How Do You See Jesus? Lessons from the Blind

Jun 14, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Blindness to the Familiar

We often overlook what we see daily—a dog statue unnoticed for decades, shoelace aglets ignored for years. Familiarity numbs us to both mundane and sacred realities. The crowd followed Jesus physically but missed Him spiritually, consumed by their agenda. Spiritual blindness isn’t always ignorance; sometimes it’s overexposure without true engagement. What have we stopped seeing because we assume we already know it? [03:10]

“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.’” (Matthew 13:13–14, ESV)

Reflection: Where has routine dulled your ability to see Jesus at work? What “aglet” in your faith have you overlooked, assuming you already knew it?

Day 2: Defying the Crowd’s Silence

The blind men screamed over the noise, refusing to let the crowd’s disapproval mute their need. Their cries disrupted the status quo, insisting Jesus was worth the embarrassment. The crowd often prioritizes comfort over raw desperation, but faith persists when others say “be quiet.” What part of your heart have you silenced because others—or your own pride—deemed it unworthy of Jesus’ attention? [16:35]

“When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, [Bartimaeus] began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more.” (Mark 10:47–48, ESV)

Reflection: What cry have you stifled because you feared being “too much”? How might Jesus respond if you dared to shout it today?

Day 3: Mercy as the Lens of Sight

The blind men didn’t ask for power or position—they begged for mercy. To cry “have mercy” is to admit helplessness and trust Jesus’ capacity to act. Their humility (“we can’t”) and boldness (“but You can”) redefined seeing: not physical vision, but recognizing Jesus as the Son of David who stops for the unworthy. Where have you substituted self-reliance for desperate dependence? [26:40]

“Two blind men followed [Jesus], crying aloud, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ … Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’” (Matthew 9:27–28, ESV)

Reflection: When have you last asked Jesus for mercy, not just help? How does admitting your helplessness clarify your sight of Him?

Day 4: The God Who Stops

Jesus halted His march toward Jerusalem—the climax of His mission—to tend to two “nobodies.” The Creator of galaxies isn’t too busy to hear a whisper, but He also isn’t intimidated by our loudest cries. His pause wasn’t an interruption; it was the point. What makes you doubt He’d stop for you? [30:55]

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20, ESV)

Reflection: Do you believe Jesus stops for you as He did for Jerusalem? How might His compassion reshape what you bring to Him today?

Day 5: Crying When Silence Feels Safer

The Romanian orphans stopped crying because no one came. The blind men kept screaming because they believed Someone would. Persistence in prayer isn’t about volume; it’s about expectation. Cynicism whispers, “He won’t,” but faith argues, “He has before.” What prayer have you abandoned that Jesus still waits to answer? [39:54]

“Then [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. … ‘Will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?’” (Luke 18:1, 7, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you settled for silent resignation instead of stubborn cries? How might Jesus’ question—“What do you want Me to do?”—invite you to try again?

Sermon Summary

Matthew sets a simple but searching question on the road out of Jericho: how do people see Jesus? The crowd looks like it sees Him, because it “follows.” But the crowd’s rebuke of two loud nobodies shows its vision is off. The crowd wants a king who fits its agenda, a winner who can “make Israel great again.” It follows the right Jesus for the wrong reasons, treating Him like a means to an end, and it tries to hush the needy because need gets in the way of momentum.

The two blind men see Jesus more clearly than the sighted majority. Their words carry their vision: “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.” That title signals faith that He is the promised Messiah. Their volume signals expectation. The cry they use is not casual; it is the kind of shout that means, “Someone real is here, and He will respond.” Their plea for “mercy” confesses helplessness, not leverage. Yet their request for sight shows bold confidence in Him. True sight holds both together: “I can’t,” and, “You can.”

Jesus shows what kind of Lord He is with three verbs: He stops, He calls, He has compassion. He is not too busy with crowds to notice two voices. He dignifies them with a question: “What do you want me to do for you?” The same question had exposed the disciples’ hunger for position; here it draws out a humble, faith-filled desire. His compassion is not reluctant or stingy. It is the father’s embrace in Luke 15, eager, tender, and costly. He touches their eyes, gives sight, and they follow Him.

