Questions From Jesus: “Do You Believe I Am Able To Do This?” (Part VI)

Sermon Title: Questions Asked by Jesus – “Do You Believe I Am Able To Do This?”

Good News Statement: Jesus asks us questions to grow our faith

Summary: The questions Jesus asks us are not meant to tear us down but rather to build us into the disciples and church his creation needs

Preached: Sunday, November 8^th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Matthew 9:27-31 Today’s scripture passage comes from the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 9:28 Jesus asks two blind men in the house of Simon Peter in Capernaum, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” To this, the blind men respond without hesitation, “Yes, Lord.” They believed that Jesus was able to handle their “this.” Let’s read Matthew, Chapter Nine, Verses Twenty-seven thru Thirty-one. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

 

Jesus Heals Two Blind Men

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” ²⁸ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you have faith that I can do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith, let it be done to you.” ³⁰ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” ³¹ But they went away and spread the news about him through all of that district.

The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”

 

 

Introduction:

Throughout his ministry here on earth—approximately 3 to 3.5 years as indicated by John’s timeline in his Gospel which explicitly mentions at least three different annual Passover feasts—Jesus asked about 307 recorded questions across the four Gospels. The Gospel of Matthew records 91 questions, Mark records 67 questions, Luke records 96 questions, and John records 50 to 53 questions.

Jesus enjoyed asking questions, but he also had a knack for not always providing an answer. It is noted that of the 183 questions asked to Jesus, he only answered three of them. Do you know which three he answered? First in Matthew 22:23-40 and Mark 12:28-31, Jesus is asked which commandment is the greatest to which he answered directly by quoting the greatest commandment to love God and neighbor. Second, when asked how to pray in Luke 11:1-4, Jesus answered directly by sharing the Lord’s Prayer. Third, when the high priest asked, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” while on trial in Mark 14:61-62, Jesus directly answered by saying, “I am.” Keep in mind, although Jesus only answered three questions directly that doesn’t mean he ignored the other 180 questions. He heard those questions, just like he hears your questions, and answered them in way that was most beneficial to the one asking the question. Said another way, rather than acting as a simple “answer man,” Jesus used questions and counter-questions to provoke deep thought, challenge motives, and inspire spiritual transformation.

Today, we continue asking Jesus questions. Most of the questions we ask Jesus deal with suffering, personal pain, and the reasons behind tragedy in the world. For example, the most frequently asked questions are as follows: “Why do bad things happen? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do I feel alone? Are you disappointed in me? Why do you love a broken world? Why is there so much evil? Who gets to go to heaven? What is heaven like? And How can I serve you better?” Be honest with yourself, have you ever found yourself asking Jesus any of these questions? Do any of them resonate with you? For me personally, I have found myself asking “Why do bad things happen? Why did this happen to me? And How can I better serve your mission?”

For the next couple of weeks, I want us to spend some time thinking about some of the questions that Jesus asked his followers and those whom he was healing. Out of the 307 questions Jesus asked, Biblical teachers often highlight seven major, profound questions. Those questions include: “What do you want me to do for you? Who do you say that I am? Why are you afraid, you of little faith? Who touched me? Do you believe I am able to do this? Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? And Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Each week will explore one of these questions and discern what it is that Jesus wants us to glean from his words. So, what question is Jesus asking you?

 

Body:

In 2004, artist Josh Groban, in the animated film The Polar Express, sang a song the captured the hearts of millions of people as a magical train transported children to the North Pole to see Santa Claus and to witness the gifting of the first gift of Christmas. The song, written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silverstri, is simply titled “Believe.” Here’s the chorus: “Believe in what your heart is saying/ Hear the melody that’s playing/ There’s no time to waste/ There’s so much to celebrate. Believe in what you feel inside/ And give your dreams the wings to fly. You have everything you need/ If you just believe. If you just believe.” Throughout the film, the audience is left with a struggle. The Conductor, voiced by Tom Hanks, says, “Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” The struggle is “Is seeing believing? Or is believing seeing?”

Now, today’s message doesn’t dive into this dilemma, and needless to say it doesn’t even stay on the same track, but the concept of believing is present. The invite to “just believe” is there. So, I have to ask, “How many of you believe in something?” In 2024, Joe Kaminski published an article on mroelectric.com titled The Most Widely Believed Myths by Americans. According to the research found, “78% of Americans believe one of the best methods for drying a wet phone is putting it in rice. Seventy-two (72%) percent believe sugar makes children hyper. When it comes to daylight savings time, 72% believe it was invented for farmers. Regarding food, 54% of Americans believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Only 25% of Americans believe that swimming after eating will give you cramps. When it comes to animals, 33% of Americans believe that people swallow multiple spiders each year and 21% believe that touching a toad causes warts. Lastly, 11% of Americans believe that coffee stunts your growth.”[1] In case you are wondering, according to Civic Science, 13% to 16% of Americans express direct belief in Bigfoot and 17% of Americans believe that they have personally seen a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object).

