Blind men and demoniac
Jesus healed several blind man, and he did different things to each. The ones told about in Matthew and in Mark, he touched their eyes. Both the two men in Matthew and the one in Mark Jesus told them not to tell anyone about the healing. The first two disobeyed and told everyone, the one in Mark, it does not tell us whether he did the same.
These stories show us what it means in 1 Corinthians that there are different gifts of healings. There are different ways of providing the healing, but the Holy Spirit is in control.
1 Corinthians:12:4-11 4: Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5: And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6: And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8: For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; :9: To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10: To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Now let’s study the first testimony of healing the blind in the life of Jesus.
Matthew:9:27-34 27: And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. 28: And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29: Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30: And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 31: But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 32: As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33: And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34: But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
Blind people in the Old Testament could not be a priest, but were not to be rebuked either.
Leviticus:19:14: Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
We are told many times in the Old Testament that God wanted to heal the blind, and this story fulfills this verse in Isaiah.
Isaiah:29:18-19: And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. 19: The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
These two men called out to Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
These were not the only ones that called this out to Jesus. Six times in the gospel of Matthew it records people calling Jesus the, “Son of David.” The Son of David was a messianic title. Jesus called this to the attention of the religious rulers. “What do you think about the Christ Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him Lord? For he says, “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions (Matthew 22:42-46). Jesus never denied that he was the Son of David.. In fact, on Palm Sunday he received the praise and worship of the people as the Son of David. These two blind men knew when the messiah came, that the blind would see so this shows that they were addressing Jesus as the messiah.
Jesus wanted to make sure that these blind men really believed and were not calling him the messiah because they had heard others say it. They tell him that they did believe. Jesus then said something that most would not think Jesus would say. He told them that they would receive according to their faith.
Jesus also told this to the disciples just before he was taken into heaven.
Mark:16:15-18 15: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Believers are those who receive from God because of their belief.
Hebrews:11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This first healing of the blind shows us how important for us to stand in faith for healing
Blind man healed in Bethsaida
Mark:8:22-26 22: And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23: And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24: And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25: After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26: And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
According to John 1:44, Bethsaida was the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. In the Gospel of Mark(8:22–26), Jesus reportedly restored a blind man’s sight at a place just outside the ancient village of Bethsaida. In Luke 9: 10-11, Jesus miraculously feeds five thousand near Bethsaida.
Although Bethsaida is believed to be located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, there is disagreement among scholars as to precisely where. Most agree that it is close to the town of Capernaum.
In this story about the second blind man, Jesus did the unusual. He took him by the hand and led him out of town. The reason that Jesus took him aside was because of the unbelief in town. He commented on it later in his ministry.
Matthew:11:21: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Jesus told people in Nazareth that he could not heal because of their unbelief. There are times when we minister that we have to take the people aside, because of unbelief in the area. Be open to the Holy Spirit when and where to pray for the sick to be healed. The Holy Spirit knows the heart of the person, but we do not, so it is important to listen to his advise.
Mark:6:4-6 4: But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5: And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6: And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
This time Jesus spit in his eyes. This shows Jesus listened to the Holy Spirit for what to do when he prayed for the blind men. Then he laid his hands on the man.
There is something very interesting shown here. The healing was not complete the first time he prayed. It took two times for the full manifestation. This shows just what Jesus said in Mark 16 when he said that when the believer prayed for the sick they would recover. That term in the Greek means at that time they would begin to recover. When we lay hands on someone for healing, if it is not complete the first time we pray, don’t be discouraged, just pray again, expecting healing.
This story fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy.
Isaiah:42:16: And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
The man born blind
This story of the blind man healed goes in the most detail of any of the blind that were healed by Jesus.
John:9:1-41 1: And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2: And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3: Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4: I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5: As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6: When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7: And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 8: The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9: Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10: Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 11: He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 12: Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. 13: They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. 14: And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. 15: Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16: Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17: They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 18: But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19: And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20: His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22: These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23: Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24: Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25: He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26: Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27: He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28: Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. 29: We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30: The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31: Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32: Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33: If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34: They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 35: Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36: He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37: And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38: And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 39: And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40: And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41: Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Jesus is asked by his disciples who sinned the man or his parents that he was born blind. This shows that people believed sin caused blindness. Jesus’ answer shows us several things.
John 9:3: Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4: I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5: As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
First, Jesus tells them that the man had not sinned. The second thing Jesus tells them about his mission. The translators of this verse put the punctuation wrong, it should read. “But that the works of God should be made manifest in him, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day.”
Jesus tells him that the manifestation of healing is a work of God, and that he was doing the work of God by healing him. He is contrasting this with the thoughts of the day, where people thought God put bad things on people because they sinned. He was telling them what James says in 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
This time Jesus spits on the ground, makes a clay of it, rubs it on the man’s eyes, and then tells him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. Why did he not just touch his eyes as he did with the other blind men? Perhaps, this man needed something physical to help out his faith because he was born blind. Maybe the other men had become blind so it was not such a step of faith. As we saw in Mark 16 which we read earlier, we are to pray for the sick and they shall recover, but we are told to add something in James to help the faith of those prayed for.
James:5:14-15 14: Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Some people need a physical reassurance of the anointing of the Holy Spirit to heal.
The rest of this story goes into detail about how the Pharisees condemned Jesus because he healed on the Sabbath. We went into detail about healing on the Sabbath in the last lesson, so we will not go into detail about that now.
Blind men at Jericho
Matthew:20:29-34 29: And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30: And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 31: And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. 32: And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33: They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34: So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Mark:10:46-52 46: And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47: And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 48: And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 49: And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 50: And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. 51: And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52: And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Luke:18:35-43 35: And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: 36: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 37: And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passes by. 38: And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39: And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40: And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, 41: Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42: And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43: And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
These three stories all occur in the town of Jericho. But Matthew says two men were there, and the others only mention one man. Mark tells us the name of the man is Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. Bartimaeus is: A hybrid word from Aramaic bar= “son,” and Greek timaios =”honorable.”
All three stories mention that he, or they cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me or us.” Apparently they continued to shout out this, because the people who were with Jesus told them or him to shut up. But it tells us he shouted all the more. This is persistence in prayer. This is what Jesus told us to do in a parable.
Luke:18:1-8 1: And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2: Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4: And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;5: Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.6: And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7: And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8: I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Persistent prayer brings results. James also tells us this.
James:5:16-18 16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17: Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18: And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
We need to note another thing about this story. Jesus asked the man a question to find out where his faith was. He said, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?
Before praying for a person’s healing, we need to ask them what they can believe for and hook in with them in agreement for that. Jesus was asking the man to speak out his faith. It is very important to speak out our faith. The man’s answer is that the man received his sight.
Jesus did not lay hands on him, he did not spit and make clay, he just spoke. He said, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Jesus acknowledged here that the man’s faith healed him. He was just like the woman that came up behind Jesus and was healed. He reached out in faith and received healing from God. This man stood in faith himself for healing.
These several stories of healing show that there are different levels of faith. We have to be open to the Holy Spirit to know where those we pray for are in their faith is so when we pray for them we pray in agreement with them, because a prayer of agreement brings results.
Goode Christian: learning how to be a good Christian in today's world. 