SCRIPTURE: Mark 8
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. [Mark 8:23-25] Why does Jesus heal this man in stages? I think it is intentional, to make a point that helping people “see” that He is the messiah is a gradual process, one that takes time and patience.

Even after this second miraculous feeding of the crowd, the religious leaders ask for a sign. And the disciples seem to have a difficult time understanding what Jesus is talking about [8:17-18,21]. Peter makes his bold confession about Jesus, but then speaks against Jesus calling to suffer and die. And when the crowds – impressed by the miracles – seem more focussed on the miracles than the mission, Jesus challenges them to deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow Him.

Like the blind man, people are helped in stages: initially people come to Him for the blessings (seeing things partially, vaguely), but eventually they grow to understand that following Him involves self-denial, sacrifice (see things more clearly, seeing things from an eternal perspective). How many people come to Jesus for forgiveness and the promise of eternal life, but hesitate to take that next step of self-denial, suffering for the sake of the gospel, and sacrifice for the benefit of others? How many Christians prefer to keep things fuzzy, unclear?

The only reason I can imagine why Jesus healed this man in stages was because He was making a point for His followers, and for us. We still see things fuzzy, unclear, we need the Lord to open our eyes to see Him, His mission and our purpose more clearly.

Which raises the questions again: What does it mean to be a christian, to be a part of the church, to follow Jesus? What is the gospel (or good news), and what does it mean for me to deny myself, take up the cross and follow Jesus for the sake of the gospel? I feel like my own vision is blurred, fuzzy, unclear. I sense that something is wrong, but I am still not sure exactly what.

PRAYER:
Lord, I sense that we are missing something, that our understanding of being a christian is messed up. Open our eyes to see better, and to follow You.