Our Eyes Can Be Open Again!

[Reading Time: Approx. 16 min]

Lesson 17 Devotional: Jesus | He Opens the Eyes of the Blind

(Matthew 11:2-5)

Matthew 11:2-52 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

There is no greater joy than being in love with our Abba, Father! Every day is fresh and new. The possibilities of what we believe He’s going to do in our lives feel limitless. But even more important than what He’s going to do in our lives is just knowing that He is with us moment by moment, hour by hour, and minute by minute. But this is only possible when the eyes of our hearts are open. However, sometimes we are blind.

But Jesus opens the eyes of the blind.

In the summary for this module, I mentioned the lost hopes and dreams we often face after walking with God for a while—health issues that haven’t improved, ongoing financial struggles, sins we haven’t been able to conquer, or family challenges that don’t ever seem to get better. Over time, if we don’t see these adversities from God’s perspective (we’re blind in these situations (2 Kings 6.13-17), the eyes of our heart can go from open to closed. The heart of "yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39) becomes a heart of “yet not as you will, God, but as I will. You’re taking too long. I want what I want — how I want it — now!” (But he loves us enough not to give in to our will because He sees our greater needs).

But once we’ve recognized how far we've fallen, and we repent, and start back doing the things we did at first (Revelation 2:5), something starts to happen… Jesus starts to open the eyes of our hearts again (Ephesians 1:18).

But Jesus opens the eyes of the blind.

This eye-opening experience leads to some exciting things happening in our relationship with God and in our relationship with the adversities that were once used by the enemy to harden our hearts. That's what we'll be talking about in this lesson.

We'll go over four things that can start to happen when Jesus starts to open the eyes of the blind – us. (Of course, this is not an exhaustive list):

1The Scriptures Are Opened to Us
2We Are Spurred On to Energized Action
3We Understand Our Hope in Christ Better
4We Understand Our Power in Christ Better

The Scriptures Are Opened to Us

Luke 24:36-45 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Yes, the Word of God gives us promise for both this age and the one to come (1 Timothy 4:8), but the most important thing is getting to know God better. A major reason we give in to sin or take misguided steps is because we don’t know our Father well enough. This is where Satan deceived Adam and Eve—he made them believe that God wasn’t good, that He didn’t have their best interest at heart, even suggesting that God was holding back blessings due to His own “insecurity,” that they could be on the same level as Him. Foolishness! Yet, we all fall into this trap in some way when we don’t trust God—because we don’t know Him deeply—and instead, choose to sin. Sometimes, we even prefer turning to evil rather than enduring suffering when we don’t get what we want — when we want it (Job 36:21).

Just as Jesus opened the Scriptures to the disciples when He appeared to them and asked for the fish, and to the men on the road to Emmaus, He does the same for us today. This revelation transforms our daily devotionals, worship, and moment-by-moment walk with Him. There is nothing more precious or powerful than this—it changes everything about our day.

This deeper knowledge of God not only transforms our day-to-day lives and moment-by-moment situations but also reshapes the very challenges that once hardened our hearts and closed the eyes of our heart.

So I’m going to briefly cover two key attributes of God that we get to learn more deeply as a result of our struggles:

1Knowing God as Our Perfect Father
2Knowing God as Our Faithful Gardener

Knowing God as Our Perfect Father

Hebrews 12:7-107 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

When we face adversity, we must constantly remind ourselves that God allows these challenges in our lives because he is opening our eyes to a more complete picture of who He is. I think that the most important thing we need to internalize about God is that he is our Perfect Father. He loves us and treats us as a father does his children. He confirms our sonship (Romans 8:29) through the hardships we face. Ultimately, God's goal for us is for us to be made more into the likeness of his Son, Jesus, so that he may be the firstborn among many brothers. And although the hardships are painful, he is always with us through them. This painful pruning which is necessary for us to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus is also part of what He does as His role as our Faithful Gardener.

Knowing God as Our Faithful Gardener

John 15:1-2“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

So, in addition to God confirming that we are legitimately His children through our suffering, consider that he may also be opening the eyes of our hearts so we can see what he is doing in our lives through our suffering.

For example, maybe the reason that the health issue hasn’t improved is “so that the works of God might be displayed in” you.

John 9:1-31 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Maybe the heat of adversity is melting away the impurities—the sins and hindrances entangling you and keeping you from being your best for God, more useful to Him (Hebrews 12:1). God often refines us through affliction (Isaiah 48:10; Psalm 66:8-12).

Ezekiel 24:1111 Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.

Such work of God being displayed in you will be out in the open for everyone to see (1 Timothy 4.15) —showing His power and giving other people hope that He can change them too. This can turn them to God.

Maybe He’s using this health challenge to burn away the deposits that are keeping you from being closer to Him and loving people more — pruning out of your life (John 15:1-2) the very things that are stealing from you, killing you, and destroying you, keeping you from the life to the full that He wants for you (John 10:10).

