Luke 18:31-43
Quinquagesima
â In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit â
The disciples in todayâs Gospel donât seem to be particularly bright, do they. Â Jesus takes them aside and gives them a heads-up, spelling out for them exactly whatâs about to happen: Â They are going up to Jerusalem, where Jesus will be mocked and insulted and spit upon and scourged and killed. Â And the third day He will rise again. Â It couldnât be laid out any more clearly than that. Â But the disciples just donât have the ability to understand it. Â It doesnât fit in with their way of thinking about Jesus, and so it goes right over their heads; they clearly donât get it.
But donât look down on the disciples. Â Rather, be warned. Â For if it could happen to them when they were right there in the visible presence of Jesus, it can also happen to us. Â We shouldnât look at them and say âHow foolish!â Â We should rather look at ourselves with some godly fear and humility and ask, âWhat is it that I donât get? Â What is it about Jesus or about myself that Iâm blind to?â Â Think about how it sometimes is in your earthly relationships, with a friend or spouse or family member. Â Youâve probably had the experience of having a blind spotâsomething about yourself or something you were doing that you failed to recognize which ended up becoming a big issue. Â Isnât it possible for that to be the case also in your relationship with God? Â The fact of the matter is that in our fallen condition, we are all spiritually blind. Â Our vision is clouded and darkened to the truth, even though it might be sitting there right in front of us. Â
First, without the clear mirror of Godâs Law, we donât see our own sin rightly. Â We know we have a few flaws and problems, but weâre blind to how utterly deep the corruption goes in us, and how it taints everything about us. Â We can see it a little better in others, all the issues that everyone else has whom we live and work with. Â But the justifications and excuses we make for ourselves inevitably obscure our vision and block a clear self-diagnosis. Â
And perhaps even worse, apart from the clear proclamation of the Gospel, we donât see Jesus rightly. Â He gets turned into some other figure whom we can fit into our agendasâthe Messiah whoâs on our side in political causes, the guru who helps us to cope and live a happier lifestyle, the guide who provides the example for how we can make ourselves righteous, the coach who helps us to get where we want to be. Â You can tell you have a false Jesus, though, when Heâs only a means to an end. Â In the Bible, Jesus is the endâHeâs the goal; Heâs everything that weâre seeking. Â He is Himself the Truth and the Life. Â Heâs not merely our guide to lead us somewhere greater. Â For there is nowhere greater than fellowship with God in Christ.
So as we ponder todayâs Gospel, let us remember what we confess in the Catechism about the 3rd article of the Creed, âI cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. Â But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts (âenlightenedâ means that Heâs given light to our eyes so that we can rightly see), sanctified and kept me in the truth faith.â Â If we do have proper vision about ourselves and about Jesus, itâs entirely a gift of Godâs grace by His Word and Spirit. Â Remember this, too, as you talk about the faith with others, particularly if they seem to be a little bit unclear and unable to understand what youâre saying. Â Have patience; for only the Holy Spirit can open their eyes.

In todayâs Gospel, the one with the best vision, who sees Jesus rightly, is the blind man. Â Maybe thatâs because all that he has to go by is His ears. Â Itâs the Word that he heard about Jesus that is the key thing for him. Â And faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ. Â Let us learn to be like this beggarâempty-handed before God, with nothing to give Him that He should accept us, desiring the vision that only He can impart.
The blind man heard a great crowd passing by and asked what it all meant. Â When they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was with them, the blind man cried out and shouted with a loud voice, âJesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!â Â This shows that the blind man already had faith in Jesus. Â âSon of Davidâ is a title for the Messiah. Â This blind man believed the Word that he had heard about Jesus. Â Even without earthly sight, the blind man could see Jesus was the Promised One. Â He believed that Jesus could heal him; even more, he believed that Jesus was the Christ, who had come to redeem His people. Â
âJesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!â Â This is our prayer, too, throughout the liturgy. Â Kyrie eleison, Lord, have mercy. Â It is the prayer of beggars looking for help and gifts as the King comes near. Â âO Christ the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.â Â This is not just a prayer for when youâre in church but for every day. Â When you see someone in trouble or acting foolishly, you can pray for them simply by saying, âLord, have mercy.â Â When you yourself are in trouble or need, when youâre about to go into surgery, when a relationship is on the rocks or you donât know how youâre going to pay the bills, you can pray, âLord, have mercy on me.â Â And even when everythingâs going great for you, youâre healthy and prosperous, after your prayers of thanksgiving, it is still good to pray âLord, have mercy on meâ lest you fall into complacency and spiritual laziness or pride and self-congratulation. Â Let this prayer be a regular part of the conversation of your heart, so that in the hour of death you may confidently say, âLord, have mercy,â and know that He will. Â His mercy is everything for you.
