Learning to See

When we pray to God it helps to know exactly what we are praying for. Much of the time our prayers are so fuzzy that we would not recognize an answer if it hit us in the face. You might imagine that Jesus would have known what a blind beggar calling urgently upon him would want him to do. Yet Jesus is good at this kind of thing and takes the time to ask the question: What exactly is it that you want (41)? The man asks for sight and receives what he asks for. It is good to ask and to ask specifically, because then we can praise God for what we are given. “You do not have,” says James, “because you do not ask God” (James 4:2). The now-sighted man became a follower of Jesus (43).

In calling on Jesus as “Son of David” and following him (38,39), the blind man was showing a degree of understanding. This is a messianic title. Many Jews were expecting one of David’s line who would set them free from oppression (Isa. 9:7). They were right to look to Jesus—but what a surprise Jesus was! No wonder the obtuse disciples could not get it into their thick heads (34). He was the Messiah, but one of his own making and definition. This Messiah was already on his final journey to Jerusalem to be mocked, insulted, spat upon, flogged and killed (32). The list of what awaited him proved to be highly accurate, for so it all happened. The only blood this Messiah was prepared to shed was his own. The Scriptures to be fulfilled about him (31) included those in Isaiah 53 that talk about a suffering servant who suffers in place of others, dies and atones—and the Lord will “prolong his days” (Isa. 53:4–6,10). To understand this, our eyes need to be opened.

From this story, what do you know about the beggar’s handicap? His faith? His intensity? If Jesus asked, “What do you want for me to do for you?” what would you say?