Blind man Matthew 9: 27,
My mate Barnabus and I had been begging on these streets for years. We were well known in the neighbourhood and we had a number of friends and acquaintances who regularly gave us alms and food and sometimes helped us if we needed to go anywhere or do something unusual. Normally we sat under the colonnade in the market square from sunrise to sunset and begged.
Barnabus had been blind from birth. He was able to see shadows and light out of his left eye and nothing at all out of his right. So he was pretty dependent on the income we got from begging on the streets. I was more fortunate - or less, depending on how you look at it. I had only been blind for about seven years, as the result of an accident at my workplace. I had been a miller grinding grain for the local farmers to sell to the bakers. In one of those weird freak happenings, a sack of freshly ground flour had burst open as I was moving it and flour had got into my eyes. I had tried washing it out immediately with cold water, and for a while that seemed to have worked and I thought everything was going to be fine. But after a couple of days my eyes became very red and incredibly sore. I woke one morning with my eyelids practically glued together with a yellow pussy gum. My mother had bathed and tried to soothe them with honey and oil, but the burning continued for days and days. When it eventually subsided I was left with hardly any sight at all. Which put paid to my work in the mill and led to me sitting on a street corner with a begging bowl. I'd been doing that for a couple of months when I met up with Barnabus - a man Id probably passed in the street every day of my life and barely noticed. He was incredibly kind to me. He showed me the best places to sit and beg, explained how to avoid the hazards of dogs and donkeys and being kicked by thoughtless passers by. He sometimes shared his takings with me if I had had a particularly poor day. And eventually we teamed up together to keep each other company - he was funny and wise and we soon became really close friends.
The day we met Jesus we knew there was something going on - town had never been so busy. There were people all over the place and our usual spot in the market square was knee deep in people by the time we got there at sunrise. Barnabus asked someone what was happening and was told that Jesus of Nazareth was in town. We had heard about this prophet who had been causing a stir in the region. Apparently he had been teaching in the local synagogues and getting the Pharisees all annoyed because of the things he was saying. He had healed someone on the sabbath. And just yesterday he had raised Jairus's daughter from her deathbed. Or so they said. The town square was buzzing with excitement and when Barnabus enquired further he was told that Jesus had stayed at Jairus's house the previous night and was probably going to be leaving his place today to go somewhere else. Apparently he never stayed in one place for very long.
As we were not able to sit in our usual begging spot - and it wouldnt have done us any good anyway as people were far more interested in talking about Jesus than opening their purses for us - we decided to go and get a drink of water from the well and then think about what to do next. We really needed some income that day. Every day if we wanted to eat. We took our sticks and felt our way along the walls of the familiar town buildings until we came to the edge of town, then asked a passing stranger if they could lead us to the well which was a couple of hundred feet away. Once there we sat in the shade, had a drink and talked about how we were going to make some money that day. Whilst we were debating whether to wait until the crowds dispersed and catch people on their way home we heard someone shouting our names. Seconds later my younger brother Marcus was at our sides, tugging at my sleeve and shouting at me to hurry up. I had no idea what he was talking about and told him to slow down and explain what was going on. Marcus told us that Jesus was coming in our direction and that he was stopping along the way to heal anyone who was sick. Marcus had seen a woman with a damaged leg walk without a stick for the first time in years. He told us that old man Wheelright who everyone knew had been deaf for years could suddenly hear again. According to Marcus, miracles were happening all the way down the street - and we were on that street and we had to get up and make sure we were standing where Jesus could see us when he went past.
I felt excited for the first time in years. I also felt nervous to the point of nausea and uneasy as Marcus led us to the side of the road. There were too many people around. I didn't have a great sense of balance since Id lost my sight and I didn't like being jostled and pushed - it made me feel scared of falling. Marcus kept hold of me and I kept hold of Barnabus and we stood in the rising heat of the day listening to the sound of a crowd getting closer and closer. After a few minutes we could hear someone laughing and a great cheer going up. We asked Marcus what was happening and he said he couldn't really see but it was probably someone else getting healed. My heart was beating in my chest and I thought I might faint. I remembered that I hadn't had anything to eat yet. I was glad Id had that drink of water at the well.
