OPEN MY EYES
Opening Prayer
I praise you, Lord God. You are the one for whom nothing is too hard; nothing is beyond your control. I have no need today that you cannot meet. Thank you that I always can ask for your help and expect you to answer.
Read LUKE 18:31–43
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
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
What harsh reality is troubling you? What aspect of your life would you like God to change?There are two forms of blindness on display in this passage. The first involves the disciples as they completely failed to process Jesus’ concise summary of what awaited him—and then—when they would get to Jerusalem (vv. 31–33). They are unaware of their blindness. The second is about a man whose physical eyesight had failed (v. 35). He was acutely aware of his blindness. Both would require a miracle if healing was to occur.
On several occasions Jesus told his disciples plainly and bluntly that he would be rejected, tried, and murdered in Jerusalem (see Mark 8:31–33 and 9:30–32; Matthew 16:21–28; Luke 9:22–27). At each instance they completely missed the point, or even challenged Jesus to change the narrative. This is in such contrast to the immediate response of the blind man. He joyfully praised God and followed Jesus (v. 43).
The issue of willful blindness crops up many times in the Gospels. It is usually a refusal to confront reality because it is some combination of fear, embarrassment, or inconvenience. It is only when we can see the truth of who Jesus is, what he has done, and what that all means, that we are able to navigate the world with our eyes wide open.
Apply
Is there anything God wants to show you that you’re reluctant to engage with? He loves to open the eyes of the blind.
Closing prayer
Gracious God, help me—and those I love—to see and testify to the grace and mercy you continually pour out in our lives.
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