Today’s devotion is based on Week 4 of “Resolve”: Listen to the right source! (WATCH HERE)
When Jesus stood up in the synagogue of Nazareth, he said he fulfilled these words of the Prophet Isaiah:
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me…
to proclaim … recovery of sight for the blind,…”
I wonder if there were any blind people in attendance that day in Nazareth? Or relatives who knew someone who was blind. Perhaps their first thought was, “Great! I will finally get to see!”
For a few people in Jesus’ ministry, this was true. Jesus actually restored physical sight so the individuals could once again see clearly.
Was this what Isaiah was talking about?
I personally kind of wish he was. After an eye injury in July of 2012, my sight hasn’t been the same. I would love my Savior to not just proclaim, but to actually restore the sight I had prior to the injury. But he hasn’t and this prophecy doesn’t say he will.
Rather, Jesus is talking about spiritual blindness and his desire that all who are spiritually blind would see him as the Messiah and the truth that he speaks. He explains this in answer to a question of his disciples:
Matthew 13:10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Jesus came to bring spiritual understanding and clarity to the hearts of people. He removed the blindness of his disciples so they could see him clearly. He still is removing spiritual blindness today as he brings the truth of the Gospel to your hearts as well.
Never take physical or spiritual sight for granted. Both are wonderful gifts of God’s grace!
Apply: Can you remember a time when a spiritual truth became more clear to you? Take a moment to thank Jesus for fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy and giving “sight to the blind!”
Prayer:
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
Amen.