On a more serious note, the Pew Research Center—a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world—conducted a survey in 2025 regarding religious and spiritual beliefs. Briefly, this is what the survey revealed: “Roughly eight-in-ten Americans believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it. Similar or slightly larger numbers say they believe that God or a universal spirit exists (83%), and that humans have a soul or spirit in addition to a physical body (86%). Regarding the afterlife, 67% believe in heaven while 55% believe in hell. Sadly, the survey revealed that over the years, Americans have become slightly less likely to believe in God.”[2]

The point in sharing all this is to let you know that we are people who believe. We believe in something. Whether it’s a fact or myth, proven or unproven, seen or unseen, we are creatures that tend to believe in something. Today, we are looking at a moment in Scripture where two desperate men, who are unnamed, were forced to consider what they believe. They were asked a question by Jesus that cuts through all theological fluff and gets straight to the core of human desperate need. In Matthew 9:28, Jesus asks these two blind men, “Do you believe that I can do this?” The New Revised Standard Version translates Jesus’ question as “Do you have faith that I can do this?” which correlates to Jesus’ response to the men in verse 29—“According to your faith, let it be done to you.”—and several powerful moments throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry. For example, the bleeding woman of twelve years is healed because of her faith (Mark 5:25-34), Peter, before sinking, walks on water because of his faith (Matthew 14:28-29), and the Roman Centurion’s servant is healed through faith (Matthew 8:5-13).

Although faith is very important, today, I want to stick with the word “believe.” And I invite you to think about your own life, and imagine Jesus walking up to you, knowing exactly what you are going through, looking you in the eyes, and asking, “Do you believe that I can do this?” Do you believe?

 

Movement One: The Text Explained…

Let’s look closely at the text. In Matthew 9:27-28, we read: “As Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!’ And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’”

First, before they enter the house, notice how these men address Jesus: “Son of David.” This is a deeply theological title. It wasn’t just a polite greeting; it was a declaration that they recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah although they couldn’t see him.[3] They recognized him as the promised Messiah who would bring restoration. A few weeks ago, we encountered a similar situation when we examined the question asked by Jesus to Bartimaeus, a blind man living outside of Jericho. The question Jesus asked was “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:46-52). However, prior to asking that question, Bartimaeus, who can’t see Jesus, cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Isaiah had prophesied that when the Messiah arrived, “the eyes of the blind shall be opened” (Isaiah 35:5). These men were physically blind, but spiritually, they saw Jesus clearer than the religious elite of their day, and they knew who he was and what he was capable of doing.

Speaking of doing, notice what Jesus does. He doesn’t heal the blind men on the road as he does with Bartimaeus. The text says they had to follow him into the house. It has been suggested that at this point in Jesus’ ministry, he has returned to Capernaum and the house that he enters and in which the blind men follow him into is the house of Simon Peter. At this point, I have to wonder, why did Jesus wait? Why did he make two blind men stumble along behind him into an unfamiliar territory, crying out through a crowd that neglected them, ignored them, and probably threatened them, before acknowledging them?

I believe Jesus was testing their persistence and refining their focus, their faith and their belief. He wanted to move them away from the public spectacle and bring them into a place of intimate, personal encounter. And once he gets them behind closed doors, he doesn’t ask them about their theology. He doesn’t ask them how long they’ve been blind. He doesn’t ask them if they attended synagogue. He doesn’t ask them if they are on a committee. He doesn’t ask them if they have lived a perfect life. He doesn’t ask them if they want to be healed. He doesn’t even ask them their names. And if you notice, he doesn’t even ask them what it is they need him to do for them. All Jesus knows is that they know him to be the Son of David and that they seek mercy.[4] And Jesus knows them. So, he asks one penetrating question: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

In the original Greek, the word for “able” is dynamai—the root word from which we get “dynamite” and “dynamic.” It is often translated as having the innate capacity, strength, or ability to accomplish an action. Furthermore, dynamai is associated in Greek with dunamis—meaning power—and dynatos—meaning strong or mighty. Jesus is asking, “Do you believe I possess the raw, explosive power to rewrite your reality? Do you believe that I can do something dynamic to change your life? Do you believe I have the capacity to perform a miracle and heal you? Do you believe that I can accomplish what it is you need me to do? Do you believe that I have the capacity to make you see?” This is a loaded question. If the blind men didn’t believe in the power and ability of Jesus to heal them, then why would they call him out and follow him into a stranger’s house?

