Since beginning this study of a chapter a day through the New Testament, I’ve set a challenge for myself to try and determine why those who marked the chapters and verses in each letter did so where they did. In other words, I’m on the lookout each week to find a common thread that ties each passage together within each chapter.

This week it wasn’t until I got to blind Bartimaeus that I was able to see the connection. In each passage Jesus runs into people who were spiritually blind. Bartimaeus, though physically blind was the only one in this chapter to have the spiritual eyes to see Jesus for Who He was and all He had to offer him. Proving spiritual blindness is far more dangerous than physical blindness. 

Only blind Bartimaeus could see what Jesus offered all of them and he didn’t hesitate to follow Jesus once given his physical sight as well.

The Bible has so much to say about spiritual blindness! Too much to include it all here, but allow me to share a few of the highlights from this week’s study! First about those who will never enter God’s Kingdom, even though they believe they will.

“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”(John 9:39)

In saying this Jesus revealed that He came to heal the physically blind, but His coming would bring spiritual blindness to others who didn’t believe in Him.

Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains (John 9:40-41).

The Bible also speaks often of the cause of spiritual blindness: “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Paul refers to Satan as the “god of this world.” masquerading as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and is the cause of all temptations (Luke 4:2; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Corinthians 7:5). Can you remember a time in your life when Jesus opened your eyes to the truth of the gospel? 

I hope so, but even believers are not safe from Satan’s schemes; just look at Peter’s warning to us in 1 Peter 5:8-9,

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, stand firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

Satan’s goal is to devour the weak that fall prey to temptation, fear, loneliness, worry, depression, and persecution. James and John were examples of this in Mark 10.

Let me ask you, has there been a time when you suddenly discovered that what you thought was this wonderful thing you were busy doing for the Lord, wasn’t so wonderful at all!? That there was actually something far better you could’ve been doing? Martha in Luke 10:38-42 is a perfect example for us, for she was so certain what she was doing was excellent that she tried to get Jesus to make her sister Mary help her and actually accused Jesus of not caring that she was doing all the work!

Spiritual blindness is a frightening condition that can impact all of us, so how can we keep from succumbing to it?  As believers, we have the Holy Spirit reigning in our lives to ward off Satan’s power and the world’s influence (1 John 4:13). John tells us, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in Him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). 

BUT even if we belong to Christ Jesus, Satan will still continues to war within and without us. The weapons he uses are deceitful and crafty schemes to make us doubt and even stumble (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:14). Yet God has provided powerful weapons to ward off his attacks described in Ephesians 6:10-18.

 As believers we HAVE the ability to overcome him and remain in the light and never grow spiritually blind. For Jesus has given us His wonderful promise: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Which means we’ve got to stay vigilant in apply God’s armor and walk closely beside Jesus each day until we’re safely home.