Then all of a sudden Marcus said ' He's here! Quick, hurry or you'll miss him!' and he pushed us out into the road. I stumbled , not really knowing which way I was facing or what was going on. Marcus shouted ' Left , go left. He is just up ahead of you. Run!' So I turned left, Barnabus holding onto my coat, and tried to hurry after Jesus without being able to see where I was going. In a desperate attempt to catch up with the prophet I started shouting ' Sir? Jesus? Son of David, have mercy on us'. Someone took hold of my arm and started walking alongside me - I later discovered it was one of Jesus's followers who accompany him everywhere. After a few minutes we stopped and my guide said ' Wait here a minute.' He left us and we stood there not knowing what was happening and feeling a little exposed and foolish. Then thankfully the man reappeared and told us to come inside.
We were at someones house. As we ducked our heads to enter we could feel the cool inside air meet us and we were led to a table and asked to sit. We were then served cool water and offered bread which we hungrily accepted. All around us we could hear the chatter of men. After a few minutes someone said ' Jesus, these two men have followed us here because they are blind and need your help' A kind voice then spoke saying ' Ah, Barnabus, Thomas, you are both very welcome. Tell me, do you believe that I can give you your sight? '
I was dumbfounded. Firstly at the sound of his voice which was smooth and clear and powerful but kind with a hint of laughter. I can't explain what it was that was so unusual about his voice but I remember thinking that I'd never heard anyone like him. And secondly that he knew our names. I was absolutely sure that nobody could have told him who we were. I thought about his question for a moment and then said ' Yes sir, I do believe that'
The next thing I knew I felt someone raise me to my feet and guide me round to the other side of the table. Then I felt warm rough hands touching my eyes. I stepped back in surprise but the hands stayed on my face and as I steadied myself I felt a heat starting to burn into my eye sockets. It got hotter and then my skin started to tingle and the most peculiar sensation came over me. I felt as light as a feather and I heard the prophet saying ' Because you have faith you can have your healing' The next thing I knew I was lying on the ground looking up at the ceiling.
Looking
At the ceiling.
I could see.
A swirl of colour and pattern swam before my eyes as I tried to focus. A sea of faces were looking down on me, someone was trying to help me up and to my left I could hear Barnabus shouting out that he too could see. For me, having sight was a return to what I had known for years but for him.... he had never seen before. It must have been completely overwhelming for him. I stood up rather shakily and turned to see my friend for the first time. He was holding onto a dark haired man who was smiling broadly. Other men were standing around smiling and laughing too. I felt wobbly and confused. What had just happened? Jesus was hugging Barnabus and Barnabus was touching Jesus's face - as though his eyes needed confirmation from his fingers that he really could see the man standing in front of him. Then Barnabus saw me. ' Thomas?' he asked. I nodded and he moved towards me with arms open wide. We embraced and we cried. Neither of us could believe it.
Jesus and his friends sat down at the table and someone - I presume the householder - started to serve a meal. Jesus motioned for us to sit and join them but we both felt a bit awkward and conspicuous. We were also both really keen to go and find our families and tell them what had just happened. As though reading our minds Jesus looked at us and said quietly but firmly ' Please don't tell anyone what has happened here today. Your families will of course have to know, but don't tell anyone else. It is important that you thank God quietly and humbly for what he has done for you. But I dont need the publicity so please, don't speak my name'
We nodded and thanked him profusely and then left the house without picking up our sticks. We walked out into the brilliant sunshine and shaded our brand new eyes from the daylight. Everything was a wonder as we walked home. The street, the houses, the sky, the trees, animals and people. We stopped a hundred times to say ' Look! ' We marvelled at the simplest of things - a stone, a leaf , an ant. Everything had been made new and we were deeply deeply grateful.
