Matthew 20:29-34 NASB1995: As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

I love it! I love the persistence of these two blind men who did not let the crowd discourage them from calling on Jesus to open their blinded eyes. They didn’t care what the crowd thought of them, or what they would say about them, or what they might do to them. They wanted Jesus Christ to open their blinded eyes so they could see. This was critically important to them. And Jesus Christ, moved with compassion, then touched their eyes, and they regained their sight, and they followed him. Awesome!

Now, this story is speaking of two men who were physically blind who wanted to be able to see physically with their eyes. But the Scriptures also speak of spiritual blindness and of the need to have our spiritual eyes opened so that we can see with spiritual insight.

In fact, Jesus sent the apostle Paul (then Saul) to open spiritually blinded eyes so that those whose eyes were opened would turn from darkness (sin) to light (truth and righteousness) and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ (see Acts 26:15-18).

Basically, Paul’s calling was to spread the message of the gospel of our salvation from sin to both the Jews and the Gentiles (non-Jews) so that they would, by God-persuaded faith in the Lord, turn from their sin (die to sin) and now follow the Lord Jesus in truth and in righteousness, in holy living, in obedience to our Lord and to his commands. And this was so that they would no longer live under the dominion (control) of sin and Satan, but they would now live under the dominion (control) of God in obedience to his commands.

And, as those who have died with Christ to sin, and who have been reborn of the Spirit of God to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but now as servants of the Lord and his righteousness, in obedience to his commands, we have received forgiveness of sins and deliverance from our slavery to sin so that we might live holy lives, pleasing to God, in service to our Lord Jesus Christ, as his followers. Thus, we are no longer to live under the dominion of sin but now under the control of God and his word.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; Acts 26:18; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Colossians 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

To Be Like Him

Based off Scripture
An Original Work / March 16, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Crucified you are with Jesus.
To be like Him, oh, you’ll be,
Because He died at Calv’ry,
So from sin you’d be free.
Oh, what joy He brings into your life,
Giving life with Him endlessly.

Oh, what plans He has for your life.
Share the gospel faithfully.
Show the people He loves them.
Now His witness you’ll be.
Tell the world of sin about Jesus,
How He died for them on a tree.

Purifying hearts, He saves them,
Who believe on Christ, God’s Son.
Turning now from their idols,
New lives they have begun.
Jesus saves from sin; we’re forgiven.
Over sin, the vict’ry He won!

When He comes again to take us
To be with Him evermore,
There will be no more crying.
Gladness will be in store.
Heavens joys will now overtake us:
We’ll be with our Lord evermore.

Opening Blinded Eyes
An Original Work / April 3, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love