Basic Questions

1. Identify as completely as possible the person in need (e.g., age, ethnic origin, religion, gender, social status).
   Two blind men who addressed Jesus as "Son of David".

2. What was the immediate, obvious need?
   They were blind.

3. Who took the initiative in effecting the healing?
   The person in need? Others? Jesus?
   How was it expressed?
   The two blind men sought Jesus out and said "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"
   They also believed Jesus could heal them.     (Matt 9:28)

4. Describe the actions or process leading to the healing; that is, what was said (e.g., questions, requests, commands) and what was done (e.g., approaching, following, touching, publicly/privately), and by whom?
   Two blind men sought Jesus out and said "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"
   They believed Jesus could heal them.
   Jesus touched their eyes and said "According to your faith will it be done to you."
   They were healed.
   News spread even though they were instructed not to tell.
   This was done indoors away from the crowd.

5. Did the person in need or someone else verbally express faith? Non-verbally? Describe how and by whom faith was in involved in this healing.
   The two blind men expressed faith by seeking Jesus, addressing Jesus as "Son of David" and answering yes when asked if they believed Jesus was able to do this.

6. What were the evidences that the person was healed?
   Their sight was restored.     (Matt 9:30)

7. What were the reactions to the healing?
   News about Jesus spread all over that region.

8. What in this narrative led Jesus to minister healing to the person in need?
   The two blind men's faith in Jesus.     (Matt 9:29)

Digging Deeper

1. Matthew describes the blind men as following Jesus and going indoors with him. How do you think they were able to do this, being blind? Even to knowing who Jesus was?
   Faith overcomes obstacles. This shows the blind men were determined to seek Jesus no matter what.
   This also shows that the men were "seeing" who Jesus was with their hearts, not their eyes. They were following their hearts.
   2 Cor 5:7     We live by faith, not by sight.

   The two blind men recognised Jesus as the Son of David - the Messiah. Perhaps the blind men knew of the Scripture (Isa 29:17-19 Isa 29:17-19,     Isa 35:4-6 Isa 35:4-6)     that proclaimed the messianic kingdom as a time when the blind will see.

   What does this tell you about Jesus' reputation for healing?
   Jesus' reputation for healing must have grown quite large.

2. As in some other healing accounts, these men don't directly ask for healing, but for mercy (Read the Jesus Prayer the Jesus Prayer)? Do you think this implies some sense of their needing forgiveness, or is it just another way of asking for healing?
   This is another way of asking for healing. The two men knew Jesus was the Son of God, they knew Jesus was full of mercy and they knew their need. They presented their need to Jesus and trusted Him to decide how to handle it.
   The Jesus prayer says "Have mercy on me a sinner", this may mean that the two blind men felt unworthy and also wanted forgiveness.

3. Jesus, upon touching their eyes, says, "According to your faith ..." When we pray we may say, "according to Your will". Considered together, what might these two expressions be saying?
   The two blind men left their needs completely in Jesus' hands. They had enough faith to trust Jesus to know the best way to meet all of their needs by simply asking for mercy instead of their sight. They were willing to accept whatever Jesus had for them - they were willing to accept Jesus' will for them.

4. When we appeal to Jesus for healing, should we wait for him to ask, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" so that we can answer, "Yes, Lord"?
   This was an invitation to the two blind men to express their faith in Jesus. We also should listen for an invitation from Jesus to express our faith.
   Expressing faith in Jesus is healing.

5. What comments or instructions did Jesus express after the healing?
   He told the two men not to tell anyone. He probably didn't want to be labeled as the Son of David or the Messiah yet.

6. What lesson(s) have you learned about healing from this account?
   Jesus is seen through your heart.
   2 Cor 5:7     We live by faith, not by sight.

   Just as Jesus touched the blind men�s eyes, He touches us where we hurt.
   Expressing faith in Jesus is healing.
   The Jesus Prayer is a simple way to ask for healing and focus on Jesus.