“Receive your sight”

Read Luke 18:31-43

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The time for Jesus’s death was drawing near – both Matthew and Mark also now set that in terms of going up to Jerusalem (Mk.10:32; Mt.20:17). This is the third time that Jesus has told his disciples what will happen to him there – mocking, flogging and execution, but then resurrection (33; 9:22; 9:44).

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All of this was a necessary fulfilment of prophecy (31) but still “its meaning was hidden from them” (34; 9:45). Only after he had risen would they begin to understand (24:25-27). Luke immediately goes on to tell the story of a blind man at Jericho, the last town Jesus would reach before arriving at Jerusalem (35; Mk.10:46-52; Mt.20:29-34).

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So it’s significant that he should be openly recognised as “Son of David” i.e. the Messiah (38-39; 20:41-44). But Jesus understood this not in terms of being a national leader – he had come to give sight to the blind, both physically and spiritually (4:18; 7:22), and to save the lost (19:10). So this healing of the blind man is a symbol of the salvation that he gives to those who believe in him and follow him (42-43; 8:48,50. “healed” is the Greek word sozo, to save). Jesus’s death was not the end but the ongoing basis of his saving work.