Verse: Matthew 20:29-34
“As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”

Devotion:
Here, we get to witness an encounter between Jesus and two blind men who, cry out to Him. Despite their physical limitations and the societal marginalization that was common in this time, they demonstrate a deep faith and persistent hope. As they sit by the roadside, they hear the commotion of the crowd, and realize that Jesus is passing by. Their response is urgent and bold: they cry out for mercy, fully aware of their need for Jesus and unafraid to express it.

The crowd’s reaction is dismissive; they attempt to silence the two men, perhaps seeing their cries as a nuisance or perceiving them as unworthy of Jesus’ attention. Even still, the blind men do not give up. They shout even louder, refusing to be quieted by the voices of the crowd when they know they need Jesus.

Their determination speaks volumes about their faith. They recognize Jesus not just as a healer but as the Son of David—the promised Messiah—and they believe that He can change their situation. When Jesus hears their cries, He stops. This is the profound moment where we get to see the heart of the Lord: Jesus is compassionate. He doesn’t just acknowledge their pleas and keep moving- He actively engages with them.

His question, “What do you want me to do for you?” is profound. Jesus invites them to articulate their need, to express their desire for healing. He affirms their dignity and worth, reminding us that God cares deeply about our individual struggles and desires. They respond “Lord, we want our sight.” They reveal their vulnerability and trust in Jesus’ power to make a tangible difference in their lives. Jesus’ compassion leads Him to touch their eyes, and immediately they receive their sight.

But the miracle does not end there; they respond to their healing by following Him. Their transformation moves beyond physical restoration to a spiritual awakening—they become disciples. How humbling and amazing is this interaction? There are so many lessons woven into such a short passage. It makes me reflect- Are we willing to cry out for help as these men did? Like the blind men, we may face situations where we feel marginalized or overlooked. In those moments, do we have the courage to call upon Jesus, trusting in His mercy and compassion? Do we trust that He can make a real, tangible difference in our need? When He does meet our needs, how do we respond to Jesus’ compassion? Once we experience His grace and healing in our lives, are we compelled to follow Him wholeheartedly?

Our healing should lead us to a deeper discipleship—a commitment to live out our faith in service to others. I don’t know about you, but that’s not always the natural inclination of my heart. This passage serves as a reminder that this should be the posture of our heart. We can trust Him to be compassionate to meet our needs as we cry out to Him. As He meets these needs, our faith should grow as we learn to trust Him more and more.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your compassion and mercy. Thank you for these passages to remind us to Your heart for us. Help us to be bold in our cries for help and to listen to those around us who are in need. Help me to never forget the transformative power of Your touch in our lives, and as we respond to following You faithfully. Open our eyes to see how we can better rely on You, and to recognize the needs of others. Empower us to act in love in order to reflect Your heart to the world. Amen.

Author: Becca Artymenko