The Blind Man Experience
By Assistant Pastor Dr. Jaden Fitzpatrick | April 27, 2025
Turn to Luke 18:35-43. And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the highway side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. They told him, Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. He cried, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Despite rebuke, he shouted louder. Jesus asked, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? He replied, Lord, that I may receive my sight. Jesus said, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. Let’s pray: Father, clothe me in Your calling, give me unction to preach. Draw the lost near, restore the backslidden, remove distractions, and let us hear from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jesus performed miracles—raising Lazarus, healing lepers, making the lame walk, and the blind see. Today, we explore the blind man healed near Jericho, named Bartimaeus in Mark, who lost his sight young. You may look prim and proper, but deep down, you’re praying for a miracle. Salvation itself is a miracle—Jesus’ love, death, and resurrection. Last week’s Easter celebrated His rising, but He’s still alive, offering hope and love today. Six lessons from this blind man’s experience show us how to seek Jesus seriously: restriction, recognition, rebuke, request, receiving, and rejoicing.
The Restriction
The blind man was restricted by blindness, sitting by the wayside begging (Luke 18:35-36). Once able to see, a traumatic event stole his sight, limiting his ability to work or live fully. Sin restricts us similarly, blinding us spiritually. Romans 3:23 declares, All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. No matter how polished you appear, sin keeps you short of God’s standard. It takes you farther, keeps you longer, and costs more than you intend, bringing death. Like the blind man, we’re bound until Jesus intervenes.
The Recognition
When told, Jesus of Nazareth passeth by, the blind man cried, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me (Luke 18:37-38). Though blind, he’d heard enough to know Jesus was his only hope. Like the woman with the issue of blood, who touched His garment, or Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree to see Him, he recognized Jesus as the miracle-worker. An authentic encounter with Jesus changes you. The evidence of a new life is a changed life. We must get serious, seeking Jesus even if it means inconvenience, because only He can free us.
The Rebuke
They which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more (Luke 18:39). The crowd tried to silence him, saying he was interrupting or beyond help. When you get serious about Jesus, some won’t like it—family, coworkers, even churchgoers. The devil doesn’t mind a Christian living in the flesh, but he gets nervous when you live for Christ. Opposition signals you’re on the right path. Like the blind man, cry louder, undeterred by rebuke.
The Request
Jesus asked, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? The blind man said, Lord, that I may receive my sight (Luke 18:40-41). He was specific, targeting the root issue—blindness—not secondary needs like money or a home. To receive God’s help, we must address the root of our problems, not just symptoms. Addictions or anger often stem from deeper issues like rejection. Like removing a splinter to stop pain and swelling, we must pray for God to reveal and heal the true problem, not just numb it.
The Receiving
Jesus said, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. And immediately he received his sight (Luke 18:42-43). His healing was instant—no delay. Faith made him whole. Prayer is a source of power; a lack of prayer reflects unbelief. Imagine the blind man’s joy, seeing Jesus’ face first, perhaps singing, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…was blind, but now I see.” When we trust Jesus, we receive His transformative power immediately, restoring what sin stole.
The Rejoicing
Immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God (Luke 18:43). The blind man followed Jesus, rejoicing, and the crowd praised God. Only he was healed, but all glorified God. Like the one leper who returned to thank Jesus, we must praise God for answered prayers. Testimony time—sharing how God came through—inspires others, saved and lost alike. Philippians 4:4 urges, Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Don’t be among the “nine” who forget to give thanks.