Luke 18:35-39. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: and hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace:
«Hush!» they cried; «how can you disturb the blessed Master's discourse? Be quiet.»
Luke 18:39-40. But he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood,
Prayer held him fast. Here is a stationary Saviour, held in his place by the cries of a blind man. Oh, the power of prayer! It stays the onward march of the Son of God: «Jesus stood,»
Luke 18:40-41. And commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
It is a great thing to know what you really do want. There are some persons who are so blind that they do not know that they are blind; and because they say, «We see,» therefore is their blindness the more intense. I fear that there is many a person, who professes to pray, yet who, if Christ should come into the room, and say, «What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?» would not know how to answer the question. This man did; and he said, very briefly, and very clearly, but in a very full way, «Lord, that I may receive my sight.»
Luke 18:42. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight:
Often, the blessing from Christ's lip is the echo of the prayer which fell from ours. The blind man said, «Lord, that I may receive my sight.» Echo answered, «Receive thy sight.»
Luke 18:42-43. Thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight,
See, how the prayer, the word of Christ, and the immediate effect of it, all tally. «That I might receive my sight.» «Receive thy sight.» «He received his sight.»
Luke 18:43. And followed him,
Christ likes not blind followers: «and followed him,»
Luke 18:43. Glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
They seemed to be greatly impressed, but we shall see that some of them soon spoke in another fashion.
This exposition consisted of readings from Luke 18:35-43; and Luke 19:1-10.