Open the door for Jesus
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too. Luke 18:35; 40-43
Jesus knew that he was heading to Jerusalem to die. But, even so, as he was on his way there, he had time for people. When he heard a blind man call out to him, he stopped and gave the man his full attention.
From the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he had declared that he had come to bring sight to the blind, in fulfilment of Isaiah 61. But that didn’t mean he would impose his healing. He came to offer healing and that’s what he does when he meets the blind beggar in Jericho.
Jesus never barges into our lives telling us what’s best and imposing his will on us. He simply offers himself. On the face of it, it seems strange that Jesus would ask a blind man what he wanted him to do because it seems so obvious.
We know nothing of this man’s circumstances, but we might well presume that his blindness was connected to his begging. He lived a life of complete vulnerability and so he needed to receive his sight. Even so, Jesus respects him as an individual and lets him make the decision.
All of us need the loving touch of Jesus on our lives. We need his forgiveness, his peace, his love and his joy. We are all in desperate need of him, but he refuses to impose himself upon us.
Today, as Jesus knocks at the door of our lives, he leaves it up to us to make the decision whether we will open it or not.
QUESTION
Will you open the door to Jesus today?
PRAYER
Loving Lord Jesus, thank you that you offer me your life today. I welcome you and invite you to fill me with your Spirit. Amen