Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” He asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him (Matthew 20:32-34).
Father in heaven, Sovereign Lord, through the mouth of Your prophet, You promised "The Year of the Lord's Favor." You promised to send Your Anointed One to proclaim good news to the poor...to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1-2).
It was this prophecy Jesus read aloud in the synagogue before declaring, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21). Those listening were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips (Luke 4:22).
Amazing too, were His acts of grace over His three-year earthly ministry as He tended broken hearts, released captives, and brought light to darkness. Physically and spiritually. As was the case of these two blind men...sitting by the roadside (Matthew 20:30).
Lord, thank You for showing us Your great compassion. For showing us that when we have no voice, no value in the eyes of "the crowd"—when no one else cares about our need, You do.
Jesus, when no one else around us thinks our plight matters, when they would dissuade us from crying out—when they would rebuke us, and shush us, and tell us to be quiet—You stop to listen to our cries for mercy. You call us to Yourself, and You—the God who sustains the universe—ask us to name our need.
Compassionate God, Your incredible grace exceeds all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Not only do You touch our bodies and our minds with healing and restoration, but You send Your healing power to the depths of our soul. You release us from the deep abyss of spiritual blindness so that we can follow You.
Lord, Son of David, Son of Man, Son of God, in Your Name we pray for those who are lost and cannot see. The ones whose minds have been blinded by the god of this age...so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Have mercy on us! Heal the blind. Free the captives. Bind up the broken-hearted. Release the prisoners. Bring light into darkness, peace into turmoil, order into chaos, wisdom into folly, love into violence and hatred. Start with us.
In this, the year of Your favor, O Lord, help us to carry on Your mission. Help us to take the good news of hope and healing to the dark places all around us. Help us to share the love and the power of Your grace to the struggling and the hopeless.
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