"The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked. ‘Lord,’ they answered, ‘we want our sight.’ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him."
- Mt 20:31-34 -

Jesus' relentless path to the cross is halted by two desperate blind men, crying out to Him for mercy. Strangely, they know his identity and his power to heal. Impatient to get to Jerusalem and liberation, the crowd demands silence from these nobodies. Nevertheless, they will not be silenced and stop Jesus in his tracks. Jesus asks what they want from him. They plead with him to open their eyes – and Jesus accedes. Jesus filled with a gut-wrenching compassion (splanchnizomai) and his touch restored their sight. Despite there being no summons to do so, they become disciples and follow Jesus. We see how Jesus works. He came to serve and restore. We are to be like the blind men, crying out for his healing touch and deciding to follow him. Empowered by his Spirit, we walk in his footsteps, making people whole.

Apply: Identify first with the blind men; cry out your requests to God. Identify now with Jesus; follow him along the way of healing.

(from Encounter with God)