Luke 18 | Sight for the Blind
I find it fascinating that Luke 18 ends with the healing of a blind man, right after we read that the disciples were spiritually blind to Jesus’ upcoming suffering.
Coincidence? I think not.
The disciples weren’t the only ones with spiritual blindness issues, though.
We see it especially in the way everyone thought they knew who should and shouldn’t come to Jesus:
The disciples tried to stop the children from coming to Him (Luke 18:15).
The crowds tried to stop the blind man from coming to Him (Luke 18:39).
They all thought the rich man should be able to come to Him. (Luke 18:23-26).
But Jesus? Once again He turned things upside down with His faithful preaching that the kingdom of God is made up of those with the humble heart of a child, free from the love of this world (Luke 18:14, 17, 29).
His invitation extended to all, even to the rich man (Luke 18:21), but He also said it is exceedingly difficult, impossible even, for a rich person (all full up with pleasures of this world) to enter the kingdom.
Then what hope is there for anyone, the people wondered?
“What is impossible with man is possible with God,” Jesus answered.
And a hearty Hallelujah to that!
For if the impossible were not possible, none of us would be saved—because who would have eyes to see the eternal value of the One who stood before them?
None.
None, that is, but the one whose spiritual sight has been restored. And that includes the blind man in Luke 18, as well as the disciples more fully later on (Luke 24:45), and, wonder of wonders… us!
That’s right, you and me. If we can see that Jesus is the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world, we have had our eyes opened; our blindness cured, our sight restored.
Let’s add that to the list of miracles we celebrate at Christmas!
And let’s pray that many more will have their spiritual sight restored to see that Jesus truly is the Light of the world.
“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness...I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:6–7