Blindman's Faith

Words matter. Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word andthe right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

Nazareth is a city in Galilee, and Bethlehem is a city in Judea, nearly 120 kilometers apart. King David was born in Bethlehem. Jesus, a descendant of David, too, was born in Bethlehem. Because Herod the Great wanted to kill baby Jesus, Joseph took him and Mary and went to Egypt. Upon returning, Joseph chose Nazareth of Galilee because Herod’s son, Archelaus, was ruling Judea, and he was as ruthless as his father, Herod. Jesus’s parents’ decision directed where he ministered, Galilee, and what he was called “Jesus of Nazareth.”

But for one blind person, he was still David’s son, a Bethlehemite.

As Jesus was nearing Jericho, on his way to Jerusalem, they traveled on a road where a blind person sat and begged for his livelihood (Luke 18:35). He heard the hustle and bustle of a large crowd passing by him and asked what was happening (he couldn’t see! 18:36). They told him,

“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by” (18:37).

Hearing that, he shouted,

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (18:38).

People tried to silence him, but he shouted even louder,

“Son of David, have mercy on me” (18:39).

Whereas people told him “Jesus of Nazareth,” a Galilean, was passing through, he saw David’s son, a king of Israel, passing before him. That was why he wanted deliverance and shouted for mercy. He knew David’s son could and would deliver him. That was his faith.

Hearing his confession, Jesus approached him and asked what he could do. He said,

“Lord, I want to see again” (18:41).

The Hebrews knew a famous kingly poem that began,

“YHWH God said to Lord Adonai: ‘You sit at my right hand until I make all your enemies your footstool’” (Ps 110:1).

They knew God’s Messiah was Lord Adonai. As such, the blind man addressed Jesus as Lord and asked for help. He understood Jesus as his Messiah, one from David’s lineage, from Bethlehem.

Knowing who Jesus was, the blind man wanted to see again (the Greek word anablepo is a combination of the preposition ana “again” and the verb blepo “see”). Once, he saw and somehow lost his eyesight. Now, he wanted to see again. Jesus granted his request because his faith was strong to see Jesus as David’s son (18:42). Immediately, his eyes opened, and he saw and glorified (doxa) God. His joy was contagious, and the entire crowd praised (ainos) God.*

Words and proper designations for royalty matter. We see this clearly in the New Testament. For example, the Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) frequently refer to the name “Jesus” when discussing a historical person. But Paul and Peter do not refer to him as Jesus, but as “Lord Jesus” or “Jesus Christ,” because he is the exalted king. Similarly, we must honor the Lord Jesus for who he is; that’s faith that saves.

* Doxa is individual worship, whereas ainos is corporal worship.