Besides the word “able” in this question, there is another simple but fascinating word that appears at the end. Jesus doesn’t ask, “Do you believe I can do miracles in general?” He asks, “Do you believe I am able to do this?”—referring directly to their specific, impossible situation of lifetime blindness. We will return to the this later on, but for now notice how it leaves room for interpretation but also personal connection.

Upon being asked this question, the blind men respond immediately with an uncomplicated and absolute: “Yes, Lord.” They didn’t say, “Yes, if the circumstances are right,” or “Yes, if we feel worthy,” or “Yes, if you want to” or “Yes, if you have time.” They simply respond, “Yes, Lord.” I understand what I am about to say isn’t the main point of this message, but I have to wonder, how many times in your life have you responded to a question or command from Jesus without hesitation? How many times have you said, “Yes, Lord” even though you didn’t fully understand what it was that Jesus was needing or asking of you?[5] Do you believe that you have the faith to say “Yes, Lord,” right here, right now, in this place?

Because of their immediate response and belief in Jesus, he touched their eyes and, according to their faith, their eyes were opened (Matthew 9:29-30). They were told not to say anything, but ended up spreading the news of what happened to the entire district (Matthew 9:30-31). This all happened because of one question: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

 

Movement Second: What Jesus Can and Will Do…

When we ask the question of what Jesus is able to do, the Scriptures do not leave us guessing. The Bible is a library of testimonies regarding the ability of Christ. If you are wondering today what Jesus can do with your broken pieces, your impossible situation, your weary heart, or even your own blindness, listen to the resume of his power: Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” No one is too far gone, too broken, or too stained by sin for his grace to reach. Jesus is able to save you. Do you believe he can? The author of Hebrews tells us again, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). He has the power to hold you steady when the wind of temptation blows strongest. He is able to help you overcome temptation. Do you believe he can? Second Timothy 1:12 declares, “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” Your soul is secure in his hands. Jesus is able to guard your life. Do you believe he can? The Apostle Paul wrote to the people of Ephesus in Ephesians 3:20, “[Jesus] is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Jesus is able to make the impossible possible. Do you believe he can?

Daniel reminds us that Jesus is able to rescue us: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it…” (Daniel 3:17). Jesus is able to rescue you. Do you believe he can? Jude 1:24 informs us, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy…” Jesus is able to keep you from stumbling, keep you from falling. Do you believe he can? Jesus will give us strength and peace: “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace” is what Psalm 29:11 shares. Do you believe that Jesus is able to give you strength and peace? We are told in Philippians 1:6 that Jesus will complete the work he started within you: “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Do you believe Jesus is able to complete the work? Lastly, Paul, again in Philippians, tells us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Do you believe that Jesus is able to provide for you?

The question has never been, and will never be, “Is Jesus able?”[6] Jesus is able to do more than we can fathom: he is everywhere, he is all powerful, he is all knowing, and he is all good. Jesus is able, but do we believe that he is able? When life isn’t fair, do you believe he can fix it? When things don’t go your way, do you believe he can still bless you? When darkness hovers, do you believe he is able to overcome it? When people don’t listen, do you believe he is listening? When trials, tribulations, and temptations come your way, do you believe he can give you the faith and strength to persevere? Do you believe Jesus is able?

As you think about that question, I want to share with you two stories. The first story is about a missionary named John Paton and the second is about a six-year-old girl named Lily.

There was a famous missionary named John Paton, who translated the New Testament for a tribe of people on a remote island in the South Pacific. As he was translating, he hit a massive roadblock: the native language had no word for “trust” or “believe.” For them, faith was an abstract concept they couldn’t articulate. For weeks, he searched for a word or a phrase that would capture what it means to believe in Jesus. One day, a native assistant came into his study after running a long, exhausting errand in the blistering heat. The man floored himself into a large, sturdy chair, propped his feet up on another stool, and exclaimed in his native tongue, “Oh, it feels so good to cast my whole weight upon this bench!” Paton’s eyes lit up. He immediately wrote down that phrase. When he translated the Gospel of John, and whenever Jesus said, “Believe in me,” Paton translated it as, “Cast your whole weight upon Me.”

