The Healing

The Healing

Matthew 20:34, NLT

Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.

Setting the Scene

Jesus had compassion on the blind men, knowing their need and their faith. The result was that Bartimaeus and the other blind man received their sight—“Instantly they could see!” They could see Jesus, the one who had healed them, each other, the onlooking crowd, their hands, the trees, the clouds—Jesus had made them well! Unlike Matthew, Mark mentions no healing touch of Jesus. His emphasis is not on the miracle but on the faith that led to it. Jesus just had to touch the men and speak the words, and they could see. Everyone was amazed because the Old Testament records no healings of blind people. Jesus was unique. Thus the Jews believed that such a miracle would be a sign that the messianic age had begun (see Isaiah 29:18; 35:5). Jesus had healed other blind people, so the crowd knew they were witnessing something extraordinary.

Getting Personal

Why should we expect that God will heal people today? In what other ways have you seen God’s direct intervention?

How do you usually respond when you pray and God doesn’t heal “instantly”? How should you respond?

What daily “miracles” of God do you see?

In considering miracles, we usually think of examples such as blind Bartimaeus receiving his sight, a lame man walking again, a leper brought back to full health, or even a dead person coming alive. So our requests to God for something “big” usually involve physical healing. God can heal any broken bone, cure any disease, and fully restore our senses—and Jesus did, many times. But he didn’t heal all the sick, lame, deaf, and blind people in Palestine. He did, however, offer his greatest miracle to everyone who would believe—forgiveness of sins and eternal life. God still performs miracles, changing lives every day because of Christ and through the power of his Spirit.

Talking to God

Praise God for his amazing works in the world and in your life. Thank him for life, sustenance, shelter, relationships, forgiveness, eternal life, and the miracle of transformation going on inside you.