Smoodock's Blog

Understanding Life Through Our Senses

What does anyone know of life? How does anyone come to the knowledge of anything? I submit to you that all we know about life comes to us through one or more of our five senses. These are our five gateways to the world around us. If we were to lose one of those senses, perhaps the sense of sight, what might that do to our ability to understand our world? Modern times have done wonders to assist us in taking advantage of our other senses, if and when we lose one of them. For example, one can “read” through the sense of touch by using the Braille system. We can stay in touch with our world by listening to what is broadcast through modern media.

However, what could a blind man do in the early part of the first century AD? How was he kept informed about the world around him? For example, how would any blind man know that Jesus would be able to heal him? The mere thought of not having to have someone lead you around the countryside would be astonishing; the freedom to go wherever one pleased, whenever he pleased, and to be independent of anyone for simple day’s tasks was akin to living in a dream. Could anything like this be a blind man’s reality?

The Pursuit of Healing

Who informed these blind men that Jesus could heal them? Why would they believe it when they heard it? I don’t believe a blind person is likely to be susceptible to quick cure schemes or reports of them. If a blind man or woman believed a cure was possible, the report must have come from a reliable source, one that had been tried and trusted. Perhaps he heard reports of lepers being healed, of the sick being restored to health. Perhaps he knew someone who had been cured.

Maybe these blind individuals were present in Jairus’ home or nearby when they heard that his daughter was restored to life. For some reason, Jesus’ power was convincing enough for them to believe he could restore their sight.

The Cry for Mercy

When Jesus departed from Jairus’ home, two blind men followed. We can assume they were led by a friend or a relative. They cried out to Jesus: “Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Matthew 9:27). In other words, they called out to him as their Messiah, the meaning of “Son of David.”

Yet, it appears Jesus ignored their cries for mercy, as they had to follow him all the way back to “the house”—either his own house in Capernaum or back to Matthew’s home, where a feast was being held in his honor (Matthew 9:28). Why would Jesus ignore their cries for mercy? Why does God seem to ignore our prayers at times?

One fact is clear from this account: the blind men were persistent in their cries for mercy (their prayers). They weren’t merely seeking a second miracle after witnessing one at Jairus’ home; they were genuinely earnest in their desire to be healed. Their faith was demonstrated through their determination to follow Jesus, despite his seeming disregard for their pleas.

The Evidence of Faith

When Jesus recognized their faith, he prompted them to express what they believed about him, ensuring that others present would witness it. “Do you believe I am able to do this?” he asked, and they affirmed their belief.

Then, Jesus touched their eyes, and they were immediately healed and able to see (Matthew 9:29). Whomever Jesus touches is never the same afterward. People undergo profound changes; the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are raised; no one remains unchanged after coming to truly know Jesus.

A Cautionary Instruction

After healing the blind men, Jesus instructed them not to spread the news of their healing (Matthew 9:30). Why would he do this? Certainly, there were witnesses to the healing already present in the house. It doesn’t appear that Jesus was commanding silence about the event, so the healing itself wasn’t a private matter. Conversely, in the case of the demoniac in Gergesenes (Matthew 8:32), Jesus instructed him to share his story about God’s mercies (Mark 5:19; Luke 8:38-39). What accounts for the difference?

I believe the healed demoniac was freed from something potentially dangerous—be it harmful thoughts, political influences, or religious doubt. He needed to fill his mind with thoughts of Jesus following his healing, for his prior condition was one of the mind. Initially afraid of Jesus, he ultimately became a new man (Luke 8:35). There was a risk of returning to his former state without filling the void inside him, as described in Luke 11:24-26.

This was not the case for the blind men. If they failed to keep Jesus in their thoughts, they wouldn’t revert to their former blindness. It was more beneficial for them to reflect on what had been done for them rather than to broadcast it widely. For the demoniac, sharing his story was healing, but for the blind men, contemplation could lead to a deeper understanding of God’s mercy.

Nevertheless, after leaving Jesus, they began to share what had happened, leading to the spread of Jesus’ fame throughout the land (Matthew 9:31).