HIGH FIVE! (we will have a long life together… BRING IT!)

Luke 18:35–43 is much more than a miracle story. It is the final healing miracle before Jesus enters Jerusalem, where His suffering, death, and resurrection will take place. Luke intentionally places this event immediately before the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19), making the healing symbolic as well as historical.
Luke 18:35–43 (Summary):
As Jesus approaches Jericho, a blind beggar hears the crowd and learns Jesus is passing by. He cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Though the crowd tells him to be quiet, he cries out even louder. Jesus stops, asks what he wants, and the man replies, “Lord, I want to see.” Jesus says, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed (saved) you.” The man immediately sees, follows Jesus, and glorifies God. The crowd also praises God.
Major Significance
1. The Blind Man Sees What Others Cannot
Ironically, the physically blind man is spiritually perceptive.
Just a few verses earlier (Luke 18:31–34), Jesus predicts His death for the third time.
Yet:
- The disciples don’t understand.
- The religious leaders reject Him.
- The crowd misunderstands Him.
But the blind man immediately recognizes Jesus as:
“Son of David.”
That title is hugely significant.
It is a Messianic title.
He recognizes Jesus as Israel’s promised King before many people with perfect eyesight do.
Luke loves this irony:
| Physical Condition | Spiritual Condition |
|---|---|
| Blind man | Can truly see |
| Crowd | Can physically see but misunderstands |
| Disciples | Still spiritually confused |
2. “Son of David” Is a Royal Declaration
The blind man doesn’t simply yell:
“Jesus!”
He says:
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
This connects Jesus with God’s covenant to David.
In 2 Samuel 7 God promised David:
- one of his descendants would reign forever
- his kingdom would never end
Many Jews expected the Messiah to be called “Son of David.”
This beggar publicly proclaims exactly that.
He becomes one of Luke’s clearest witnesses that Jesus is Israel’s promised King.
3. Mercy Comes Before Sight
Notice what he asks for first.
Not:
Heal me.
Instead:
“Have mercy on me.”
In Scripture mercy always precedes restoration.
The man recognizes:
- his need
- his dependence
- Jesus’ authority
His greatest request isn’t eyesight.
It’s mercy.
This reflects the posture God honors throughout Scripture.
4. The Crowd Tries to Silence Faith
Verse 39 says:
“Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet.”
Instead of stopping…
He shouts louder.
This demonstrates persistent faith.
Luke repeatedly emphasizes persistence:
- Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1–8)
- Tax Collector (Luke 18:13)
- Blind Beggar (Luke 18:35–43)
The lesson:
Faith doesn’t quit when opposed.
5. Jesus Stops
This is easy to overlook.
Jesus is walking toward Jerusalem.
Toward:
- betrayal
- torture
- crucifixion
Yet He stops.
The Greek narrative slows dramatically.
The King on His way to die pauses for one poor blind beggar.
This reveals Christ’s compassion.
No one is insignificant to Him.
6. Jesus Asks an Obvious Question
“What do you want Me to do for you?”
Obviously he’s blind.
Why ask?
Jesus invites faith to speak.
Throughout Scripture God often asks questions He already knows the answer to.
Examples:
- “Where are you?” (Adam)
- “Whom shall I send?”
- “Do you want to get well?” (John 5)
God invites relationship rather than simply dispensing miracles.
7. “Your Faith Has Saved You”
The Greek says:
ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε
hē pistis sou sesōken se
The verb σῴζω (sōzō) means:
- heal
- rescue
- save
Luke intentionally uses a word with double meaning.
The man receives:
- physical sight
- spiritual salvation
Luke often combines healing and salvation into one event.
8. Immediately He Follows Jesus
Healing isn’t the ending.
It’s the beginning.
Luke says:
“Immediately he received his sight and followed Him.”
Following Jesus is the evidence of transformed life.
Luke consistently portrays discipleship this way.
9. Worship Is Contagious
The story ends:
- man glorifies God
- crowd glorifies God
One changed life becomes public testimony.
Luke repeatedly ends miracle stories with worship rather than amazement alone.
Literary Structure
