“And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” (Matthew 9:27)

They desperately needed his help and, despite their obvious limitations, followed him. Two blind men had the wisdom and the courage to seek after Jesus when it couldn’t have been easy, trapped as they were in darkness. Somehow the word that Jesus was near had pierced their dark world. Perhaps they had heard about Jairus’ daughter being raised from the dead, or of the woman with a bleeding disorder who simply reached out, touched Jesus, and was healed. They got wind that this same Jesus was passing through, was near enough for them to reach out and touch him, too. And so, they followed him down the road and right into the house, crying aloud all the way, wanting what he alone could offer.

Jesus waited for them to come. He heard their cries for mercy but did not stop. He waited for them to go after him, to seek him out. And then he asked them a penetrating question: “Do you believe I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28). The question should startle us also, slice through our layers of unbelief. “Do you believe I am able to do this?”, he asks us as we approach him begging for mercy and yet unconvinced he can deliver precisely what we need?

The two blind men replied, “Yes, Lord.” That’s all Christ needed to hear. Their unwavering faith that Christ could heal them, their firm conviction that he had all the power necessary to give them sight, was the precursor to Christ reaching out his compassionate hands and touching their eyes. Then he spoke these riveting words: “According to your faith be it done to you” (Matthew 9:29). Christ measured out his healing to these two in proportion to their faith. They went to him, they asked for his help, they believed he could heal them, and he did.

The Scriptures tell us, “And their eyes were opened” (Matthew 9:30). Jesus would be the first face they ever saw. Up to that moment darkness had encased their existence, but the Light of the World broke through and miraculously freed them. Light always wins the fight against darkness.

Our eyes may not be our area of need. Our minds and hearts may be shrouded by blinding concerns, cloudy apprehensions, muddled thoughts. We must also follow the Savior in spite of all our limitations. As we beg for mercy, we must approach with hearts that see clearly that he can be trusted. We are to believe when he says “I am able to do this” whatever the this might be.

Elizabeth A Mitchell