Study Desk

Really, what did you expect to see? Someone dressed in fine clothes? Of course not. People who wear fine clothes are all in kings' palaces.

So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, John is a prophet. But I tell you, he is more than that.

Then some people brought a man to Jesus. This man was blind and could not talk, because he had a demon inside him. Jesus healed the man, and he could talk and see.

Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law answered Jesus. They said, "Teacher, we want to see you do a miracle as a sign from God."

Jesus answered, "Evil and sinful people are the ones who want to see a miracle as a sign. But no miracle will be done to prove anything to them. The only sign will be the miracle that happened to the prophet Jonah.

Then he pointed to his followers and said, "See! These people are my mother and my brothers.

This is why I use these stories to teach the people: They see, but they don't really see. They hear, but they don't really hear or understand.

So they show that what Isaiah said about them is true: ‘You people will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not really see.

Yes, the minds of these people are now closed. They have ears, but they don't listen. They have eyes, but they refuse to see. If their minds were not closed, they might see with their eyes; they might hear with their ears; they might understand with their minds. Then they might turn back to me and be healed.'

But God has blessed you. You understand what you see with your eyes. And you understand what you hear with your ears.

I can assure you, many prophets and godly people wanted to see what you now see. But they did not see it. And many prophets and godly people wanted to hear what you now hear. But they did not hear it.

People were amazed when they saw that those who could not speak were now able to speak. Crippled people were made strong. Those who could not walk were now able to walk. The blind were able to see. Everyone thanked the God of Israel for this.

Jesus answered, "When you people see the sunset, you know what the weather will be. If the sky is red, you say we will have good weather.

And in the morning, if the sky is dark and red, you say that it will be a rainy day. These are signs of the weather. You see these signs in the sky and know what they mean. In the same way, you see the things that are happening now. These are also signs, but you don't know their meaning.

It is the evil and sinful people who want to see a miracle as a sign from God. But no miracle will be done to prove anything to them. The only sign will be the miracle that happened to Jonah." Then Jesus went away from there.

Believe me when I say that there are some people standing here who will see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom before they die."

They answered, "Lord, we want to be able to see."

Jesus felt sorry for the blind men. He touched their eyes, and immediately they were able to see. Then they became followers of Jesus.

He said to them, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will find a donkey with her colt. Untie them both, and bring them to me.

So go to the street corners and invite everyone you see. Tell them to come to my feast.'