I’ve often heard people say, “Seeing is believing” and that is a viable truth. Seeing and feeling is what Thomas needed as proof that Jesus rose from the dead. In John 20:25-28 Thomas declared, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” Many people are like Thomas, they won’t believe what they cannot see. However, there are those who hear and believe. If you believe in Jesus this would be you and I. We have not seen the visible Jesus, yet we believe. There are many in the bible who could not see yet they believed. They were forced by their disability to use their other senses to believe.
In Luke 18:35-43 we have the account of Jesus walking to Jericho. There was a blind man who heard the commotion and ask what was going on. Someone in the crowd told him that it was Jesus of Nazareth that was passing by. Matthew 20:30, mentions two men that were sitting there blind, and they begin to cry out to Jesus “Son of David” to have mercy on us. These two must have been loud because those that were following Jesus told them to hold their peace. This rebuking only made the man cry louder. Imagine that you were the blind one, you could not see but you could hear. Now, you have your one opportunity to bring your request to one that you believe could change your situation. You hear and in desperation cry out for help. These men get louder and louder, no one could shut them up. Eureka! Finally, Jesus hears them and asks for them to be brought to Him. Jesus asks them what do you want me to do? Their request was to receive their sight. Jesus grants their request, and their eyes are completely healed. Jesus tells them it is their faith that saved them and because of their belief in Him they were healed. They were so appreciative that they followed Jesus and glorified God. Their physical and eternal needs were met, and it brought forth praise from them.
Luke 18:35-43 “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passed 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: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, 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. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.”
Note these men were sitting waiting and hoping to have an opportunity to encounter this miracle worker. They had already heard about Jesus, or they would not have known enough to cry out to Him for healing. When their opportunity came, they took advantage of it. They cried out as loud as they could hoping Jesus would hear them. Many in our world have never heard about Jesus they don’t know that He can heal their souls and grant them eternal life. Yet, they cry out for help from all kinds of sources to help them to maneuver through this life. They turn to false religions, drugs, sex, relationships, successful jobs, and even family, to help them feel better and fill the void that only a relationship with Jesus can fill. They are spiritually blind, and no one has told them the beautiful story that can open their eyes. This is where we come in. If the crowd following Jesus would have not told these men that the one everyone was excited about was Jesus, they would not have known He was near. Had someone not told them in their past of the miracles of Jesus it would not have mattered who the crowd told them He was. We have a responsibility to go and tell others about Jesus. It is selfish and sinful for us to keep such knowledge to ourselves. For us to presume everyone around us knows about Jesus is disobedient to the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus is about to leave His followers and ascend back to Heaven. Before He leaves, He gives all those who are His, a command. This command was for the present followers and all who come behind them. We are to go and tell. We are to teach all nations, all cultures everywhere about Jesus, and how they can know Him and be saved from eternal hell. Those who have not heard can hear and believe, just as the blind men by the side of the road. Once they have heard maybe they will see Jesus by the way we live and mimic Him in our lives, but until they hear there will be no salvation for others.
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