Barnabus had been blind from birth. He was able to see shadows and light out of his left eye and nothing at all out of his right. So he was pretty dependent on the income we got from begging on the streets. I was more fortunate - or less, depending on how you look at it. I had only been blind for about seven years, as the result of an accident at my workplace. I had been a miller grinding grain for the local farmers to sell to the bakers. In one of those weird freak happenings, a sack of freshly ground flour had burst open as I was moving it and flour had got into my eyes. I had tried washing it out immediately with cold water, and for a while that seemed to have worked and I thought everything was going to be fine. But after a couple of days my eyes became very red and incredibly sore. I woke one morning with my eyelids practically glued together with a yellow pussy gum. My mother had bathed and tried to soothe them with honey and oil, but the burning continued for days and days. When it eventually subsided I was left with hardly any sight at all. Which put paid to my work in the mill and led to me sitting on a street corner with a begging bowl. I'd been doing that for a couple of months when I met up with Barnabus - a man Id probably passed in the street every day of my life and barely noticed. He was incredibly kind to me. He showed me the best places to sit and beg, explained how to avoid the hazards of dogs and donkeys and being kicked by thoughtless passers by. He sometimes shared his takings with me if I had had a particularly poor day. And eventually we teamed up together to keep each other company - he was funny and wise and we soon became really close friends.
The day we met Jesus we knew there was something going on - town had never been so busy. There were people all over the place and our usual spot in the market square was knee deep in people by the time we got there at sunrise. Barnabus asked someone what was happening and was told that Jesus of Nazareth was in town. We had heard about this prophet who had been causing a stir in the region. Apparently he had been teaching in the local synagogues and getting the Pharisees all annoyed because of the things he was saying. He had healed someone on the sabbath. And just yesterday he had raised Jairus's daughter from her deathbed. Or so they said. The town square was buzzing with excitement and when Barnabus enquired further he was told that Jesus had stayed at Jairus's house the previous night and was probably going to be leaving his place today to go somewhere else. Apparently he never stayed in one place for very long.
As we were not able to sit in our usual begging spot - and it wouldnt have done us any good anyway as people were far more interested in talking about Jesus than opening their purses for us - we decided to go and get a drink of water from the well and then think about what to do next. We really needed some income that day. Every day if we wanted to eat. We took our sticks and felt our way along the walls of the familiar town buildings until we came to the edge of town, then asked a passing stranger if they could lead us to the well which was a couple of hundred feet away. Once there we sat in the shade, had a drink and talked about how we were going to make some money that day. Whilst we were debating whether to wait until the crowds dispersed and catch people on their way home we heard someone shouting our names. Seconds later my younger brother Marcus was at our sides, tugging at my sleeve and shouting at me to hurry up. I had no idea what he was talking about and told him to slow down and explain what was going on. Marcus told us that Jesus was coming in our direction and that he was stopping along the way to heal anyone who was sick. Marcus had seen a woman with a damaged leg walk without a stick for the first time in years. He told us that old man Wheelright who everyone knew had been deaf for years could suddenly hear again. According to Marcus, miracles were happening all the way down the street - and we were on that street and we had to get up and make sure we were standing where Jesus could see us when he went past.
I felt excited for the first time in years. I also felt nervous to the point of nausea and uneasy as Marcus led us to the side of the road. There were too many people around. I didn't have a great sense of balance since Id lost my sight and I didn't like being jostled and pushed - it made me feel scared of falling. Marcus kept hold of me and I kept hold of Barnabus and we stood in the rising heat of the day listening to the sound of a crowd getting closer and closer. After a few minutes we could hear someone laughing and a great cheer going up. We asked Marcus what was happening and he said he couldn't really see but it was probably someone else getting healed. My heart was beating in my chest and I thought I might faint. I remembered that I hadn't had anything to eat yet. I was glad Id had that drink of water at the well.
