Some of us have studied long and hard to learn the truths of the Bible. We dig deep and study commentaries by theologians. Some have become so knowledgeable that they can hardly speak in lay terms anymore, but use four and five syllable words that cannot be pronounced by the average person who, in the end, has no idea what the other person is talking about. Along with that study comes many ‘right ways’ to do things. I wonder why we as mortal beings are so quick to make things complicated. Sometimes we make things so complicated that people turn away and say, “I just can’t understand it so I will avoid it.”

As I study Jesus during my wondering through the New Testament, I find Him often to be quite simple and straight forward. The healing of the blind beggar is one of those moments. When the beggar finds out it is Jesus walking by, he calls out to Him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Luke 18:38 Jesus could have said, “Well, what have you been doing all your life? Have you honored God? Have you followed all the rules of the Synagogue? Have you honored your parents? Fix those things and then come back.” But that is not what Jesus said. He simply asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” to which the man replied, “Lord, I want to see.” Luke 18:41

Jesus took notice of the faith of that man at the moment. He wanted to see and he believed that Jesus could heal his eyes so he could see. And Jesus did just that. He attributed the healing to the faith the man had. Sounds unbelievably simple!

I wonder sometimes if we carry our religion around like a heavy backpack, full of assignments and hard work, and totally miss the simplicity of faith in the One who came “to preach good news to the poor… proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 4:18-19. Do we make it so hard that people turn away when it is really very simple? Jesus wants to heal us. He wants to free us. He wants to bless us. All we need to do is ask and believe.

Lord, please help me to shed the backpack and to just look and listen for You. I want to see. Help me to focus my eyes on You. Amen.