Jesus the Son of David. That was a messianic title. By calling Jesus the Son of David, he was saying by faith that Jesus was the Anointed One promised of God, who was anointed to bring sight to the blind. He didn’t know where Jesus was… he couldn’t see how far or how close Jesus was to him – he simply knew that Jesus was going to pass by. So he did the only thing he could do, he began crying out at the top of his lungs for Jesus… hoping that when Jesus did pass by that He would be able to hear him over the crowd and stop to minister to him. As people told him to shut up, he cried out all the more, believing that if Jesus heard him, He would have mercy on him and heal his blindness. Jesus heard him and not only restored his sight… Jesus saved him. He was healed and he was saved by faith… faith that didn’t have to see to believe. In an instant he was transformed and began following Jesus and praising God. There are so many hopes and promises in Christ that we have no way of seeing – all we have is His word to go on. Do we believe the things God says, and the things that have been written about God? Are we able to hope, believe, and act on words without seeing? The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we walk by faith and not by sight. Through “blind” faith in the Faithful One, we can be confident in all that God has promised us in Christ Jesus. The blind man placed his faith in Jesus and was saved. Will we do the same?
Jamie Hicks 