As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two 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!”  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.

Matthew 20:29 – 34

On this, his last Pentecost, Jesus did not pass through Samaria but entered Judea on his way to Jerusalem from the east, through Jericho.  Jesus knew what lay before him – praise, denial, scorn and finally the Cross.  No shoulders ever carried a heavier burden. He was giving his life to ransom sinners, like you and me.

The disciples must have sensed this as they left Jericho in the valley, then up the great mountain to Jerusalem.  Jesus’ hour had come.  Jesus was carrying weight unknown to mankind.  Neither the great crowd nor his disciples knew what lay before him. Jesus knew.

As they left Jericho, surrounded by a large crowd, there along the road two blind men had their own needs.  They were not aware of the load that Jesus was carrying.  Here was their chance so they cried out for healing and they would not be silenced by the large crowd.  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.

My heart is touched by the Lord’s compassion.  It is the strongest in the universe.  I, too, was along the way when Jesus touched me, blind but healed.  Why he should have stopped in front of me baffles me, but it was surely because he had compassion on me.  Who can explain that?  I and all believers just know it, experience it and live in its glory.

The Cross declares the compassion of Jesus Christ. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 It was for me, and you, not for himself.  Those wounds that we peer upon this Lentin Season heals us, now and for all eternity.

Praise God, Jesus touched our blind spiritual eyes and gave us an entirely new way of looking at life.  Jesus’ blessed eyes closed in death a few days later, on the Cross. Because of that we can see!

Because of that we can see!