Jesus restores the sight of a blind man
Luke 18:35-43
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Observations & Reflections
During Jesus’ trek to Jerusalem there appears to be some deviations from Luke’s gospel. None of the gospels follow each other perfectly but in this passage it’s Luke that seems to deviate. The difference in location seems to centered around Jesus either leaving or entering Jericho. But in all cases the events seem to be in the Jericho area.
The details of the people being healed, however, differ greatly. In Matthew’s gospel there are two blind people. In Mark’s there is just one but a some personal detail is given, almost as if the audience would know who the person was. In Luke’s gospel it’s an unknown beggar. Some have theorized that these are differing events but it seems unlikely that such a thing would happen twice as Jesus is in route to Jerusalem. Jesus did not regularly dwell in that area and as Mark alludes, Jesus was a Nazarene native.
| MATTHEW 20:29-34 | MARK 10:46-52 | LUKE 18:35-43 |
|---|---|---|
| 29 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude fol- lowed him. 30 Behold, two blind 31 The multitude re- 32 Jesus stood still, 33 They told him, 34 Jesus, being |
46 They came to Jeri- cho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disci- ples and a great multi- tude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beg- gar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he 48 Many rebuked 49 Jesus stood still, 50 He, casting away 51 Jesus asked him, 52 Jesus said to him, |
35 It happened, as he came near Jericho, a cer- tain blind man sat by the road, begging. 36 37 They 38 He cried out, “Je- 39 Those who led the 40 Standing still, Je- 41 42 Jesus said to him, 43 Immediately he re- |
Either way, the story speaks to the great empathy Jesus has for all people. There is no one that is too small or too unimportant for Jesus. He came for the least of all that they can be brought to the banquet of the Lord.