W. A blind man receives his sight (18:35–43)
W. A blind man receives his sight (18:35–43)
Matthew speaks of two blind men being healed as Jesus went out of Jericho (on which Farrar remarks that it is unlikely that a blind man would have been quite alone). Mark has one blind man, whom he names as Bartimaeus, healed as Jesus went out of this city. Luke does not name the man and he locates the miracle at Jesus’ entry into the city. There is little doubt that all three refer to the same incident, but with our present information it may be impossible to give a satisfactory explanation of these differences. Some think there were two blind men of whom Bartimaeus was the more prominent or the better known in the church. It is also pointed out that there were two Jerichos, the old one, famous in the Old Testament, and the new one established nearby by Herod the Great. Some hold that the healing took place as Jesus was leaving one city and entering the other.
35–37. Jesus’ journey took him to Jerusalem by way of Jericho, a city near the Jordan and about 700 feet below sea level. As he neared the city the crowd with him attracted the attention of a blind man who inquired about the excitement and was told, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.
38–39. Luke does not tell us how the blind man might have expected that Jesus would help him. Evidently his reputation had preceded him. The blind man seized his opportunity and called on Jesus as Son of David, the only one in this Gospel to address Jesus in this way (the expression is also found in 20:41; Mark has a similar usage, but the title is used more often in Matthew). The title is Messianic and Jesus’ healing of the man in response to its use looks like an acceptance of its implications. In that case he admitted his Messianic destiny as he went up to Jerusalem where he was shortly to die as Messiah (cf. 22:67ff.). The blind man was persistent, for when he was told to desist he cried out all the more. He was not half-hearted; he would not forgo his opportunity.
40–41. Jesus did not let his plea go unheeded. He had the man brought before him and asked what he wanted. So far the man had simply requested mercy, and mercy might take any one of a number of directions. Asked to put his desire into words, the man crystallized his longing, Lord, let me receive my sight.
42–43. Matthew tells us that Jesus touched the man’s eyes, but Luke records no action. He mentions only the healing words, to which Jesus added, your faith has made you well. This does not mean that the man’s faith created the cure, but that it was the means by which he received it. When he got his sight he followed Jesus, glorifying God. Jesus did not fasten his attention on himself, but turned people to the Father, and this is seen again in the reaction of the people who saw the miracle. They, too, gave praise to God.