Newness of Sight

by Brittany Vasquez

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” -Luke 18:42 NIV-

Oh, the beauty of having your sight renewed! What joy comes from being able to see clearly! There is no specification as to whether the man in this story was blind from birth or lost his sight later in life. What is specific, is Jesus was walking by, the man called out to Jesus, Jesus asked
the man what he would have Him do and he replied to Jesus saying, “Lord I want to see.” As Jesus spoke the authoritative word for the man to receive his sight, whether he was born that way or not, he now could see! He had a fresh start over. His sight was new again!

Some of us reading this may need a start over as it pertains to receiving our sight from the Lord. The blind man in our story originally could not see Jesus! He overheard the crowd going by and the commotion brought along with them. They had been following Jesus and witnessing His “work”. It was a voice from the crowd that answered him and told him “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Others of us may need to have a fresh renewing of our sight from the Lord. We have been walking with Him but somewhere along, our sight has been overcrowded with more people or things in life than desired. The blessed news in both circumstances is that if either should ask of Him to see, His word still speaks. “Receive your sight.”

In Psalms 107 there are a couple of messages the psalmist really emphasizes! The introduction is given as follows, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, (Psalms 107:1)

The writer proceeds in sharing the testimonies of God on behalf of the redeemed. Some(the redeemed,) wandered and got lost in a desert place. Lost, hungry and thirsty God led them straight & brought them satisfaction. Some sat in darkness and chains as prisoners. They had turned against God’s words and others had forsaken them. Alone and humbled as God in His wisdom would allow, redemption would be their newfound story. Some became fools, the Word says, through their rebellious ways they suffered because of their own choices leaving them to rather seek death. God would be their rescuer! Some were workers out on the sea! They had seen the Hand of God work in their midst time again! In the middle of raging seas their lives would be at stake once more! God would calm the storm to a whisper and the waves of the sea would be hushed. 

One of the first messages emphasized “4 times” in this Psalms, as the writer is testifying to the Mighty Redeeming Hand of God, is the following declaration: “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21,31,). Each time it is mentioned, those testimonies and praises of God’s Good Work follow. Just as our first message is emphasized 4 times, the other definitive message in this Psalms is likewise emphasized 4 times! On account of the redeemed; the wanderer, the rebellious, and the workers of the sea, the psalmist records their action each time leading to God’s Work displayed before them. In each of their redemptive stories it reads, “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. (Psalms 107:19 NIV)‬‬ The Psalms continues to testify to the many Works of God’s Mighty Hand, to the wicked, the hungry, the noble and the needy. But to the one who sees the work of the Lord, the psalmist testifies that there is rejoicing!

“The upright see it and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths.” -Psalms 107:42-

In testifying to our healing story with the blind man, both the one who received his sight from the Lord, and to those who witness and testify to God’s Miraculous Hand at work, they rejoiced!

“Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, “praising God!” When all the people saw it, they also “praised God!” -Luke 18:43 NIV-

Biblically I can think of the Word telling us of a time when Jesus did not do many miracles in his hometown because the people lacked faith. (Matthew 13:58 NIV). The bottom line is this, these were the same people who saw Jesus grow up. In fact they made comments saying “Isn’t this
the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” (Matthew 13: 55-56) The people “saw” Jesus as a common townsman, as one of them and no different. They remembered Jesus fitting in as part of their own natural world, and could not see Him to be the Christ, the anointed one of God.

How do you see Jesus? Are you so consumed in your regular routine and surroundings, that you don’t or can’t see Jesus as the miracle worker? Do you see God’s Good Works as tangible for you? I know scripture teaches us to have faith & believe, but oftentimes what we see, and perceive, rattles our faith! Sometimes we can “see” what God is doing for others, while in our waiting, we “see” our circumstances seemingly unchanged. The blind man and the redeemed in Psalms both shared a common response however, in their stories, they cried out to the Lord.

Many of us have circumstances we’ve brought before the Lord. Some I can hear already saying, “if the prerequisite to healing in the space of need/or needs in my life only needed my cry unto the Lord, that is already covered! I hear you and I second that notion. It is where we start for sure, but don’t leave from there! God’s Word does tell us to bring our petitions before Him, and to cast our cares on Him for He cares for us. But what if the prayer didn’t end in the immediate miraculous taking place? How often then in the waiting do we ask God to show us something, a sign to revoke our shaken and confused state, our broken view in the matter. Is that wrong in asking? Indeed I say not. We’ve prayed, we believed and had faith. We were watchful to see the sight of God move, even over time. I could hear the words of Jesus echo, as He told His disciples, “watch and pray.” But time has thwarted many of us concerning our unmoved mountain right in front of us. So now what do we do? Remember the blind man could not physically see Jesus. Word was spreading, and at the mention of who it was passing him by, our blind friend could see with a different view that his hope was near his surroundings. “He
received sight, before he received sight! ”Not only was he told, “receive your sight,” the words that followed right after, were “your faith has healed you!” How many times did Jesus echo these words to those He brought healing to? Friends I am a voice attesting to you, that your faith & what you “see” are as a union, but I am not talking of what you physically see.

