March 31 | Matthew 20:29-34
DAILY READING
Matthew 20:29-34
Blind Faith
by Kim Starr
“Help!” “HELP!!” “HELP!!!”
Have you been stuck and need help to get out of it? The longer you scream for help, the louder your voice becomes. If you are fortunate, someone comes and gives you a hand. You are grateful and say so. More likely, though, you go back to what you were doing, but are careful to avoid the mistake that got you stuck.
Today, two blind beggars are on the side of the road shouting at Jesus as He goes by. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Matt 20:30) They shout a second time, only more loudly. Their shouts acknowledge two things about Jesus: 1) They call Him “Lord,” which is a recognition of His power and position of authority and 2) They call Him “Son of David,” which is a recognition of the fact that Jesus is the Messiah. Their shouts are heartfelt, sincere, and honest. They are also full of desperation, acknowledgement, and faith.
While the crowd tries to silence them, Jesus stopped and asked the blind beggars what they wanted Him to do for them. Of course, Jesus knew exactly what they wanted, but He asks so that He can hear it directly from them and so He can form a relationship with them. They reply they want their sight, so Jesus has compassion on them, touches their eyes, and they can see! What do they do next? Do they go back to begging, and maybe even pretend they can’t see? No. They follow Him. They become a part of the crowd who was trying to silence them and keep them from seeing Jesus.
What would you have done? By staying with the crowd, the blind beggars showed their belief in what they shouted at Jesus. Their faith in Him was strong, and they would not let the crowd deter them from being with the Messiah. They were going to embrace Jesus and follow Him wherever He went.
Our Savior wants us to tell Him what we want from Him. He wants us to form a relationship with Him. He wants us to follow Him. While He may not answer our requests immediately, like He did the blind beggars, we know He hears us. We also know that His plans for us are what is best for us. We may not see those plans at the exact moment we ask Him for something, but He will reveal them to us in His perfect timing.
PRAYER
Oh Jesus, our Lord and Savior, thank you for hearing our shouts to you. Thank you for letting us tell you exactly what we want. Help us see that the answers you give are in our best interest. We rejoice with the blind beggars who received their sight. We rejoice with all the miracles you perform. Thank you for being our Messiah. Amen.
