Briefing: Does a LEO/police officer have the ability to see things that the normal citizen does not? Is it the sight or the skill of observation? Is it just seeing or is it looking for certain things?

Dispatch (Assignment): Discuss a time when you were off duty, with family or friends, and observed some type of suspicious activity. Did your family or friends see what you saw? Read Matthew 20:29-34.

On the Street: As a rookie, I was blessed to have a very experienced and patient Field Training Officer. He regularly observed suspicious activity that never registered in my mind as suspicious. After watching me struggle with my lack of ability to see this he told me, “be patient, you will eventually begin to see things you never saw before”. Sure enough, I began to see the things he saw.

Cops have a sixth sense, a special ability to see criminal activity developing that non law enforcement people don’t have. This takes time and patience to develop. Likewise, the veteran Christian has a spiritual sense that can guide him/her. It is sensitivity to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Some call it spiritual eyesight. If we are blessed with this special sight, we can begin to see things the way Christ wants us to see them.

Here we see two blind men asking Jesus for their sight. I fully believe that Jesus gave them their physical eye sight as well as spiritual eye sight.

Highlights from this Read: In verse 29, the great crowds were still following Him. Who do you think made up this crowd; the rich, poor, men, women, Jews, Gentiles, Pharisees, criminals, law abiding citizens, soldiers, or cops? I believe that all walks of life were represented.

In verse 30, two blind men were sitting by the side of the road begging, when a large crowd approaches them. The most compassionate person to ever walk this earth is in the midst of the crowd. Surely this crowd has learned much from Jesus. They witnessed Him healing the sick and lame and loving everyone along the way.

In verse 32, when Jesus stopped and stood still, everyone that was following Him stopped. Consider Jesus’ question and imagine Him asking it of you. “What do you want Me to do for you?” This is what I call a “blank check question”.

In verse 33, He touched them. I wish I knew how joyful it was for Jesus to see the excitement on their faces, like little children at Christmas, getting the present they hoped for but didn’t think they would get. They followed Him. Wouldn’t you like to know what happened to these two guys? Were they in the crowd that laid down the palm branches as Jesus entered Jerusalem? Did they shout, “Crucify Him” at the trial before Pilate? Did they become part of the church in Acts?

Investigational Resources: Verse 33 is the fulfillment of Isaiah 42:7 and 42:16. Also see Mark 10:46-52 and Luke 18:35-43.

Officer Safety Principle: Just like the LEO can see criminal activity develop, through training and experience, the Christian will begin to see the pitfalls of sin and temptations as they are forming. This gives us reaction time to pray, prepare to stand and fight, or to flee.

from The Gospel of Matthew Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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