27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straightly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. Matthew 9:27-31

There was the unceasing cry for sight. This cry came from two blind men who were apparently sitting beside the road begging. In Jesus’ day most blind men were beggars. These two blind men overheard what had been happening. A chord was struck in their heart, so they began to follow after Jesus, crying out as fast as they could shout, “Thou Son of David, Have mercy on us.” Note that they took the very steps necessary to have their needs met.

1. They acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah, the Savior of the world. This is seen in the title they used for Jesus, “Thou Son of David”. The men were blind. They could not see what Jesus was doing. They could only hear. 1) The lost are blind. They cannot see; they cannot understand. 2) The lost can only hear. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). Hearing the gospel is the only hope for the lost. It is imperative that we go and proclaim the Word to them.

These men did what we must do if we wish God to have mercy upon us. The blind men “believed the report” about the Messiah (Romans 10:16). They could only hear the report; they could not see what was happening. They personally cried out for mercy, accepting and confessing that Jesus was the Messiah. “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6 ). God is rich in mercy (Ephes. 2:4-5). He will have mercy on any who genuinely cry to Him for mercy.

These blind men fought their way to him. They persisted and went after what they wanted. Note that Jesus did not stop immediately. He knew their hearts just as He knows everyone’s heart. He knew they needed to grow in desperation. They needed to be so desperate that they would just cast themselves upon Him totally. They had apparently not reached that point. So He, who is all-wise, walked on as though He did not hear them. And all the while they clawed their way through the crushing crowd, shouting at the top of their voices, becoming more and more desperate and more and more ready to take the great leap of saving faith. The men persisted and kept after Jesus. The two men helped each other. They began together and fought together to get to Jesus. What a lesson for us when we confront need! Believers with common needs can help each other reach Jesus. “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:8). “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah29:13).

Jesus’ response to the blind men was compassionate and forceful. There was an unmistakable readiness to help. This is seen in three acts. a. Jesus questioned the two blind men: “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” Jesus stands ready to help-always. There is never a time when He is not ready to help, but there is a prerequisite to His helping. There is one qualification: “Believe ye that I am able to do this?” Some follow after Jesus and even ask for mercy, but they never commit their lives in faith to Christ. They believe mentally, but they never believe with their lives, that is, commit their lives to what Jesus claims-that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. Some call Jesus Lord, but they lack the one essential: doing what they profess. They have never turned over their lives to the One they say they trust. A person has not trusted Christ unless he has entrusted his life into Jesus’ keeping. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

The faith of the blind men in Christ and His power wrought their healing. It did not take works, but faith. It did not take money, but faith. It did not take social acceptance or position, but faith. 2) Jesus knows our faith and He knows how to grow our faith. Note how He grew the faith of these men. Whatever we need to develop a strong faith, whether trial or test or immediate blessing, God will bring that experience into our lives. What a blessed thought! Jesus receives our faith, accepts it, and does what we believe. 4) No man is dealt with according to his profession, status, relationship or position. He is dealt with according to his faith: “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him….” (Hebrews 11:6). “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:22). “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

The enormous power of Christ should… • stir us to bring our needs to Christ all the time. • stir us to bring others to Christ all the time, even if they are gripped by the severest forces of darkness. God wants faith from men. God responds to true faith. God does whatever good a person asks if that person really believes in Him and His power. And amazingly, the request can be in behalf of another person. God will touch the life of another person because we pray in faith. Our faith is only as strong as the object of our faith. The power of faith does not rest in a person’s own faith but in God and in God alone (Mark 6:30). Christ can do anything no matter what it is, but the question is, will He? It always depends upon two things. a. Is the request good? Is it good for all, both for the people involved and for the world? And is it good for God Himself and His glory? Only God can know if a request is good; that is, does it embrace good for all persons involved. This is what is meant by asking according to His will. But note this: a great deal of what is good (His will) is already revealed to us in His Word. We can ask according to His Word and He will answer-if we truly believe. b. Is the request really asked in faith? Do we really believe that God can and will do the good that we ask? “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).