That is what the two blind men did in that house. They didn’t just hope Jesus could help; they didn’t just have faith that Jesus could help; they cast the entire weight of their helpless, sightless lives upon his capability because they believed he could do this for them. Sometimes in order for us to fully believe in what Jesus is able to do, we have to put our full weight upon him: we have to give him our troubles, our problems, our worries, our stresses, our frustrations, our disappointments, and our doubts. We have to be willing to surrender all to him. Jesus can carry the weight… and he wants to. How wonderful is it to believe in someone who can carry the weight of our life?!

Here’s the second story. A young father named David found his world shattered when his six-year-old daughter, Lily, was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of pediatric cancer. The doctors were realistic, noting that the statistics were heavily against them. David, a devout believer, found himself paralyzed by fear. He spent nights pacing the hospital corridors, weeping, praying, and desperately looking for hope. One evening, as Lily was preparing for a particularly grueling round of treatment, she noticed her father’s tear-stained face. She reached out her small, frail hand, pulled him close, and asked, “Daddy, is Jesus stronger than my sickness?” David choked back his tears, looked into his daughter’s eyes, and said, “Yes, sweetheart, He is.” Lily smiled softly, closed her eyes, and said, “Then I’m not scared. If He’s stronger, He’s got me.” In that moment, David realized that while he had been focusing entirely on the size of the mountain, his six-year-old daughter was focused entirely on the size of her Savior. She didn’t understand oncology, percentages, or medical terminology. She just understood the character of Jesus.

Lily’s treatment was long and incredibly difficult, but through every single milestone, her simple, unshakeable trust anchored her family. Today, Lily is a healthy teenager, completely cancer-free. But more than the physical healing, the miracle was the transformation of David’s faith. He learned that believing in what Jesus can do doesn’t mean we know how the road will twist and turn; it means we know Who is walking the road with us. Believing in Jesus is not just about witnessing miracles, it’s about trusting that miracles can happen. The two blind men, much like Lily, believed in miracles and trusted that Jesus would be able to make a miracle happen in their life. And it did! They saw again, much like Lily was given the chance to see a life without cancer, and much like John was able to demonstrate belief to a group of natives.

Church, we have to believe. We need to believe that Jesus is able to heal us, to strengthen us, to open doors for us, to provide for us, to be there for us, to carry our burdens, to rescue us, to change us, to save us, and to continually remind us of all things he is able to do for us. Amen. Jesus is able to do everything and more for us, but do you believe he can? Do you believe he is able? Even when we don’t believe, Jesus still believes.[7]

 

Movement Three: Facing Your “This”

This leads to the final point of this message: the “this” at the end of Jesus’ question. Again, Jesus asked the two blind men, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” What is the “this” in your life today? For the blind men, it is gaining sight. For the deaf, it is being able to hear. For the mute, it is being able to speak. For the paralytic, it is being able to walk. For the bleeding woman of twelve years, it is being healed. For David, it was defeating Goliath and grieving the loss of his son. For Esther, it was saving her people. For Moses, it was giving the enslaved Israelites freedom. For the disciples, it was being able to seek and save the lost. For the lost, it is being found. For those in the dark, it is seeing the light. For those who are hopeless, it is receiving hope. For the hurting, it is feeling a sense of relief. For the brokenhearted, it is knowing that Jesus is with them. For the grieving, it is the joy that comes in the morning. Everyone has a “this”; so what is yours? What do you believe Jesus is able to do for you?

Is your this an unexpected job situation? Is your this a financial debt that seems impossible to clear? Is your this a diagnosis, an addiction, or a deep spiritual depression? Is your this a struggle, a worry, that won’t go away? Is your this a situation that seems impossible to escape? Is your this an unanswered prayer? Is your this a pain or a hurt? Is your this grief, sorrow, or even suffering? Is your this a battle, a storm, or a conflict? Is your this a prognosis, a medical diagnosis that has filled your nights with anxiety and fear? Is your this a lack of faith, a lack of hope, a lack of belief? Is your this a person in your life that needs help? I can go on, but I think you get the point.

Jesus is standing in the room of your heart right now, looking directly at your impossible situation, and he is asking you the exact same question he asked the blind men: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Essentially, “Do you believe that I able to handle your ‘this’, whatever is going on in your life?” Church, every single one of us came into this room today carrying a “this.” Jesus doesn’t ask if you are able. He doesn’t ask if the circumstances look favorable. He simply asks if you believe in his power, if you believe he is able to help you.

