When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.” (Matthew 9:27-34)
It was a busy period in Jesus’ Galilean ministry, a time when many came to Him desperate for healing, help, and deliverance. However, they were looking for deliverance from physical distress, not fully comprehending the deliverance Jesus would bring them from the far greater distress which sin brings to the soul.
Jesus had just raised Jairus’ daughter from death. Soon after, He was approached by two blind men who addressed Jesus in a significant way: “Son of David.” They were not able to see but they had heard all the talk about the wondrous signs Jesus had done. They addressed Him as the Promised One who would descend from David. They had faith that Jesus would be able to restore their sight. In response to this faith, with a simple touch of His fingers Jesus blessed the two men with physical sight.
This was a marvel for all present to behold! However, wonders did not stop with this miracle. Soon other people brought a man to Jesus for help who was greatly distressed by a demon. The Spirit here reveals that it was the devil’s work that this man could not speak. Jesus cast the demon out, and the man was able to speak.
It is important for us to take the impact of these miracles to heart. “And the multitudes marveled, saying, ‘It was never seen like this in Israel!’ But the Pharisees said, ‘He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons’” (vv. 33-34). While the general population realized that this was indeed something that should be noted when evaluating who Jesus was, the Pharisees immediately attempted to discredit Jesus, suggesting that He Himself was in league with the devil.
The multitudes didn’t quite grasp the extent of the lesson to be learned. Not long after these wondrous miracles John the Baptist, at the time imprisoned by Herod, would send some of his disciples to ask Jesus the right question, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3)
Jesus responded by pointing to these very miracles and by referencing the prophecy of Isaiah: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (Isaiah 35:5-6a).
Yes, the signs Jesus performed were exactly the evidence needed for the people to know and believe that Jesus was and is the Christ, the Son of God. The evidence is there also for us in this inspired record that we too might put our faith in Him. By the grace of the Holy Spirit we have been brought to comprehend the greater miracles of salvation which Jesus works for and in us.
While we are invited to bring to Jesus our every problem and distress, the spiritual healing He brings is our greatest joy. He has granted us the gift of sight when by nature we were spiritually blind. That is a far more serious blindness than physical blindness, and one that all the wonders of modern medicine and science cannot touch. When Jesus touches our hearts with His love and grace, He opens our spiritual eyes to see.
By nature the devil has power over human lives—perhaps not by such physical possession as reported in our text, but by powerful coercion nonetheless. Jesus by His death and resurrection destroyed the power of the devil. He has loosed our tongues so that we not only believe with our hearts but also confess freely with our tongues that Jesus is Lord and Savior to the glory of God the Father.
This is the Christ, our God and Lord,
Who in all need shall aid afford;
He will Himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free.
(TLH 85:3)