The Blind See
Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:29-31
The prophet Isaiah had foretold such mighty deeds. Isaiah’s words about the coming Messiah are meant to bring strength to those who are anxious because God will come to save His people. When He comes the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the lame will leap, and the mute will sing for joy. The great crowds saw exactly what Isaiah wrote that they would see, and they marveled over it.
In John’s Gospel, when Jesus heals a man born blind, there is controversy as the young man and his parents are brought before the Pharisees. The healing took place on the Sabbath. So the Pharisees interrogated the young man until, frustrated with his response, they cast him out. Jesus found the man afterwards and the man confessed His faith after Jesus reveals Himself to him.
But the Pharisees, continuing in their blindness, reject not only the man born blind, but also the Man who healed Him. All around us are people who live in the blindness of unbelief and reject Christ and the healing He continues to bring. God’s mission is carried out through the healing Christ brings, as eyes and ears are opened by the Gospel. May we continue to marvel at the healing balm of the forgiveness of sins through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. Though many remain blind to Christ, our prayer is that through the preaching of Christ, that they also may see and hear Christ and marvel at the healing He brings.
Prayer - Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Fraternally in Christ,
President Lee Hagan