THE WORDS OF JESUS
Creative, Causative, Prophetic, Instructional – Part 41
“Do you believe I am able?”
“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, screaming loudly, “Have mercy and compassion on us, Son of David (Messiah)!” When He went into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying,
“According to your faith [your trust and confidence in My power and My ability to heal] it will be done to you.”
And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them:
“See that no one knows this!”
But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that whole district.
The Words of Jesus, Matthew 9:27-31.
This may be one of the greatest teachings and greatest tests about faith. Please pay close attention. Pray, think, mediate and ask our God of mercy and compassion to reveal the truth and to give you wisdom.
QUESTION: Why would two blind men, following Jesus, cry out, “Have mercy and compassion on us, Son of David”? What does ‘mercy and compassion’ have to do with being blind and crying out to the Son of God?
Earlier we read, in Matthew 4:23-24, “And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them.”
You see, these blind men knew that Jesus had what they needed and wanted, and they knew Jesus could do what they needed and wanted. This is true faith.
Their faith is expressed (pressed out) in their cries, “Have mercy (and compassion) on us, Son of David”, in essence and in fact calling Jesus the Messiah! They knew!
Faith, in and of itself, is the clear and substantive evidence of things not yet seen with the natural eyes, and the conviction in your heart, mind and soul, of their reality. These blind men, by faith in Jesus and His ability, comprehended as fact what could not be experienced by the physical senses. ( see Hebrews 11:1-3)
PLEASE NOTE: The OBJECT of their faith is not on ‘being healed’. The OBJECT of their faith is Jesus and in Him alone!
If you find yourself praying and saying, “I stand, believing for my healing” you will be disappointed.
Romans 10:11 tells us that, “For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on JESUS] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations].” (If you don’t get this, your faith will always fall short.)
What we have read here, and what Jesus has said and done, is the model of faith. Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:17, “you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”. So, please, put yourself in the position of these blind men and ask yourself:
THE TEST: Are you willing, like these two blind men, to follow Jesus, screaming loudly, “Have mercy and compassion on me, Son of David – The Messiah”? (Most people would be too embarrassed and would feel foolish and would not).
Are you willing, like these blind men, to publicly come up to Him? And Jesus said to them, (Most people prefer to the “right where you are, while nobody is watching, say to Him…”)
In response to Jesus’ question, “Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?”, are you willing to say to Him, “Yes, Lord.”? (Or, do you prefer “if it is your will”, as if you don’t really know or believe you know His willingness).
Will your testimony be like these blind men when they were healed, that is, to go out and spread the news about Him throughout your town? (Most Christians will tell each other, but will not go throughout the region telling everyone).
Jesus knows the condition of your heart, and He is saying, “you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”, Revelation 3:17.
Are you going to be like everyone else, or like these two blind men, and express (press out) your faith in Him?
It’s the only way!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: Please do not get discouraged if you do not see your ‘success’ immediately. The Bible is replete with examples of those who doggedly pursued Jesus before finding relief. This is never easy – despite what you might hear from those wanting to ‘tickle your ears’. IT IS THE ONE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WHO IS SAVED!
(If you have any questions or remarks, please contact me).
PREVIOUS: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? , “New wine in fresh wineskins”, Part 40.
NEXT: THE WORDS OF JESUS – What Are You To Do With Them? , “The harvest is plentiful”, Part 42.
Additional Reading: DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW?
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