Two Blind Man – Matthew 20: 17 – 34
17 While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; 19 then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.”
The Request of the Mother of James and John
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, “Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!” 32 Jesus stood still and called them, saying, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.
What does it say?
V17 – 19: Jesus talks about the danger of going back to Jerusalem. He explicitly talks about how he will be condemned by the leaders of the Jews, flogged and crucified, and even rise from the dead on the third day. However, the disciples didn’t understand what he was meaning.
V. 20 – 28: Even after him talking about his death, the mother of ‘Zebedee’s sons,’ who is James and John come and ask Jesus to sit her two sons on the right and left side of his kingdom. This mother, her two sons, and many other disciples thought that Jesus will enter Jerusalem and start a revolution, and take over the thrown. That is why it says in v. 24, “When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers.” Matthew 20:24 The Message.
Why were they ‘thoroughly disgusted.’ if they thoroughly understood what Jesus said about his death and resurrection? Since they couldn’t get it, they were just furious about the fact that James and John’s mother approached Jesus before they could. After Jesus sees the disciples arguing with each other, he gathers them and tells them to follow the way of his life, not the fame.
V. 29 – 34 Two men were at the city border of Jerico. They weren’t included in the community and were outcasts. They cry out for Jesus to receive sight. Jesus with compassion heals them, and they gratefully follow him.
What does it mean to us (me)?
In the passage, there are two types of blind people. The ones who see, but do not see the truth. They were with Jesus all the time but do not understand the depth of his love, which represent the love of God.
They are intrigued by the attention Jesus receives from the crowd, instead of his purpose. His purpose is the serve, regardless of the cost, and he wants his followers to do the same thing.
“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served – and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.” Matthew 20: 27-28 The Message.
It is interesting that this passage follows right after Jesus talks about his death, and then him encountering two blind men.
At the last verse of ch. 20 it says, “Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” Matthew 20:34 NIV
It sounds as if he was saying ‘if you know the truth and experience how the ‘truth sets you free’ and help you see, then come and follow me.’ Not only join the crowd, but follow the way I live.
Are we truly following the way and lifestyle of Jesus Christ? Or are we only following the crowd, and more occupied by the attention we get from the crowd? Are we willing to serve the world, like Jesus did, by giving up his life? Or do we say we are his followers and still not see the truth and beauty of this sacrifice?
How will you serve the world in this manner, today?
How does this passage speak to you?
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