Luke 18:28–43 - 28 Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.” 29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” 31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 “For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” 34 But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said. 35 As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. What does today’s passage say? In today's passage, Jesus begins by declaring that those who have left behind worldly things like homes and family to follow Him will receive eternal blessings far greater in return (vv. 28-30). He then takes the disciples aside to foretell His coming suffering, death, and resurrection, but the meaning is hidden from them at this time (vv. 31-34). Next Jesus is approaching Jericho when a blind beggar cries out persistently to Him for mercy. Despite efforts to quiet the man, Jesus stops and restores his sight, commending his faith. Immediately, the healed man praises God and begins to follow Jesus (vv. 35-43). How can I apply Luke 18:28-43 to my life? When Jesus called His first disciples, they left everything behind to follow Him wholeheartedly, compelled simply by His invitation into relationship. Their childlike obedience speaks powerfully to us today. As we walk with Christ, He may call us to surrender security and step into unknown territory, requiring similar trust. As we do this, there will be times when we face affliction beyond human remedy and plans unravel despite best efforts. We identify with the disciples’ confusion when long-held expectations shatter in the face of reality. Yet even when the path grows murky, the Word of God remains unshaken ground for us to stand upon. His promises prove faithful every time. The healing of the blind beggar offers inspiration to persistently call upon Divine compassion. And his joyful response stirs us to promptly praise God for the breakthroughs He blesses us with and teaches us to recognize blessings we often overlook. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
Pursuing the Kingdom of God is not About What We Are Required to Sacrifice but Rather the Sure Hope of God’s Eternal Promises (vv. 28-30): When Jesus called the disciples, they left behind all material security to wholeheartedly follow Him. More than the considerable sacrifice, what empowered their radical obedience was the motivation of gaining Christ. They relinquished temporal comforts but gained the promise of eternal treasure in God’s kingdom. The great cost of discipleship may tempt us to cling tightly to earthly stability. But the focal point is not what we forfeit, but rather the assurance of our inheritance in Christ. That which we surrender pales in value compared to the privilege of participating in His glory. Like the disciples, when we fix our eyes on the coming reward, no earthly sacrifice seems too high a price. As we walk in surrender and trust, we will discover the fellowship of suffering only enriches the reality of knowing Christ here and now. And in the age to come, receive the fullness of rewards (Philippians 3:8, Matthew 13:44-46, Revelation 21:3-4).
Food for thought: How can remembering the worth of God’s promises empower you to let go of lesser securities? What mindsets or possessions might God be asking you to surrender?
Believe and Trust in the Truths, the Prophecies, and the Promises of God Even When It Is Hard to Do So (vv. 31-34): Jesus plainly foretold His coming death and resurrection. Yet despite clear prophecy, the disciples struggled to comprehend this truth that seemed impossible. When their Messiah was then arrested and crucified, they watched in confusion as prior understandings were shattered. We easily question God’s promises when circumstances appear contrary. But the Lord’s words prove trustworthy even when human perception lags behind. Mature faith stands firm on the rock of Scriptural prophecy regardless of surrounding storm. Ask the Spirit for eyes to see beyond surface-level chaos and into the ordered purpose of our faithful Father. As we choose to trust, even without seeing the full picture, we will discover God bringing streams of living water into our desert. And be anchored in unshakable hope (Isaiah 55:8-11, Jeremiah 29:11, Hebrews 6:13-15).
Food for thought: What promise of God do you need to trust beyond current limitations? How can remembering His past fidelity strengthen present faith?
In Weakness, Depend on Christ's Strength to Overcome (vv. 35-42): Utterly helpless to change his tragic circumstance, the blind man persisted in crying out to Jesus until he gained victory. Rather than pretensions of self-strength, mature believers acknowledge their weakness and bring desperate needs openly to God. Your insufficiency becomes an inroad for the Almighty's power when transferred into His formidable hands. Allow affliction to fuel tenacity in depending on Divine compassion. Jesus responds to this kind of humble dependence by proving His strength through our frailty. Also, as we walk in surrender, doors will open for us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Psalm 34:17-19, Hebrews 4:16).
Food for thought: Ask the Spirit to reveal any facade of self-sufficiency. Will you risk the vulnerability that unleashes God’s supernatural aid?
With Gratitude, Immediately Respond to Blessings from God (v. 43): The moment he received sight, the healed man responded with exuberant praise and wholehearted surrender to Christ. In seasons of hardship, crying out comes naturally. Yet once relief comes, we often slide back into self-governed independence. Mature believers cultivate consistent awareness of God’s goodness and blessings, offering thanks even without crisis. When Divine grace manifests tangibly, let our hearts sing out in worship rather than casually proceeding on autopilot. Each breakthrough offers an opportunity to realign our affections toward greater intimacy with the Lord. As we learn to recognize and give thanks for God’s hand in all things, our love and passion for Him is refreshed (Psalm 107:1, Psalm 136:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Food for thought: Ask the Spirit to nurture gratitude in you that rejoices at God’s hand daily, not just mountaintop moments. How can you grow awareness of provisions that often go unnoticed? We can certainly identify with the original disciples - leaving behind comforts to answer Christ’s call, struggling when reality clashes with expectations, needing persistent faith in seeming powerlessness, and requiring reminders to praise God in all seasons. We recognize our desperate need for the Savior to open our eyes to walk in wisdom and dependent trust. May this passage spur us to renewed surrender, making our focus on the eternal stronger rather than letting the demands of the temporal steal our joy. As we fix our gaze on Jesus, taking each step-in obedience to His direction, we can confidently entrust unknowns to His capable hands, knowing that the best is yet to come. Our trials produce endurance and approved faith, which can make us channels of comfort to others. Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that You would give me the courage and trust to leave behind lesser securities to take risky steps of obedience as You call me deeper in relationship with You. Enable me to cling to Your promises despite surrounding darkness. Help me persistently cry out for breakthrough while acknowledging my helplessness apart from You. Nurture my gratitude to see and savor Your hand in each moment so that my love and passion for You is continually refreshed. I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Luke 18:29-30 - 29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” With His Blessings, Pastor Corby
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