Now the crowds here donât much like this prayer of the blind man. Â They warn him that he should shut up. Â Itâs impolite. Â Heâs being annoying, crying out that way. Â Itâs like those people who think itâs fine that youâre a Christian, as long as you keep it a purely private matter. Â âI donât care what you believe, as long as it doesnât bother me.â Â But when the exercise of your faith goes against the flow of their desires and plans, or when the confession of your faith becomes a nuisance to them, thatâs when people start telling you to shut up and pipe down and donât carry things so far.
However, faith is stubborn and persistent. Â Faith wonât let anything get in the way of life in Jesus or prayer to Him. Â Faith doesnât care what people think or what they will say, because it seeks a gift infinitely greater than worldly approval. Â Faith is not ashamed and will not be silenced. Â And so the blind man cries out even more loudly, âSon of David, have mercy on me!â
And notice this wonderful statement in the Gospel. Â When the blind man speaks these words, it is written that âJesus stood still.â Â Itâs like when youâre doing something, and then people having a conversation nearby say your name. Â Suddenly, you tune in to what theyâre saying. Â In the same way, this prayer of the blind man turns Jesus around and draws His undivided attention. Â It stops Him in His tracks. Â Isnât that marvelous!? Â Jesus stood still. Â He doesnât mind that proper decorum has been breached. Â At the sound of this prayer, Jesus commands that the blind man be brought to Him.Â
And He asks him, âWhat do you want Me to do for you?â Â Now why would He ask that? Â God knows what you need even before you ask Him. Â In fact, He knows your needs better than you do. Â But He asks anyway in order that the blind man may exercise his faith with a specific prayer. Â Jesus wants to hear from you in your own voice what is on your mind and heart. He wants you to verbalize your desires, like a little child learning to speak to his father and use his words to ask for help. Â In verbalizing your prayers, they become concrete and focused. Â Prayer is one of the primary ways in which you exercise your faith, that you may learn to look to the Lord for all that you need and see that every good gift comes from His hand.
In response to Jesusâ question, the blind man answers, âLord, that I may receive my sight.â Â Jesus says to him, âReceive your sight; your faith has made you well.â Â And immediately he can see. Â The blind manâs eyes are opened, and what is the first sight that he sees? Â The face of His Savior. Â âBlessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.â Â The blind manâs heart is pure, for it trusts in Jesus who alone is pure. Â Through this faith he is made well; he sees God.
Now this doesnât mean that if God doesnât give you 20/20 vision when you ask for it, then you donât have enough faith. Â Itâs best not to focus on your believing, but on the One youâre believing in. Â Faith in Jesus receives everything as a gift, not as a demand that He has to fulfill. Â Sometimes God says ânoâ to what we ask for because he wants to teach us patience or make room for greater gifts. Â Sometimes He knows that what we are asking for will harm us and endanger our salvation. Â We canât know the mind of God ahead of time. Â So we pray trusting that Jesus will hear our prayers and do what is truly best for us.
Like all of Jesusâ miracles, this healing wasnât just talk or an easy wave of the hands. Â It cost Him his life on the cross. There Jesus won healing and restoration for you, too, by bearing your physical ailments and infirmities, your sin and pain and sorrow, suffering them all to death in His holy body. Â And He shares that miracle with all who cry out to Him in beggar faith. Â Jesus hung on a cross in the darkness, blinded by death, in order to bring healing and the light of His resurrection to the world.
Know, then, that the Lord hears your prayers, even when they seem to go unanswered. Â Ultimately they have all been answered âyesâ in Jesusâ dying and rising. Â For now we walk by faith in that truth; but on the Last Day our faith will turn to sight, just like the man in the Gospel. Â For on the Last Day every disorder in you will done away withâfrom failing vision to poor hearing, from arthritis to anxiety and depression, from heart disease to cancer; sin and death will be eradicated completely, and the Great Physician will raise you bodily to share in His own glory and life. Â
When the blind man received his sight, he followed Jesus on the road to Jerusalem and the cross. Â As we prepare to enter Lent, then, let us follow Jesus, too, and walk with Him on the way of loveâs sacrifice. Â And let us also remember what happened afterwards on that first Easter evening. Â The Emmaus disciples walked the road with Jesus and talked with Him without recognizing Him, blind to who He was. Â But when Jesus broke bread with them, then He was no longer hidden to their eyes. Â So it is also now. Â Here your eyes are opened, and Jesus is made known to you in the breaking of the bread. Â His body and blood are given and shed for you. Â His forgiveness covers your past and your former blindness. Â When the final Easter comes, you will hear Him say to you, âYour faith has saved you; receive your sight.â Â And then you, too, will behold the face of God.
â In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit â