There are a series of events that Dr. Luke puts together that was then designated as “chapter 18” of his gospel.

It begins with a story of a persistent widow seeking justice from a Judge. She gets it, but Jesus says, won’t God grant justice to the elect who cry out? Then the Son comes, will he find faith?

Then you have an arrogant Pharisee and a Repentant Tax Collector. The pharisee speaks arrogantly of his pious worth, and the tax collector cries, “God have mercy on me, a sinner!” Jesus says, the one who exalts himself will be humbled.

Then children come to Jesus and he says that we too must come like children.

Jesus then famously meets a wealthy young ruler who wants to know what to DO for life eternal. Jesus says he must sell everything and follow me and the man leaves said because of great wealth. Then Jesus says, how hard… for those with wealth to enter the kingdom.

Then Jesus tells his disciples for the third tie that all the prophesy will come true and he will be mocked, killed, and rise on the third day, and v34 says they understood none of these this… the meaning was hidden from them, and they did not GRASP what was said.

This then is immediately followed closing out the chapter with a blind man in Jericho who hears Jesus is coming through town. All of these stories have in common a difficulty in understanding. Yes, in vv34 it says it was a hidden aspect. But most often what “hides” our understanding is personal not paternal. It is not so much that the Father’s fault, but ours. We are wanting something else. We have a different experience, or have a different expectation. The rich man had a list of laws he followed, Jesus said, sell all you have and follow me. Well, uh, no, and he went away sad. The Pharisee was busy doing stuff, but not humbling himself. The disciples were waiting for an earthly Kingdom so Jesus dying, no they didn’t GRASP that. Interesting because word is ginosko which means to know by experience. Not epignosis which means to be taught. They had not had any experience with this idea, so they didn’t grasp it

So then, here the Blind Man. He finds out Jesus is coming. Well certainly, he had never SEEN Jesus, for obvious reasons, but he had never experienced Jesus, but he had HEARD and so he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus asked, what do you want? I have tried to copy that practice of Jesus before I offer an answer, or fill a need I think is there, I ask, “what do you want?” And the man said, “Lord, I want to see.” Great! Jesus said, “Receive your sight… your faith has healed you” Instantly he could see and Began to Follow.

Wow! Great stuff here about how Impossible becomes Possible.

• He Called Out – are we asking?
• He Believed – he called out BECAUSE he believed 1) Jesus was the Son of David (Messiah), and he was Lord (kyrios) master, and He believed that Jesus was ABLE to do what he needed/wanted, but still Jesus was master and could make the decision.
• He Received – Jesus is Lord, but if we don’t ask, we most likely won’t have. He is Lord of the Question and the Answer.
• He Followed – He didn’t just want his physical needs, but he had faith to follow for all that Jesus had for him.

And all of this chapter centers around v27 – What is Impossible (adynatos – without power) with man, is Possible (dynatos – strong, powerful, possible) with God. I love that play on words just adding the “a” in front changes everything. Jesus adding Jesus changes everything. God is not required to do what we say, but he is able, concerned, compassionate, capable, and Creator of all things so come, cry out, believe, receive, and follow him.