The Blind See | Matthew 20:29-34

Scripture

• Matthew 20:29–34

About this sermon

Introduction: One of the great mistakes made by the charismatic movement (and by people who hunger for what that movement promises), is the failure to recognize that the miracles of Jesus were never an end unto themselves. The miracles of Jesus were always meant to be connected to the claims of Jesus and the preaching of Jesus. The miracles of Jesus were meant to be interpreted as a confirmation of biblical promises concerning the Christ, and of the message that Jesus preaching. ESV John 10:37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." THE POWER SEEN PHYSICALLY TESTIFIED TO THINGS UNSEEN — THE PROMISE OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS IN HIS NAME — HIS POWER TO SAVE. ESV Mark 2:9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-- he said to the paralytic-- 11 "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." THE MIRACLES WERE SIGNS. Without question, it represented the powers of the age to come, breaking into the present age. ESV Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, But the GREATEST NEED OF MANKIND HAS NEVER BEEN THE HEALING OF HIS BODY OR TO BE CONVINCED BY POWER DISPLAYS. THE GREATEST NEED OF MANKIND IS RECONCILIATION WITH GOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF HIS VERY NATURE. Your greatest need today is not to be healthy in a body that will soon die anyway. Your greatest need to have eternal life and to be secured for a world that will never end. ESV Matthew 11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 4 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." The greatest miracle has always been when a God hater becomes a God lover. When the spiritually blind can now see. We see that connection in our verses today. Jesus has just spoken of His death. What will His death accomplish? What will His resurrection mean for those who trust in Him? Immediately following His 3rd time of teaching His disciples about His death — as He is on His way to Jerusalem — we meet again with His mercy. WHAT HE DOES IN THE PHYSICAL REALM BEARS WITNESS TO WHAT HE IS ON HIS WAY TO ACCOMPLISH IN JERUSALEM. I. HOPEFUL CRIES FOR HELP (vs.29-30) Our Lord is on His way out of Jericho, making His way to Jerusalem. He is being followed by a large crowd of people. WE CAN ENVISION THIS. If you’ve ever watched a crowd of people pressing around to see a celebrity, then you know something of what this scene must have been like. I say that because of how Luke describes it. ESV Luke 18:35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 38 And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" So, the blind men are behind a crowd of people watching Jesus, following Jesus, in a city that’s about a day’s journey from Jerusalem. So, many of these people are on their way to Jerusalem for Passover as well. Luke tells us that the blind men were alerted to Jesus by the sound of the crowd passing by. The blind men were also beggars. This is how they would have lived, due to the difficulties associated with their blindness. THEY ASK WHAT THE COMMOTION IS ABOUT. And when they hear that it is Jesus, they immediately make clear that they know about the One who is passing by. JESUS OF NAZARETH. How they have come to believe in Him as the Messiah is not given to us. But what IS given to us, is how they immediately address Jesus. SON OF DAVID LORD This makes clear that they have not only heard about Him, His ministry, His healing powers (which is why they are crying out for mercy) — THEY HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT HE IS THE MESSIAH. HERE IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR PROBLEM — AND HE IS WITHIN THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE. What would you do? THEY CRIED OUT, THEY SHOUTED OUT, HAVE MERCY ON US!