March 16, 2010
following Him
Matthew 20:29-34
Carol MacQuilkan
Central Truth
Jesus wants us to follow and keep on following—no matter what!
Key Verse | Matthew 20:34
Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. (Matthew 20:34)
Matthew 20:29-34
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men
29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, 1 20:30 Some manuscripts omit Lord have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.
Dive Deeper | Matthew 20:29-34
There is a sweet lady who goes to church at Watermark. If you attend there, you may have seen her, but she will not have seen you. She lost her sight because of an illness she battles—diabetes. She may not realize it, but she has been useful for God’s kingdom in the way in which she keeps following Jesus and seeking God through His Word, even though He has not yet restored her sight. He will restore it someday. Whether it's through a miracle here on earth or when she meets her Savior face to face—she will see again. Regardless, she chooses to follow Him now and live her life serving Him.
I wish we knew the rest of the story with the two blind guys who cried out to Jesus that day. The only thing we know is that they immediately received their sight when Jesus spoke, and then they followed Him. In verse 29 it says that a large crowd was following Jesus as well. Did they just join the crowd? If so, over the next few days, you will read how the crowd went from shouting, “Hosanna . . . blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” to “Crucify Him.” Those who truly followed Him had to persevere through the good times and the bad. They rejoiced at His grand entrance into Jerusalem. They cried watching their Master’s death on the cross. They rejoiced at His resurrection. Finally, they endured persecution once He was taken up, and they went to proclaim the good news.
It's easy to “follow Him” when times are good, and we can live in our comfort zones, but what if God does not answer our prayers with the answer we want? What if he pushes you out of your comfort zone? Do you really love Him enough to follow and keep on following Him? If you are ever at Watermark, and you see my friend, be sure to introduce yourself. After talking with her, you will see that she has chosen to follow Jesus—in good times and bad.
Discussion Questions
1. Whom are you following? The crowd or Jesus?
2. Do you let your circumstances determine whom you follow?
3. You can tell if you are really following Jesus by answering: How do you spend your time, your energy, and your money?
4. Did you answer question no. 3 honestly?
5. Whom/what do you really follow?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What did the two men want Jesus to do?
2. What did the crowd do as they were yelling? How did the two men respond to the crowd?
3. How can you keep your “eyes” on Jesus when people around you are telling you to be quiet?