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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 262

Much to Mull Over

Text: Matthew 20 : 17 - 34

The disciples had much to think about after this lecture from Jesus. Did they feel ashamed of themselves for thinking of themselves so selfishly? Did they now desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus more carefully? Jesus had given the disciples much food for thought. They would do well to mull over what Jesus had just spoken to them.

THE MINISTRY AT HAND

Instead of dwelling on thoughts of personal advancement, the disciples should have continued to focus on the ministry at hand.

“Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.
And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard
that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, ‘Have mercy on us,
O Lord, Son of David!'”
MATTHEW 20:29-30

1. Ministry to the Multitudes

There was hardly a day that went by, that Jesus was not surrounded by a multitude of people in need! Their Master had no time to dwell on thoughts of personal glory because there were so many people to care for.

2. Ministry to the desperate

Among the multitude, there would always be people who had desperate needs. The two blind men who cried out to Jesus for mercy, would be a classic case in point. With so many people around, and with such desperate needs close at hand, how could there be time to dwell on personal greatness?

RECALLING A PAST LESSON

Jesus seemed to ignore the cries of the two blind men. On seeing this, the multitude reacted.

“Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet;
but they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Have mercy on us,
O Lord, Son of David!'”
MATTHEW 20:31

This time round, the disciples kept quiet, when Jesus did not immediately respond to the cries of the two blind men. Not so long ago, they reacted as the multitudes did. They must have remembered how Jesus ministered to a woman of Canaanite descent. At first, He kept quiet and He seemed almost reluctant to help her. The disciples had learned their lesson. They quietly watched the multitude doing exactly what they had thought of doing when they were in Tyre and Sidon (Cf. Matthew 15:21-28). Like the Canaanite woman, the blind men were not about to give up an opportunity of a life time! They had nothing to lose! They cried out even more persistently to Jesus, calling Him “Lord, Son of David.”

SUBTLE LESSONS FOR THE DISCIPLES

Jesus had healed many from blindness. This particular incident seemed to have been included for an extra reason. The healing of the two blind men would serve as an important teaching point! The disciples would hopefully learn yet another deep lesson that would in turn reinforce what Jesus had been seeking to teach them concerning greatness.

“So Jesus stood still and called them, and said,
‘What do you want Me to do for you?’
Then they said to Him, ‘Lord, that our eyes may be opened.’
So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes.
And immediately their eyes received sight,
and they followed Him.”
MATTHEW 20:32-34

1. The Greatness of Jesus

Did the disciples want to look at true inherent greatness? The words of the two blind men would suffice! Though they were blind they could “see” that Jesus was none other than “The Lord, the Son of David”.

2. “What do you want Me to do for you?”

A very similar phrase was uttered to the mother of Zebedee. Jesus spoke to her and said, “What do you wish?” (Matthew 20:21a). But what a contrast we have here in terms of request. Whereas the mother of James and John requested the highest honours for her sons, the two blind men only begged for sight! How easy it is to take things for granted!

3. The compassion of Jesus

Unfailingly, Jesus ministered with compassion! Is there any other way to minister? If thoughts of personal greatness keep coming up to the forefront, where would be the place of compassion?

Depth of understanding was necessary when it comes to ministry. There is room for just one thing – compassion! No deed is performed in order to obtain honour and glory! Compassion must rule the day – every single day!

4. “They followed Him”

The two blind men followed Jesus immediately after they were healed. What were some of the possible reasons they did that? Two reasons may be cited.

a) Recognition of Jesus as the Messianic Son of David.

b) Sheer gratitude to Jesus for healing them!

Why had the disciples followed Jesus? In pursuit of personal greatness? Surely not! They would do well to learn these lessons Jesus sought to teach them.