Then all of a sudden Marcus said ' He's here! Quick, hurry or you'll miss him!' and he pushed us out into the road. I stumbled , not really knowing which way I was facing or what was going on. Marcus shouted ' Left , go left. He is just up ahead of you. Run!' So I turned left, Barnabus holding onto my coat, and tried to hurry after Jesus without being able to see where I was going. In a desperate attempt to catch up with the prophet I started shouting ' Sir? Jesus? Son of David, have mercy on us'. Someone took hold of my arm and started walking alongside me - I later discovered it was one of Jesus's followers who accompany him everywhere. After a few minutes we stopped and my guide said ' Wait here a minute.' He left us and we stood there not knowing what was happening and feeling a little exposed and foolish. Then thankfully the man reappeared and told us to come inside.
We were at someones house. As we ducked our heads to enter we could feel the cool inside air meet us and we were led to a table and asked to sit. We were then served cool water and offered bread which we hungrily accepted. All around us we could hear the chatter of men. After a few minutes someone said ' Jesus, these two men have followed us here because they are blind and need your help' A kind voice then spoke saying ' Ah, Barnabus, Thomas, you are both very welcome. Tell me, do you believe that I can give you your sight? '
I was dumbfounded. Firstly at the sound of his voice which was smooth and clear and powerful but kind with a hint of laughter. I can't explain what it was that was so unusual about his voice but I remember thinking that I'd never heard anyone like him. And secondly that he knew our names. I was absolutely sure that nobody could have told him who we were. I thought about his question for a moment and then said ' Yes sir, I do believe that'
The next thing I knew I felt someone raise me to my feet and guide me round to the other side of the table. Then I felt warm rough hands touching my eyes. I stepped back in surprise but the hands stayed on my face and as I steadied myself I felt a heat starting to burn into my eye sockets. It got hotter and then my skin started to tingle and the most peculiar sensation came over me. I felt as light as a feather and I heard the prophet saying ' Because you have faith you can have your healing' The next thing I knew I was lying on the ground looking up at the ceiling.
Looking
At the ceiling.
I could see.
A swirl of colour and pattern swam before my eyes as I tried to focus. A sea of faces were looking down on me, someone was trying to help me up and to my left I could hear Barnabus shouting out that he too could see. For me, having sight was a return to what I had known for years but for him.... he had never seen before. It must have been completely overwhelming for him. I stood up rather shakily and turned to see my friend for the first time. He was holding onto a dark haired man who was smiling broadly. Other men were standing around smiling and laughing too. I felt wobbly and confused. What had just happened? Jesus was hugging Barnabus and Barnabus was touching Jesus's face - as though his eyes needed confirmation from his fingers that he really could see the man standing in front of him. Then Barnabus saw me. ' Thomas?' he asked. I nodded and he moved towards me with arms open wide. We embraced and we cried. Neither of us could believe it.
Jesus and his friends sat down at the table and someone - I presume the householder - started to serve a meal. Jesus motioned for us to sit and join them but we both felt a bit awkward and conspicuous. We were also both really keen to go and find our families and tell them what had just happened. As though reading our minds Jesus looked at us and said quietly but firmly ' Please don't tell anyone what has happened here today. Your families will of course have to know, but don't tell anyone else. It is important that you thank God quietly and humbly for what he has done for you. But I dont need the publicity so please, don't speak my name'
We nodded and thanked him profusely and then left the house without picking up our sticks. We walked out into the brilliant sunshine and shaded our brand new eyes from the daylight. Everything was a wonder as we walked home. The street, the houses, the sky, the trees, animals and people. We stopped a hundred times to say ' Look! ' We marvelled at the simplest of things - a stone, a leaf , an ant. Everything had been made new and we were deeply deeply grateful.
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