The
blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.
We take this verse for granted as a miracle of Jesus. It is that,
but it is so much more.
Jesus’ actions were revolutionary in his time.
In verses 12 and following, Jesus clears out the temple, declaring it
to be his (God’s) house.
Then, people who have been denied access to the temple come to Jesus.
(Sick or disabled people were considered unfit for the temple; their suffering was seen as
God’s punishment for some sin they had committed.) But here are the blind and the
lame entering the temple, drawn to Jesus who had cured people before, drawn into
community.
Restoring sight to the blind and making the lame to walk (as we have
learned in the Crossways Bible studies) were two of the specific prophecies of the
coming Messiah’s actions. The prophets also foretold a Messiah who would make the
deaf to hear and the mute to speak (see Isaiah 35:5-6) and who would raise the dead.
Jesus’ actions were shouting, "I am the Messiah!"
But the Jews were looking for a triumphant political or military
Messiah who would crush their enemies, the Romans. Their ears didn’t hear the words
of Jesus as fulfillment of prophesy. Their eyes didn’t see Messiahship in his
miracles.
They saw instead a man who associated with tax collectors and other
riffraff, who ate with unclean sinners, who healed people – even on the Sabbath
– in a holy place meant only for the righteous, the pure, and the able-bodied.
Dear Risen Messiah, we thank you for the hope we find in this
Gospel message. No matter how unworthy we are, you accept us as we are, and then you heal
and love us. Restore us to spiritual health in you. Amen.
Eunice Doman Myers
