Passing By
And as Jesus passed by he saw a man which was blind from his birth. John 9:1
Read Luke 16:19-31
When the Lord Jesus was traveling with His disciples, it seemed as if He just happened to pass by a certain place. Then suddenly, without warning, He stopped. We read that He saw. This is also very meaningful for us today. In our last meditation we saw that He hears, which means He knows everything. But here we read that He saw, by which we are given further instruction.
The Lord Jesus’ seeing is closely connected with His compassion. We continually read of this in both the Old and New Testaments. What did the Lord actually see according to verse 1? He saw a man. It is not immediately made clear to us who this man was; his name is not even mentioned. We are only told that he was blind from birth, and in verse 8 we also learn that he was a beggar.
Try to picture the scene before us. The Lord Jesus walked by and saw a blind beggar. But Christ Jesus also passes by you today. What does He see as He does so? Does He see a man or a woman just as He saw that blind man while walking by in Jerusalem? Moreover, does He see a beggar? How wonderful when the Lord ‘stops’ as He passes by! For the Lord does not remain standing still! As we read further on in the Gospel, the Lord gave sight to the blind and riches to beggars. However, another problem presented itself in Jesus’ interlude with the blind beggar. What was the root cause of his blindness? Let’s just leave that for another day.
Thought: Luther said: We are all beggars! Do you agree with this statement?
Psalter 415: 4,8 (based on Psalm 25) Good and upright is Jehovah In His dealings evermore. Sinners are by Him instructed, In the way untrod before. He will ever guide the meek, In His judgments true and holy; Teach His ways to those who seek, With a contrite heart and lowly. Turn Thou unto me in mercy; Have compassion on my soul. I am sore distressed and lonely; Waves of trouble o’er me roll. Myriad woes beset my heart, Myriad doubts and bitterness; Thou who my Deliverer art, Bring me out of my distresses.