Jesus had pity on them and touched their eyes; at once they were able to see, and they followed him. (Matthew 20:34) Jesus had pity on the two blind people he encountered on the side of a road for two reasons: first, because of their handicap; second, because other people wanted to shut them out. I’m going to talk about them both. Jesus had pity for these men’s handicap. Most of us have pity for those who we perceive as handicap. Whether it is a physical, mental or emotional one, we look onto people with more forgiving eyes when we learn of their handicap. I use the word “handicap” as opposed to “disability” because a “handicap” places people at a disadvantage whereas a “disability” strikes people out as unable therefore disqualifying them. These blind people, in Jesus’ mind were put at a disadvantage to follow him, they were not ruled out from following him. But that disadvantage of following him because of their blindness was the reason Jesus had sympathy for them. The second of these two reasons was more pitiful to Jesus– people didn’t help the blind guys in following Jesus. They had ruled them out and disqualified them from receiving any attention from Jesus, who was and is the only one that can do anything for their situation. Jesus, because of this, wanted to go out of his way to level the playing field. They were healed and the two men followed Jesus. We are all handicap from following Jesus. That handicap ranges from disbelief and sin, to physical inabilities to read or hear the gospel message. At the same time, as we follow Christ, we must ask ourselves and our churches: are we shutting out the handicapped from following Jesus like the crowd in the story; or are touching them like Jesus touched them with sympathy and love to heal them in Christ’s name? Think about how you treated the blind. How will you touch their eyes now? Will you help them follow?