The scene exposes a subtle drift that often happens around religion: familiarity without prayer. A heart can stand near Jesus, know the right names for Him, and stop crying out. Cynicism learns to self-soothe, to manage pain with distractions, to complain to friends instead of asking God. The two blind men teach a different reflex. Seeing Jesus as Lord and as merciful keeps prayer loud and honest. The Son of David is not annoyed by repeated knocks. He waits on the porch like a father who cannot stop scanning the horizon, ready to run when a child finally asks for help.

Key Takeaways

1. The crowd follows for wrong reasons The crowd moves with Jesus but tries to mute need because it wants Him to serve its plans. Majority energy can baptize ambition and call it devotion. When Jesus becomes a tool for winning, people stop seeing Him and start using Him. [07:09]
2. Mercy names helplessness and hope “Have mercy” admits, “I can’t fix me,” and reaches for the One who can. That posture is not passivity; it is the courage to ask big because Christ is able. Humility about self pairs with confidence in Jesus, and that is real faith. [26:40]
3. Persistent crying beats cynical silence The blind men refuse to be hushed, because they expect Jesus to answer. Cynicism learns to stop praying and to self-soothe with noise and numbing. Hope keeps knocking until the door opens, because the Lord is near and listening. [22:52]
4. Jesus stops, calls, and has compassion He is not swept away by the crowd’s urgency; He pauses for persons. His question draws out desire, and His pity moves Him to heal. This is not immigrant-parent guilt but fatherly welcome, eager to help when asked. [29:38]
5. Stalled prayer signals blurred vision When prayer thins to complaints and strategies, sight of Jesus has dimmed. The way back is not bravado but simple asking: “Lord, have mercy.” Desire named before Him becomes desire shepherded by Him. [39:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:21] - When familiarity makes you blind
[03:10] - Do you really see Jesus?
[05:14] - The crowd tries to silence need
[07:09] - Right Jesus, wrong reasons
[10:30] - Political messiah expectations
[14:18] - What do you want Me to do?
[16:35] - The cry that won’t quit
[24:16] - Son of David on blind lips
[26:40] - Mercy names helplessness and hope
[29:38] - He stops, calls, and feels compassion
[32:26] - Name your desire before Him
[34:29] - Not guilt, but fatherly compassion
[38:00] - Start again: ask for mercy
[41:26] - Closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 20:29-34 (ESV)
29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Observation Questions

What specific title did the blind men use when addressing Jesus, and what does this title signify about their understanding of Him?
How did the crowd react to the blind men’s cries, and how did the blind men respond to the crowd’s rebuke?
What three actions did Jesus take in response to the blind men’s plea (v. 32-34)?

Interpretation Questions

Why might the crowd have tried to silence the blind men, even though they were following Jesus themselves?
The blind men cried, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.” How does this plea reflect both their humility and their faith in Jesus’ identity and power?
In the sermon, the crowd is described as following Jesus “for the wrong reasons.” What might this look like in modern contexts, and how does it contrast with the blind men’s approach?

Application Questions

The blind men refused to let the crowd’s disapproval stop them from crying out to Jesus. When have you felt discouraged from bringing your needs to God, and what practical step could you take to persist in prayer? [22:52]
The sermon highlights how cynicism can lead to “self-soothing” instead of relying on God. What distractions or habits do you turn to when facing pain or need, and how might you intentionally shift to crying out to Jesus instead? [26:40]
Jesus asked the blind men, “What do you want me to do for you?” If He asked you this today, how would you answer? Are there desires or needs you’ve hesitated to name before Him?
The crowd wanted Jesus to serve their agenda. In what areas of your life (e.g., relationships, work, goals) are you tempted to treat Jesus as a means to an end rather than the Lord of your life? [07:09]
The sermon warns against “familiarity without prayer.” How would you describe your current rhythm of crying out to God? Is there a specific area where your prayers have grown silent or routine? [39:01]
The blind men’s request for mercy combined helplessness (“I can’t”) and hope (“You can”). Where do you feel helpless right now, and how can you boldly ask Jesus to act in that area? [29:38]

Sermon Clips

33s

#JesusStopsToCare

“``That doesn't seem Significant at first But think about There's an incredible Energy going on With the crowd He has a very important Task to get to And yet In the midst Of the greatest week Of human history The most important Culmination of his Earthly ministry He stops I think that's important It teaches them It shows us He's not Too busy with crowds That he can't Stop to care for you He gives them Dignity and value By stopping”

