In Matthew 20:34 we are told that the blind men Jesus just healed “followed him.” These men didn’t just use Jesus for their own personal gain. They didn’t think of Him as a genie in a bottle who comes out to heal them before disappearing back into the bottle. No, after their sight was restored, after they were healed by Jesus, they got up and followed Him.
Disciples
While some may argue that they just followed Jesus into Jerusalem for the Passover, I believe Matthew is getting at something more. I believe he is telling us they became one of His disciples.
What Their Actions Teach Us
Their actions then teach us that we shouldn’t use Jesus for our personal gain. Instead Jesus’ work in our life, either miraculous or through the church, should cause us to follow Him.
While that is true, I think a lot of people don’t do that. People suffer illnesses or injuries all the time, are healed in miraculous ways and may even credit that to Jesus, but they don’t follow Him.
Crediting Jesus with Something and Following Him are Two Different Things
Following Jesus requires us to allow Him to call the shots in our life, to direct the way we live. Many people don’t want that. Sure, they want Jesus to give. They want His healing touch. They want Him to work everything out in their lives, but they don’t want to follow Him.
For Who He Is
And you know, we are going to continue to use Jesus until we see Him the way these men did in our story, as the Son of David, as our King, as the one who has the right to direct our lives. Until we recognize who Jesus is, we won’t follow Him. All we will do is take from Him, consume, and treat Him and His church as a genie in a bottle. Someone we run to when we are in trouble, but nothing more than that.
So do you see Jesus through the eyes of these two men, as your King? Or do you see Him as just another way to get a handout?
What Jesus Wants
Jesus doesn’t want us to take from Him. Instead, He wants us to give ourselves to Him, to see Him as our King, to follow Him. Jesus wants these things from us. In other words,
He wants disciples not consumers.
Question for Reflection
- Are you a disciple, or are you a consumer?
Christianity Matters 
I love: Crediting Jesus with Something and Following Him are Two Different Things
So true – many look at Jesus as so many things – the One who died for their sins, healed them, etc – but still don’t follow.
Like the 10 lepers who went away healed, receivers of a grace, a gift, looking at Jesus as someone with whom they had contact in the past, but not following.
Great message Casey.
Ben,
I agree. People do look at Jesus that way. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Blessings,
Casey
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