These are just a couple of the attributes of God we can come to know as He reveals Himself to us through the Scriptures. When He reveals Himself in profound ways, these breakthroughs spur us on to energized action!

We Are Spurred On to Energized Action

Luke 24:13-18, 32-34 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Luke 24:32-34 32 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?”33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

There is something significant that follows having our eyes opened—a new revelation — about God. When Cleopas and the other man with him encountered Jesus on the road, they immediately got up and rushed to tell the disciples and those with them what they had seen and experienced. Their hearts were full, and they shared with energy and urgency.This is what happens when our eyes are opened to a new or deeper revelation of God. When He reveals Himself to us, it always leads to energized action. The very reason I created the content you are now studying is that my eyes were opened to the greatness of Jesus what I did the one week Bible study through the gospels. I saw him in a new, more profound way than I ever have before. I could not hold it in. I knew I had to share what God had revealed to me about his goodness. i’m sure the same thing happens with you. When you read some great things in the word of God, you can’t help but to share. It is in our nature. It’s how we were created.And think back to those early days when you first believed. You were filled with passion, speaking to anyone who would listen (even those who wouldn’t listen ), sharing your faith with everyone you met. But over time, as discouragement and doubt crept in, your excitement faded and doubts arose. As your spiritual eyes began to close, you found yourself sharing less and less.But as God continues to open your eyes, the challenges that once hardened your heart and dimmed your vision take on new meaning. He will reveal the lessons He was teaching you through those difficulties. This is part of your new testimony. Don’t rely solely on your old conversion story; share the new story of how God is working in your life right now through these fresh revelations.With this renewed energy, take action. Share the good news of what God has done for you— and consider these words:

John 4:39-4239 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

As you continue to share what God has done for you, you’ll start to understand your hope in Christ better!

**We Understand Our Hope In Christ Better**

Romans 5.1-41 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

The suffering that once hardened your heart is now a source of a greater hope in Christ! All this time, God has been working for your good to conform you into the image of his Son and giving greater hope!

As I mentioned in the previous section, now that you have a fresh revelation of who God is and how He has been working through the challenging circumstances you’ve faced—and may still be dealing with—you’ve been sharing this new story (hopefully).A personal example of this comes from my own struggle with excessive worry, something I started fighting with when I was about 10 years old. It was paralyzing. I was a prisoner of my own mind. The devil had a stronghold on me for decades (John 5:5), and it drastically affected the course of my life. I would’ve taken a much different path in my life had I not been tormented by this issue. Psychology calls it “generalized anxiety disorder,” and I was medically diagnosed with it by a psychiatrist who said I had a severe case. For years, this "disorder" (Deu 28:65) crippled me, even after I had been a Christian for 17 years.At one point, I found a “Band-Aid” solution that helped me cope effectively for a number of years, but it didn’t get to the root of the problem (Matt 13:21). (Note: If you don't get to the root of problems, they can last a long time... even forever.) The real breakthrough came later when God empowered me to completely tear down this stronghold (2 Cor 10:4) with His weapons (Eph 6:10-17)! It wasn’t psychology (talk therapy) or psychiatry (medication) that renewed my mind—it was the Word of God and prayer. What I came to realize was that I didn’t truly understand the love of God and His overall divine nature (Rom 1:20) as defined by His Word. Instead, I was (without realizing it) going by what well-meaning people had told me in the past, relying on my feelings, "science," and the media. Once I got serious about listening to God through His Word and shutting out the noise of other people’s opinions, He made it all clear.

This was the rhetorical question I asked about my “disorder”: “Why would I be anxious or fearful if I’m protected by an almighty, all-loving, sovereign God?” It made no sense. So... anxiety and worry... GONE! The issue wasn’t chemical; it was spiritual.This story reflects one of the many examples for the reasons for the hope I have in my life in Christ. Just as the many stories you have to tell reflect your hope in Christ. The opening of our eyes allows us to see more deeply and clearly how God has been working through all our challenges to conform us to the image of His Son and to give us hope for this age and the one to come.

Our Hope for this World

The story I just shared speaks to the hope we can have even in this world. We can change. You can “teach old dogs new tricks.“ Although we can (and will) go through some very dark and challenging times as Christians, we never have to stay in the place of feeling like there is no hope for our lives. This is because we live by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. And we have God’s commands, promises and truth as an anchor for every day of our lives!

So whatever challenge God has put you through or you’re still going through, there’s hope for you to change that. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that we have everything we need to live the life God has told us to.

2 Timothy 3:16-1716 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It’s up to us to hold to the hope for this life by holding to his word – his commands, promises and truth.

