seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
I'm only blind in one eye. Still, I can only imagine what it must be like to be totally blind. These two guys were blind and following Jesus around. So... were both of them blind in one eye... so they had one set of good eyes between them.... or were they so good at being blind that they could walk with another blind man and follow along? Were they holding each other's hands so the least blind of the two could do the guiding? Were they using canes to keep their path straight? How did they know when they got close enough to get his attention? People often think the half blind are making it up. Were the people around them being cruel to them, generally, because they couldn't hold a job?They were told.... "See that no one knows about this".... but then, did they go blabbing it all around town. I guess others in town knew they were blind and couldn't hold a good job. They were probably both at the gate every day with their cup out. When they didn't have to go to the gate anymore, because they could see to support themselves... their friends, or regular acquaintances, would notice their absence. I bet that how the good news got spread. People noticed they were missing and inquired. Surely, they didn't just run through town dancing and singing about their new vision. I can tell you.... when you lose vision.... it's hard to get around... depth perception is a bear to deal with. The sidewalk jumps up four feet!!!! So, they would have been stumbling around for some time with this new vision and adjustment for the newly regained depth perception. Try putting on a pair of someone else's bifocals.... it's like that. Correction takes time to learn when you are blind.... even in one eye. I think the word spread because the people were going about a normal day... stumbling some but happy. That's how the news spread... not that they deliberately disobeyed Jesus, who just healed them.
The guy that could not talk.... well, he must have been a real joy to be around. It seems that he might be one of those who tries to talk but can't get the words to make sense.... so, he's known as mute. Ever met a person who has a real studder problem? That is so annoying! It's as if all the words they want to say are stuck right at the back of the brain... and they won't come out. Then the person with the studder gets even more anxious... because he wants to be part of the conversation.
Can you imagine how getting a voice, after years of not being capable of speaking a complete sentence, would have affected the man? I bet he had so much to say... he wouldn't shut up... and that's what drove the Pharisee to say the healing was from Satan.... the guy wouldn't shut the hell up!
So, in one day... Jesus set two men lose who had to get use to new vision... and a talker who had been silenced for years with plenty to say.
I think that's why the Pharisees were upset. It wasn't that these people were healed.... it was because they had been blind and mute for so long... they had so much to see and say... their existence was just annoying. They wanted to see and say everything.
I bet those Pharisees, in today's vernacular, would say "Shut the hell up and sit down."
