The blind see, the lame walk, the dear hear

The blind see, the lame walk, the dear hear

Scripture:

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Matthew 11:1-6

Observation:

In spite of His busyness and great ministry of teaching and preaching, our Lord Jesus also set aside a lot of time to instruct His twelve disciples. Many great leaders are too busy performing the main functions that they forget the importance of training their successors. Jesus knew that a time would soon come when He would leave. Thereafter, His disciples would need to depend on His teachings as their foundation once He was no longer with them.

John the Baptist, who was imprisoned at that time by King Herod, perhaps wavered in his faith, because of the harsh conditions. To clear his doubt, John asked his disciples to ask Jesus straight out “Are you really the Messiah”? Our Lord Jesus did not answer them directly but asked them to report the signs and wonders that they saw - the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, healings from leprosy, the deaf hearing and the dead raised. Also, the good news was being proclaimed to the poor, that salvation had become available to them. All these signs were evidence of prophecy fulfilled as declared in Isaiah 61 concerning the Messiah.

Spiritually, this pattern is also applicable. Before we know Christ, we are spiritually blind, we cannot see the things of God. We are spiritually lame in that we cannot walk in the righteousness of Christ. We are spiritually deaf because we cannot hear what God may say to us. We have spiritual leprosy which is sin in us, which slowly devours us. And we are spiritually dead for the things of the Spirit mean nothing to us. We also have no good news to proclaim to the poor, for we ourselves are poor. However, once we receive the salvation of Jesus Christ, our eyes are opened and we can see spiritual things. We walk with new purpose in service of Christ. We can hear the Words of our Master who leads us and guides us by His Spirit. We are now spiritually alive for Jesus is alive in us. Having and experiencing this good news, we are also able to proclaim it to the poor, who do not have the joy of knowing Jesus Christ.

Blessed is the man who does not stumble on account of Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. Perhaps John the Baptist had begun to stumble. A person who stumbles is not walking properly. This has to do with faith. When Peter had faith, he could walk even on water. When his faith wavered, he sank with the waves until Jesus saved him. Hardship and discouragement can make our faith waver, when we lose complete trust in Jesus Christ.

Application:

All of us somehow or other will occupy some kind of position of leadership, whether corporately, in business or church, or even in our own families. We are at least an elder brother or sister to those younger than us or those with less experience. Remember the importance of setting time aside to train and disciple those that we lead.

Some of us may have known the Lord for many years now, but somehow, because of the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth or desires for other things, are spiritual sensitivity has become dull again. We may not see or hear well regarding the things of God. We may have lost the surety of our walk with God. We may have let sin gain a foothold in our lives and let it slowly devour us. We may not have good news left to share, for we have forgotten the joy of knowing the Lord. The call is for us to repent and return to Jesus Christ, and pray that He will restore spiritual life in us again, to make our spiritual sight and hearing keen again, to strengthen our walk with Him, to give us the joy that causes us to share His goodness with others.

Prayer:

Praise You, Lord, for You are my Mighty God. O How I need Your Spirit. Forgive me Lord Jesus, for the parts in my life where I have turned back to the ways of the world and let my passion cool and become spiritually dead again. Rekindle O Lord, that flame of Your Spirit in my life. Let Your Word become alive again to me I pray. Let my heart yearn to call out to You in prayer again. Let my ears be keen to hear Your guidance again. Give me that deep joy again O Lord of knowing You, even when I first loved You. Praise You, Lord Jesus, create that fresh desire in my heart for You. Blessed be Your holy name. In Jesus name, Amen.