What is the Point of Prayer? Does Prayer Change Things. Matthew 20 29-34 | Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Jesus heals two blind men on the Jericho Road. (Bruce Marchiano in "Matthew")

Things happen, that would not have happened if we had not prayed. This is my firm conviction.

Would Jesus have stopped and healed the two blind man seated by the side of the roadside if they had not asked him to?

There are very few records of him spontaneously healing people who have not asked him to
* * *

Each life has a story, a plot. Blindness was part of the plot of these men’s lives.

However, their persistent faith changed the plot and ushered them into a new destiny.

They asked Jesus for a new story. And he said,

“Yes.”
* * *

What is the plot of your life? Its trajectory? Its givens?

Are you happy with it? Would you like it to change?

Jesus can change it, if you ask him to.

He asks today, “What would you like me to do for you?”

What is your answer?

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Two Blind Men Receive Sight

²⁹ As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. ³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

A desperate faith.

³¹ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

They wanted what they wanted so badly that they were not going to snubbed into silence.

³² Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

As he asks us.

³³ “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

That is prayer. A simple statement of need.

³⁴ Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

God is a compassionate God