WHAT DO YOU WANT JESUS TO DO FOR YOU?

Passage: Luke 18:31-43

Key verse: 41

NIV

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time(A)

31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem,(B) and everything that is written by the prophets(C) about the Son of Man(D) will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles.(E) They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him(F) and kill him.(G) On the third day(H) he will rise again.”(I)

34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.(J)

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight(K)

35 As Jesus approached Jericho,(L) a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”(M)

38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David,(N) have mercy(O) on me!”

39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”(P)

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”(Q) 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.(R)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

31 (A)And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, (B)we are going up to Jerusalem, and (C)everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be (D)delivered over to the Gentiles and will be (E)mocked and shamefully treated and (F)spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on (G)the third day he will rise.” 34 (H)But they understood none of these things. (I)This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

35 (J)As he drew near to Jericho, (K)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, (L)“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, (M)Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front (N)rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 (O)“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; (P)your faith has (Q)made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, (R)glorifying God. And (S)all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

It was a third time that Jesus predicted his death and resurrection to the Twelve. Jesus would be delivered over to the Roman authorities; they will mock, insult, and spit on him; they will flog and kill him, but on the third day he would rise again. Jesus spoke clearly and in detail but the disciples did not understand its meaning, for it was hidden from them. Due to their wrong expectations from Jesus, they could see only what they expected to see. They were blind spiritually. They needed to open their spiritual eyes to understand the meaning of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Likewise, sin dulls our vision and disorients our perspective until we cannot see the truth and the greatness and the glory of God’s revelation (Eph 1:17-19).

Unlike the disciples, the blind beggar knew that he was blind. When others tried to quiet him, he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus heard his prayer for mercy, called him, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” He knew what he wanted from the Messiah. He wanted to see, not human sympathy. Jesus blessed his faith and gave him sight. What we need is to admit our blindness and ask Jesus for mercy who alone can give us sight.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. I come to you for healing. Please heal my blindness and open my eyes to understand the deep meaning of the gospel and to know you better.

One Word: Lord, I want to see.