(This is a repost from April 20, 2009)

Two blind guys knew Jesus healed blind guys. They followed him. They called to him, “have mercy on us.”

We don’t know how far the followed him. We don’t know where they started following him. We know that they were with him after he left the house of the formerly dead daughter. Whether they had been with him before that is not mentioned.

They were, however, following him. They were blind. They were asking him to have mercy on them.

Here’s a wonderful picture of the early stages of following Jesus for many people. Before he has done anything for them, they are aware that something is happening with other people and they are aware they need help.

I had thought about saying, “they see that something is happening” but, of course, these two blind men couldn’t see.

Jesus goes into a house. The two guys follow him.

They are serious about getting help. They are willing to enter someone else’s house. They are willing to be rude. They want to see.

And that’s where I often fall short. I am following, I am keeping up with Jesus, but then I have to take a next step to talk to him about what I need. I need to feel exposed. I need to not defer to everyone else. I need to go boldly into where he is sitting.

Suddenly, what had been shouting becomes a conversation.

“Do you believe I can do this?” Jesus asks.

“Yes, Lord,” they reply.

Simple, clear, respectful. Jesus asks and they answer the question he asks.

And so, he touches them, refers to their faith, and they can see.

I wonder if I miss healing, of eyes, perhaps, but certainly of heart, because I don’t go into the house and listen. And then say yes.