2 Corinthians 5: 7 (NIV)

Today’s readings describe two contrasting incidents on the way to Jerusalem. They are stories about:

Eyes shut and eyes open…

The seeing who were blind and the blind man who saw…

Physical sight and spiritual sight…

There were Jesus’ disciples, who once again failed to see and understand something that Jesus spoke about plainly:

[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.

Luke 18: 31-34

Perhaps they were blinded by their preconceptions. Perhaps it was just too much for them to take in. They had failed to understand their prophets and their scriptures. Maybe they had a small view of Jesus. Whatever way you look at it…open eyes, lack of sight.

Then there was the blind man from Jericho:

[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.

Luke 18: 35-43

He must have heard about Jesus. He cried out in the hope that Jesus could and would help him. Blind eyes, filled with vision.

Jesus asked a not-so-stupid-as-it-may-seem question…he also saw more than the obvious…”What do you want me to do for you?”

After a life defined by blindness, a life which had become a way of living, did the blind man really want to see again, with all the implications of a changed life?

The man demonstrated that he viewed the encounter through spiritual eyes…he was ready whatever the cost and Jesus recognised his faith. So, the blind man with spiritual eyes open became the blind man with physical sight as well.

It would take longer for the disciples to finally see and understand what their relationship with Jesus would mean.

What about us? Where in our relationship with Jesus are our eyes wide shut for fear of what we might see if we allow Jesus to ‘restore’ our sight?

Because if we ‘get it’, we might just have to act on it…