| Section | Event | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| vv.35–37 | Blind man hears Jesus is coming | Faith begins by hearing |
| v.38 | Cries out | Recognition of Messiah |
| v.39 | Crowd rebukes | Tested faith |
| vv.40–41 | Jesus stops and asks | Personal encounter |
| v.42 | Healing | Faith rewarded |
| v.43 | Following and praise | Discipleship and worship |
Themes Running Through Luke
| Theme | How This Passage Fits |
|---|---|
| Reversal | Beggar becomes disciple |
| Faith | Faith sees before eyes do |
| Mercy | Jesus responds to mercy |
| Kingdom | Messiah recognized by the lowly |
| Discipleship | Healing leads to following |
| Praise | God’s work results in worship |
Connections to the Old Testament
| OT Passage | Connection to Luke 18 |
|---|---|
| Isaiah 35:5 | The eyes of the blind shall be opened—one of the signs of the Messianic age. |
| Isaiah 42:6–7 | God’s Servant opens blind eyes. |
| Isaiah 61:1 | Good news to the poor and liberty for the oppressed; fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry. |
| 2 Samuel 7:12–16 | The “Son of David” title points to God’s covenant with David. |
| Psalm 146:8 | “The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.” Jesus’ actions reveal God’s work. |
Sources
| Source | Type | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| The Holy Bible (Luke 18:35–43; 2 Samuel 7; Isaiah 35, 42, 61; Psalm 146) | Primary source | Textual foundation and Old Testament background. |
| Joel B. Green, The Gospel of Luke (New International Commentary on the New Testament, Eerdmans, 1997) | Scholarly commentary | Explains Luke’s themes of discipleship, reversal, faith, and the narrative’s placement before Jerusalem. |
| Darrell L. Bock, Luke 9:51–24:53 (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Baker Academic, 1996) | Exegetical commentary | Analyzes the Greek text, the Messianic significance of “Son of David,” and the use of sōzō (“save/heal”). |
| I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke (New International Greek Testament Commentary, Eerdmans, 1978) | Greek exegetical commentary | Examines the Greek grammar, literary structure, and theological implications of the passage. |
| Craig L. Blomberg, Jesus and the Gospels (B&H Academic, 2009) | Historical and theological study | Places the miracle within Jesus’ broader ministry and its Messianic context. |
| R. T. France, The Evidence for Jesus (InterVarsity Press, 1986) | Historical study | Discusses miracle accounts and their role in authenticating Jesus’ identity and mission. |
Key Takeaway
Luke 18:35–43 is not simply about restoring physical sight. It serves as a climactic revelation before Jesus enters Jerusalem: a blind beggar perceives Jesus’ true identity as the Messiah, receives both mercy and sight through faith, and responds by becoming a follower and worshiper. In Luke’s narrative, this contrasts sharply with those who have physical vision yet fail to recognize who Jesus is, reinforcing one of the Gospel’s central themes—that genuine spiritual sight comes through faith.

WOW… I am impressed by this ChatBot… I have noticed that “who-ever or what-ever” produced that damn code in MS Copilot & Claude AI’s ChatBot put a daily limit on it’s responses to me… AGAIN, I AM NOT PAYING TO UPGRADE… I will my utilize my knowledge of other AI ChatBots to help me out for FREE. (May I have a prayer to keep our eyes focussed on the beauty of life and having the STRENGTH to battle those “WORK DEMANDS”??? In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?)
Heavenly Father,
In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, thank You for the gift of this day and the beauty of Your creation. Open our eyes to see Your blessings, even in the midst of life’s demands and distractions.
Grant us wisdom to work faithfully, strength to meet our responsibilities, and peace when burdens seem heavy. Keep our hearts focused on what truly matters, and help us to find joy in serving You and loving others.
May our thoughts, words, and actions bring glory to You, and may we always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting in Your guidance and unfailing love.
In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.

THANKS BE TO GOD. (let’s apply to that job after work)

















































































































































