Luk 18:39 | KingComments | STEP | This event is the starting point for the first three evangelists to describe the last part of the Lord’s journey to Jerusalem ( ; ). Matthew and Mark speak about leaving Jericho, Luke says he was “approaching Jericho”. According to excavations there seem to have been two cities called Jericho. One city is the old original city, the other city is a Roman Jericho, not far from there. The blind man sat between the two cities. Then the situation is that the Lord Jesus leaves the old Jericho and is on his way to the Roman Jericho and on His way He meets the blind man who is begging along the way. There are also translations here that translate that the Lord was “in the proximity of Jericho”. The blind man hears that a crowd is passing by. He concludes that something special is going on and wants to know why the crowd is there. He asks for it. He receives the answer that “Jesus of Nazareth” ( ), passes by. The blind man knows enough and starts calling out. He does not call out “Jesus of Nazareth”, but “Jesus, Son of David”. He Who to the crowd is no more than the Man of Nazareth, is to the blind man the Son of David. The blind sees more than the crowd. His faith gave him the right view of Christ and led him to appeal to His mercy. The Lord will never pass by here again, for He will die in Jerusalem. The blind man did not know this, so it is all the more beautiful that he should seize the opportunity offered to him. He takes his decision as soon as it is possible and does not postpone it until later, which also would never come again. It is important for any decision that it is taken when it is possible. The people at the front of the parade tell him to be quiet. He must stop his shouting, for if the Lord listened to it, it would cause undesirable delay. The warning has the opposite effect. The blind man keeps crying out all the more. He does the same as the widow at the beginning of this chapter who also continued asking. Once again he appeals to the mercy of the Lord as the Son of David. He experiences that someone in need who calls to Him never calls to Him in vain. It is even so, that such a persevering call to Him sounds pleasant in His ears. The Lord stops. There is nothing that can stop Him on his way to Jerusalem except someone who appeals to His mercy. Then He commands that the blind man shall be brought to Him. That order is followed without contradiction. The blind man approaches the Lord in faith and thereby enters into the circle of blessing. Before he receives the blessing, the Lord asks him what he wants Him to do. It seems like an unnecessary question and the Lord knows the answer of course, but He wants to hear it from the mouth of the blind man. In the same way He would like to hear from our mouth what we want from Him, even though He knows what our desires are. This is so that we can express the feelings of our heart and experience the answer to our prayer as something that comes from Him Himself. After announcing his wish, the Lord with authority says: “Receive your sight!” He immediately adds that the blind man owes his healing to his faith in Him. The blind has not come to faith by healing, but he believes and is healed. The result is immediate. He regains his sight. The result is that he follows the Lord on His way to Jerusalem. He is born again and sees the kingdom of God ( ). People start to see through the power and activity of the Holy Spirit. While he follows, he glorifies God. This is also an example for us. Following the Lord may happen while glorifying God. The people also see, but different than the blind man. The people see that a wonder has happened and praise God for it, but they do not see the specialness of the Lord Jesus.

‏ Luke 18:39

Healing of a Blind Beggar

This event is the starting point for the first three evangelists to describe the last part of the Lord’s journey to Jerusalem (Mt 20:29-34; Mk 10:46-52). Matthew and Mark speak about leaving Jericho, Luke says he was “approaching Jericho”.

According to excavations there seem to have been two cities called Jericho. One city is the old original city, the other city is a Roman Jericho, not far from there. The blind man sat between the two cities. Then the situation is that the Lord Jesus leaves the old Jericho and is on his way to the Roman Jericho and on His way He meets the blind man who is begging along the way. There are also translations here that translate that the Lord was “in the proximity of Jericho”.

The blind man hears that a crowd is passing by. He concludes that something special is going on and wants to know why the crowd is there. He asks for it. He receives the answer that “Jesus of Nazareth” (Mt 2:23), passes by. The blind man knows enough and starts calling out. He does not call out “Jesus of Nazareth”, but “Jesus, Son of David”. He Who to the crowd is no more than the Man of Nazareth, is to the blind man the Son of David.

The blind sees more than the crowd. His faith gave him the right view of Christ and led him to appeal to His mercy. The Lord will never pass by here again, for He will die in Jerusalem. The blind man did not know this, so it is all the more beautiful that he should seize the opportunity offered to him.

He takes his decision as soon as it is possible and does not postpone it until later, which also would never come again. It is important for any decision that it is taken when it is possible. The people at the front of the parade tell him to be quiet. He must stop his shouting, for if the Lord listened to it, it would cause undesirable delay.

The warning has the opposite effect. The blind man keeps crying out all the more. He does the same as the widow at the beginning of this chapter who also continued asking. Once again he appeals to the mercy of the Lord as the Son of David. He experiences that someone in need who calls to Him never calls to Him in vain. It is even so, that such a persevering call to Him sounds pleasant in His ears.

The Lord stops. There is nothing that can stop Him on his way to Jerusalem except someone who appeals to His mercy. Then He commands that the blind man shall be brought to Him. That order is followed without contradiction. The blind man approaches the Lord in faith and thereby enters into the circle of blessing.

Before he receives the blessing, the Lord asks him what he wants Him to do. It seems like an unnecessary question and the Lord knows the answer of course, but He wants to hear it from the mouth of the blind man. In the same way He would like to hear from our mouth what we want from Him, even though He knows what our desires are. This is so that we can express the feelings of our heart and experience the answer to our prayer as something that comes from Him Himself.

After announcing his wish, the Lord with authority says: “Receive your sight!” He immediately adds that the blind man owes his healing to his faith in Him. The blind has not come to faith by healing, but he believes and is healed. The result is immediate. He regains his sight. The result is that he follows the Lord on His way to Jerusalem. He is born again and sees the kingdom of God (Jn 3:3). People start to see through the power and activity of the Holy Spirit.

While he follows, he glorifies God. This is also an example for us. Following the Lord may happen while glorifying God. The people also see, but different than the blind man. The people see that a wonder has happened and praise God for it, but they do not see the specialness of the Lord Jesus.