There's sight and there's sight

The blind beggar sat in the shadow of riches, trying to grab the falling crumbs from the pious pilgrims. Jericho, where he had set up shop, was the rendezvous for Jews on their way to Jerusalem for Passover. They had bypassed the detested Samaria, going the long way round to avoid that hated soil and people.

Sitting at the side of the road, he heard a commotion and was told that Jesus the Nazarene was walking by. He wasted no time. At the top of his lungs, he called out for mercy from Jesus, son of David. He knew who Jesus was. He didn’t identify him as the Nazarene, but as the son of David. Did he also tie that title to an understanding of Jesus as Messiah?

The crowd didn’t. The people sternly ordered his silence. The beggar was not swayed. After the second call, he had Jesus’ attention. I find it interesting that Jesus did not assume what the beggar wanted. He asked. While the beggar had asked for mercy twice, now he asks for sight.

His word choice is interesting. He asked for anablepo. That can mean either to recover sight or to look up. Jesus gave him anablepo and informed him that his faith had saved him. Not only were his eyes healed, but the beggar had spiritual vision as well.

His next choice: he followed Jesus, praising God. He understood his healing had come from God and, interestingly enough, even the cynical crowd now praised God as well.

Context is always vital. The beggar was surrounded by a crowd that had religious formulas. They were on their way to the Passover in Jerusalem, only slightly inconvenienced by their shunning of the Samaritans. Filled with righteous hatred and religious narrowness, they tried to keep the beggar away from Jesus, even though they did not acknowledge Jesus’ heritage.

The beggar had a choice: follow the crowd or his own faith. He didn’t hesitate. The crowd was doing little for him, while he had hope that Jesus offered sight. He had more perception (dare I say sight?) than the crowd. And he wanted to see - not just physically but spiritually as well.

We may feel the same choice. Our crowd may even be religious, shouting down our heart’s desire. Can we, like the beggar, keep shouting? Are we desperate to have our sight renewed? Can we keep our focus?

The beggar knew Jesus was the key to his future. He defied the crowd. He wanted to look up and it made all the difference.

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God.

Luke 18:43