When Jesus spoke those words concerning someone’s faith, the individual had saw something beforehand beyond the natural. As Jesus would pass in the middle of their world, they “saw” CHRIST (the anointed one of God,) walking by. Sometimes He would show them healing in the deep secret areas of their heart, right before their eyes would be open as to who He was. In a culture where leaders had shaped society to easily ban women as shameful at the drop of a dime, Jesus would show them forgiveness, honor and that they were worthy to receive healing and restoration in the depth that they needed to, likewise to the paralyzed man He also spoke saying, “your sins are forgiven,” take up your bed and walk.

I do want to point out something that I find oddly coincidental, in the best kind of way. Scripture often says, Jesus was passing by in many of these healings. He was passing by, but the woman with the issue of blood could get close enough to touch the hem of His garment. The blind man happened to be near where Jesus was traveling through. Walking through a town right after raising a little girl from the dead and having His garment touched, scripture says two blind men followed and called out to Him. Are you picturing that sight? I said two blind men! Men tore a hole in a roof to lower a paralyzed man down to Jesus. The reality in each of these instances and more, was Jesus was in their world! Friends, shake off that imagination that Jesus is just passing you by! He is very much intentionally in your world if you look out. Upon receiving Him as Lord over our lives, we receive the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit alive in Jesus and we are sealed as a son or daughter of God who is one with our Good Shepherd Jesus and His sheep know His voice! He is ever near in our world, our eyes need yet to clearly see Him. Scripture says if He is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him. Is this not what took place along the crowds? As our sight is healed, let us be so near witnessing His work that we are like the crowd telling others Jesus is here in sight. Witnessing through renewed sight, our heart will rejoice.

“His Love endures forever the psalms read! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! “

I want to share one final story.

Often enough, God will walk with you, talk with you, and let you get all of your cares, arguments and frustrations out, before He opens your eyes to see Him. When you do, your heart is in for an experience to say the least! I love this story in Luke 24. It takes place after Jesus had been resurrected from the grave. Mary Magdalene, Joana, Mary the mother of James and other women were telling the apostles that the stone was rolled away and relaying the message they received from the angel. Jesus was getting ready to pop up quite literally and slightly comically, showing Himself to His disciples and hundreds of others now a resurrected! Starting in verse 13, two men were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them. But they were prevented from recognizing Him. (Luke 24:14)

Then He asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking? ” They answered Jesus saying, “concerning Jesus the Nazarene.” They were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel, but now all had taken place, that they had known so far at least, and it was already the 3rd day. Jesus reminded and interpreted for them the scriptures concerning Him and all that was written to take place. They arrived at the village where they were going, and when Jesus gave the impression that he was continuing forward, they urged Him to stay with them and invited Him in where they would eat. Scripture reads as follows:

“When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their “sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:30-32

The common factor is this, when you truly see, there is a burst of rejoicing. When you recognize, like our friends, the one who is supreme, and whose commands are good for His sons and daughters, this truth is gladness for your soul!

“You will see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like grass; then the Lord’s power will be revealed to His servants, but He will show His wrath against His enemies.” -Isaiah 66:14 HCSB–

To the one who’s seen Jesus, but you have been overcrowded to see His Good Works He is doing in your life. To the one who is barely grabbing attention to Jesus, while He has intentionally been in your world, moving alongside. To the one who’s been wandering, feeling lost and hungry for more. To the one who chose to live a rebellious life and intentionally walked away from God. To the one who feels like a prisoner in chains, unable to get loose. Others you thought would be around are not to be found. To the one whose choices brought on much afflictions that you see little purpose in living. To the one whose seen God’s hand at work time and time again, yet you feel like this current storm and season of your life is going to drown you out. God was and is near in each of these stories of distress! At the mention of His name, Jesus is still very much in our world! Let your heart be set ablaze and rejoice within the newness of sight! Like the blind man replied to Jesus, let your words resound, Lord I Want to See.” Be not blinded in your situations. Look out! God’s Good Works are in the details of your life, and your redemption draws near!

I leave you with this closing scripture and prayer:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” -Ephesians 1: 18-19-

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. (Proverbs 4:25 NIV)

You can follow the author of this post, Brittany Vasquez on Instagram or Tik Tok.