KING IN HIDING
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to see You clearly today. Help me to listen to You and follow where You lead.
Read Matthew 9:27–34
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How would you react if Jesus miraculously healed you?In contrast to yesterday’s encounters, Jesus keeps these blind men waiting (27). Why? The men have to pursue Jesus and even then Jesus questions the depth of their faith (28). So what did they believe about Jesus? By using “Son of David” (a Messianic title), they were confirming their belief that Jesus was the king described in Isaiah 9:2–7. If Jesus healed them, he would be fulfilling the words of Isaiah 35:5, where the healing of the blind was a sign that God had come to save his people.
Imagine what would happen once word got out that Jesus was Israel’s Messiah. Jesus’ concern for privacy (28) and his news embargo on the healing (30) appear to be efforts to control potential Messiah-mania. The evidence that Jesus is the Messiah continued to mount: the very next miracle (32) fulfilled Isaiah 35:6. I’ve heard people say that they would believe if they had evidence of God. But look at the different responses here: a few people believed and were rewarded for their faith (29), the majority were intrigued onlookers (33), and some were positively venomous in their reactions (34). How does this compare with reactions you have received when you have shared the news about Jesus?
Apply
Do you shout the Good News from the rooftops or quietly drop a hint about salvation? Imagine that Jesus has just healed you; now share the Gospel today from that perspective.
Closing prayer
Today, the message of Jesus will be shared privately and publicly. Pray for people to receive Jesus as their King.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.