Our Hope for the World to Come

Our hope for this life is only a small part of the eternal hope we long for. The longer we stay in Christ and see Him working through the adversities and challenges we face, the clearer it becomes to us how amazing our God is. He will reveal to us the nature of Him we will spend our eternity with. We also have a description in Revelation 21-22 of the amazing eternal reward we have awaiting us. No one can be “depressed” after reading, believing, and meditating on this passage of Scripture!As God continues to open our eyes, we’ll come to understand the hope we have in this world and the world to come on a deeper and greater level!

**We Understand Our Power In Christ Better**

2 Kings 6:15-17 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Surrounded

Surrounded. That's how we feel sometimes. Outnumbered. Outmatched. Impossible odds. It's when we feel most powerless that we have the most for strength because it is in these times when we know we cannot rely on ourselves, but on God. However... It is in these times that the eyes of our hearts must be opened. This is what Jesus does. When Jesus opens our eyes, we see the spiritual resources he has given us to win our battles. See Ephesians 6.10-17 and 2 Corinthians 10.4-5. Elisha's servant needed his eyes to be opened to see the "hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17) that would defend them against the Arameans. In the same way, we also need God to open our eyes to see the power He has given us to win our spiritual battles. So even when we are surrounded, we can have victory when our eyes are open.

Confronting The "Usual Defiance"

1 Samuel 17:22-2422 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

The enemy has a “usual defiance” he is shouting every day. For example, it could be a parenting or marriage challenge you don't feel you can overcome because of the unbelieving voices in your head are relentless.

Examples of the “usual defiance“ the enemy may be shouting at you:

“It has always been this way. This will never change!“
“God’s never going to let you have peace in this relationship. He just wants you to suffer to help you become more like Jesus.”
“Look at that other person’s (better) family relationships compared to yours. You’re a loser!”
“God is punishing you for your past sins through your relationships.”
“Don’t bother to pray about this. You’ve prayed about this many times and nothing has happened. Prayer is useless!”

But remember in a previous lesson when we talked about the enemy being the accuser who has gone off to make war against Jesus and all of his offspring and that he leads the whole world astray (Revelation 12)? Yeah… those voices of “defiance“ are straight from the devil’s playbook. Don’t fall for it. Fight back with the truth of God’s word. You have power.

The power starts with our eyes being open to what’s going on. Once we recognize what’s going on, then we can fight. We can put on the armor of God and take our stand. Elisha’s servant was terrified because he couldn’t see what was going on. When his eyes were opened, he gained confidence. The same with us. We have incredible power in Christ.

Ephesians 1:18-2118 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, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Walk As Jesus Did: Practical ApplicationHow can we apply what we’ve learned in this lesson to walk as Jesus did?

1Seek the Knowledge of God: Jesus had the most intimate relationship with His Father. Ask God to open your mind and the eyes of your heart to know His true nature, so you can imitate that relationship. We all have misconceptions about who God is. As we walk with Him, He will open the Scriptures to us to reveal His true nature.
2Share Your Victory. We have Jesus‘s victory in the garden of Gethsemane as a record for how his father showed up for him to strengthen him and transform him. Share with someone how God showed Himself to you and transformed you through a significant life challenge.
3Define Your Hope. For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross. Jesus had a clear hope. Write down the hope you have as promised in the Scriptures. Both for this life and eternal life. When you have this in writing, you’ll be able to endure the tough times in your walk as a disciple.
4Confront the "Usual Defiance". Our enemy is not creative. He uses the same weapons and tactics against us all the time. Jesus demolished Satan's arguments with the Scriptures. Put the lies Satan usually launches at you into writing. Then counter-attack them with the truth of Scriptures. Have your list ready to start attacking the stronghold until it completely taken down!

Lesson 17 Training Tips: Have Eyes Open Like Jesus

Getting More from Your Study of the GospelsThese insights aim to build your faith, deepen your understanding, and encourage practical application of God’s Word.

1Read: Read Matthew 11:2-5 aloud. Jot down on what the Holy Spirit spoke to you when you read the phrase "the blind receive sight."
2Meditate: Think about this from all angles. Meditate on how you can apply this to walking like Jesus. Think of this in terms of being a follower of Jesus, and as one who is calling others to follow him.
3Pray: We all have deep areas we have not even begun to approach from our past. These areas are full of blindness for us because we have never even thought to explore them. We have simply “accepted” that we are a certain way in our character or personality without ever really asking why. Ask God to begin to show you areas where you are still blind, and ask Him to give you sight.

ConclusionJesus came to give sight to the blind. We were all completely blind at one point—before we came to believe. But even as believers, our eyes can be partially or completely closed at times, rendering us effectively “blind.” As He opens our eyes, He reveals more of Himself to us, energizes us, reveals our hope, and shows us the power He has given us. Continue to work on your faith for open eyes so you can see God and help others see Him as well. The more we do this, we will not only return to our first love, but it will burn hotter than ever!

Lesson 17: Jesus | With Him, Our Eyes Can Be Opened Again (Matt 11:2-5)

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