“When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch them and and heal him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, He laid hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”” (Mark 8:22-23 NLT)
The blind man was entirely dependent on others. We see that he was brought to Jesus by some sort of care team, and then transferred into the capable hands of the Savior. This blind man lived in ongoing trust. To receive the healing he needed, he had to follow Jesus. And Jesus led him somewhere he’d never been.
I wonder what that was like? Was Jesus a good guide? We assumptively say ‘yes’ because Jesus is good and everything He does is good. We must remember, though, that the blind man did not know His ways and even good can be different. Any kind of different is challenging for a sighted soul, but perhaps terrifying for a blind person. Changing guides and going somewhere new where two independent acts of faith on the blind man’s part.
To his credit, the blind man was cooperative. He took Jesus’ hand and followed Him out from the close-knit collection of first century homes that symbolized all that was safe and familiar. They walked out of the village and away from the stone walls that had long guarded this blind soul as long as he had been blind, maybe his whole life. He was surely accosted with strange sounds and sensations; a breeze over an open field, travelers crunching along the path, maybe a hawk screeching overhead. It must have been sensory overload after leaving such a contained and controlled environment. The blind man had to be on high alert when he heard the Rabbi spit and suddenly his eyes were were wet with another man’s saliva. It may have felt like an insult, initially, but we realize that Jesus was and is the Word and He spoke the world into being and crafted man from mud. Of course He can heal by any means. The Creator had just anointed His creation again.
“Can you see anything now?” (Mark 8:23 NLT)
The question surely hung in the air like static electricity as the man opened his eyes and searched a field of vision that had not existed a moment ago.
“The man looked around…” (Mark 8:24 NLT)
Have you ever had time slow down? Sometimes when your story pivots hard, it’s like your whole frame knows it and time changes rhythm. It feels as though your brain is paying special attention.
**Actually, this is exactly what is happening. It’s called tachypsychia and it’s the brain deciding that the current experience is really important so it rushes to start a second memory file on the event unfolding, essentially recording another angle and the result of this double recording is this feeling of time distortion. It feels like being in a slow motion segment of a movie.**
I imagine that this man looked around, torn between the wonder of some sight restoration and the urgency of responding to his Healer’s question. I wonder if he contemplated declaring the healing ‘good enough’ and not bothering the Teacher a second time. However long or short this moment was, he gathered himself and answered truthfully. This is good, because Jesus surely already knew incompleteness of the miracle, He was giving the man opportunity for a second touch.
“Yes, he said, “I see people but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”” (Mark 8:24 NLT)
I can appreciate this statement because I’ve been terribly near-sighted as long as I can remember. You may have noticed how thick my lenses are; I cannot function without my glasses. When they are off, trees are reduced to brown and green wavering blobs. I suppose this is what the less-blind man was experiencing – men moving without definition or shape.
Jesus wasn’t satisfied.
Let that sink in.
Jesus wasn’t content with a partial healing in this man’s story, or ours. He’s absolutely set on complete restoration. I’m so encouraged and grateful for this fact!
“Then Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.” (Mark 8:26 NLT)
The less-blind man had to stick around for a second touch. This text is preached as the only progressive miracle in the Bible but I feel like it is so symbolic of the bulk of our walk with Jesus.
We can’t see.
He leads us where we haven’t been.
The first phase of healing is a bit disorienting.
We’ve got to stay with Jesus to learn to see clearly.
Hang on, my friends. Full restoration is coming. It’s going to require proximity, patience and cooperation. But I promise, the miracle will be worth the temporary discomfort.
Lord, help us. We all come to You blind and You lead us places we’ve never been. If we’re being honest, it’s a bit scary and we don’t yet feel all the way healed. We are choosing now, to stay with You and be honest about the gap between where we are and where we want to be. Please keep healing us. We are so excited about eternity with You. Amen.