25s

#StrengthInWeakness

“When I am weak I am strong Because he has Great increasing confidence That Jesus Is more than enough That's what we're seeing Glimpses of here With the two blind men They know they got no They can't do anything And yet they believe Jesus Can heal And so they cry out Because how do they see Jesus As Lord over everything As a merciful one”

27s

#GodWaitsForYou

“And this is one of the Hardest things For us to believe And we need scriptures To show us again and again Think about how many times These people probably Cried out for sight Or help And they keep asking They haven't given up And God shows them Compassion Just like the father Waiting for the son To return He shows compassion He is waiting for you To cry out for help He is waiting for you To ask him”

33s

#AskForMercy

“He is a loving God He is a God Who has arms Wide open to you And all What he wants you to do Is ask for mercy To recognize I can't do anything But you can Help me That's what it means To begin a journey With Jesus To recognize To lay down All of your ability Your strength Your trying And say God I've tried all of that I need you”

24s

#GodIsCompassionate

“He's not begrudgingly Healing them He's not looking at them With annoyance And frustration Psalm 103 Says it That the father Shows compassion To his children So the Lord Shows compassion To those who fear him God Is not looking at you With great frustration He wants to show Compassion To you”

26s

#NeverStopCryingOut

“They cry out Loud enough To overwhelm a crowd And when rebuked They keep crying Which challenged me To ask the question Of myself And maybe that's a question You need to wrestle with In your relationship to God Have you stopped crying Have you stopped Crying out to God For help Because you don't Expect Him to help”

30s

#DontPoliticizeJesus

“You could say it like this They wanted Jesus to make Israel great again Let that sink in for a second Because they wanted a political leader Maybe a military leader To lead them To make Israel As great as it used to be Like under King David They followed the right Jesus For their own political reasons That's the temptation To follow the right Jesus”

24s

#StopSelfSoothing

“How do you see Him In many ways Many of us Like that kid I saw We stop expecting God to help Or we don't know If He will help And so we learn To self-soothe You know how we Self-soothe With substance With food With distractions With media And we stop crying out To God”

27s

#CryEvenLouder

“Quite significantly Quite significantly Right You can imagine The crowd Saying to them Because they're probably Very annoying Don't you know He has more important Things to do Don't you know That he has more important People to see And I love About these two blind men Is they're rebuked And then they cry Even louder That's what we need To pay attention to”

26s

#LearnedNotToExpect

“Learned how to Like it couldn't really Figure out They put They propped up the bottle On a blanket To kind of put it there And this baby Learned to rock itself To calm itself Didn't make a single noise This room Was dead Silent Because all the kids In that room Learned If they cried No one's coming They stopped expecting”

20s

#CryingIsCommunication

“Now think about Why kids cry They're trying To get help They're trying To get attention They're crying To get someone To respond And they expect Someone to respond To them Crying Especially for infants Is actually a good thing That's what they are doing To communicate”

28s

#KnowWhatYouWantFromJesus

“He knows Not only Is he Lord Because he knows What they need You could see Them in their Destitute state So everyone Could see What they need And yet He asks this Question to Get us To think About our Hearts To reveal Us And that's A very Important question You have to Ask yourself As you're Relating to Jesus What do You want Him to Do For you How would You answer That question And he Stops Long enough To ask You that Question”

32s

#SilenceWasLoud

“Help It was one of the Most significant memories In ministry I have Because it just reminded me Of how much Need there was But also The silence was so loud They stopped expecting Anyone to help them To feed them To comfort them They learned To self-soothe By rocking themselves We don't know The whole story With these two blind men”

31s

#HowYouSeeJesusShapesYou

“This is very important Because it also shows us How they see Jesus How they see themselves When you ask for mercy And this is how I experienced it As a kid I was a very physically Like active kid And my brother and I Often would get in fights My brother's three years younger than me And he's now taller than me But there was a season When I was taller than him Okay It kind of He started to overwhelm me In high school Or maybe even middle school Because I think I've been In this height Since like seventh grade”

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How Do You See Jesus? Lessons from the Blind

Devotional

Day 1: Blindness to the Familiar

Day 2: Defying the Crowd’s Silence

Day 3: Mercy as the Lens of Sight

Day 4: The God Who Stops

Day 5: Crying When Silence Feels Safer

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

How Do You See Jesus? Lessons from the Blind

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