As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
These two blind men can represent all of humanity blinded by sin. Humanity found itself captive of darkness (see Colossians 1:13) before Jesus, who was himself the light of the world (see John 8:12), came to set it free. Jesus alone was the one whom the darkness could not overcome nor even comprehend (see John 1:5).
This blindness on humanity due to sin was not blameless as the physical blindness of these two men would have been. To one degree or another both Jew and Gentile became collaborators with the darkness in which they found themselves and "became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (see Romans 1:21). The chief problem for humanity at this point was stubbornness and pride. We did not want to admit the depth of our depravity and preferred to pretend things were as they should be.
Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains (see John 9:41).
But those, like these two blind men, who were willing to see themselves as pitiable to Jesus, found themselves eligible for his mercy. They were certain both of their own need and of the ability of Jesus to help them. They knew, without seeing, that he himself was untouched by darkness, and had the power to set captives under the dominion of darkness free, just as he promised.
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Those who their time insisting that, as they say, "This is fine", while all burns around (and within), never even bother to deeply consider what Jesus might have to offer. It is not these, but rather the hearts of those who know themselves to be needy that are ready to recognize the Messiah when he comes.
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
The gift of sight from Jesus is meant to do more than open the eyes of those who are physically blind. As impressive as that is it is meant to be the sign of a deeper enlightenment of the mind and heart.
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you (see Ephesians 1:18).
Jesus opens our eyes not merely so that we can gaze around us at the lovely landscape and give thanks, not just so that we can get through a day without stumbling, but especially so that we can begin to see where we are headed on the journey of our lives. When we begin to see the destination our lives shift from drudgery and repetition to become an adventure filled with hope as we progress as closer to the one who is himself the source of light.
the people dwelling in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
on them a light has dawned (see Matthew 4:16).
This journey from darkness to light begins with baptism. But it is nevertheless the journey of a lifetime marked both by progress but also often by backsliding. And this means that we too need to learn that we are in some measure pitiable and call out to Jesus. We too need to "hear the words of a book" so that our deafness may be healed. We too must look to Jesus more and more so that our blind eyes come to see the majesty of him and his promise to us.
The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD,
and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
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