Imagine standing at the edge of a massive, roaring river. You need to cross it, but the current is violent. A seasoned rescue guide pulls up in a sturdy, high-powered jet boat. He looks at you and says, “I can get you to the other side safely.” At that moment, you have a choice. You can intellectually believe the boat is well-built. You can look at the guide’s credentials and agree he is qualified. But you don’t actually exercise saving faith until you step off the shore, put your weight into the boat, and trust him with your life. Too many of us treat Jesus like that guide on the riverbank. We know his credentials. We read about his power, what he is able and willing to do. We sing about his miracles. But when we face our own roaring rivers—sickness, broken relationships, financial ruin, or deep-seated anxiety—we stay on the shore. Jesus wants you to get off the shore. He wants you to believe that whatever is keeping you on the shore, your this, is something he is able to handle. However, do you believe that Jesus is able to handle your “this”?

As I close this message, I offer you three things to consider when it comes to your “this.” First: stop looking at the shore: Stop analyzing how deep the water is, how bad the economy is, or how grim the diagnosis looks. Instead, believe that Jesus is able to get you to the other side. Second: bring your blind spots to Jesus: Step into the “house” with Him. Find a quiet place of prayer, get alone with the Lord, and lay your specific, messy, painful reality at his feet. Let him help you with your “this.” Let help you with your unbelief. And third: give your “Yes, Lord.” Faith is not the absence of doubt; it is the presence of commitment despite your doubt. Speak your “Yes” to him today, even if your voice shakes. Believe that he is able.

 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the blind men came to Jesus with complete physical darkness, but they possessed perfect spiritual sight. They saw his power when everyone else just saw a man. When they confessed their faith, Jesus touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith—your belief—let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29). Immediately, their eyes were opened. Jesus is still in the business of opening eyes. He is still in the business of healing hearts. He is still inherently, explosively able to do everything, even the impossible. Place your situation, your “this,” into the hands of the One who holds the universe. Trust his heart, lean on his power, and watch what He will do. “Do you believe that Jesus is able to do this?”

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, we thank you for being willing to help us, to hear us, and to see us. O Lord, no matter what our “this” may be, we know that you are able to handle it. O Lord, when you ask, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” grant us the faith to answer like the blind men and say, “Yes, Lord.”  In your healing name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

May you go out into this week knowing that Jesus, who walks with you, is able to do everything and more, above all that you could ever ask or think because he is able. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go answering the questions of Jesus. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] Joe Kaminski, “The Most Widely Believed Myths by Americans,” MRO Electric and Supply Company, INC, published January 3, 2024, accessed November 2, 2026: https://www.mroelectric.com/blog/myth-survey/

[2]Gregory A. Smith, et. al., “11. Religious and Spiritual Beliefs,” Pew Research Center, published February 26, 2025, accessed November 2, 2026: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-and-spiritual-beliefs/

[3] They didn’t just see Jesus as a traveling teacher or a localized healer;

[4] This lack of information reminds us that Jesus knows us. Specifically, God knows us. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 139:13, “He made you…” A few verses before that in Psalm 139:2, we hear these words, “He knows when you sit and when you rise, and discerns your thoughts.” We are told that “He counts your tears and keeps track of your sorrows” (Psalm 56:8). A few chapters before the end of the Book of Psalm, the Psalmist tells us, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). Lastly, Matthew reminds us in his Gospel, “He knows the number of hairs on your head” (Matthew 10:30). Truth be told, Jesus knows us because through God, he searches our heart.^[4] He knows the blind men. He knows what why they have sought him out.

[5] How many times have you taken a leap of faith and truly put your trust in Jesus? How many times have you set aside your own agenda to fulfill the agenda of Christ?

[6] The universe itself stands as a testament to his ability, just refer to scripture and look at how he has showed up in your life. The question is always the one he asked the blind men: “Do you believe that I am able to do this for you?”

[7] If it makes you feel any better, Moses didn’t believe at first, but he did when he lead the people to The Promised Land. Jonah didn’t believe he was able to change the wicked people of Nineveh, but God believed he could. Jeremiah didn’t believe he could be a prophet to the nations because of his young age, but God believed he was the perfect man for the job. Gideon didn’t believe he was able to be an effective judge, but God believed in him. And Isaiah didn’t believe he was spiritually worthy, but God believed in the spirit within Isaiah. Even when we don’t believe, God does believe because He believes in who He loves; and He loves each of you.