They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 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. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
Mark 8:22-26
I was in an airport the other day and saw a blind man and his dog being guided by a very caring person. They talked as they walked, smiling, and nodding their heads in agreement as they strolled through the Friday afternoon crowd.
What was remarkable about this scene to me was that the person guiding was not a friend or relative, but one of those people that help people in wheelchairs. They had never met before, yet they were carrying on a very friendly conversation.
Do you see anything? Does your sight work like it used to?
We know that the blind man used to see because he knows the difference between how people and trees look.
Jesus touches his eyes a second time. He looks up and starts to see clearly. But it doesn’t end there, he continues to see clearly. The result is that his sight is fully restored. He once was blind, but now sees clearly.
Whatever was wrong, whatever was blocking, whatever was fogging up his sight has been once and for all cleared up
Johnny Nash sings, “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone[1].” But, just like the weather, it will change. Clouds will roll in, darkening the sky. The sun will set and then there will be night. The moon will go from full, through its different stages until it disappears all together.
And that’s how life is here on planet earth. Things are bad, things are dark. There’s pain, hurt, brokenness. And then there’s a change, and sometimes they get better. But then they change again, and things get worse. Sometimes not as bad as before, sometimes worse.
Jesus heals this blind man, but for some reason that we are not told, it was not a total, immediate healing. In every other healing by Jesus, it’s a once and for all, total healing after one touch, after one prayer. But not this time. Jesus touches this man and asks him about his sight. Based on his response, Jesus touches him a second time to complete the healing.
We don’t like this “second touch” requirement. We want the “one and done” healing. We don’t want to have to wait around to answer any questions. We want to be able to get in and out with God. We want to be able to drop off our problems like so much dirty laundry and just pick it up all clean and new.
But it sometimes doesn’t work like that. And there’s a reason for that. Do you want to know why? I don’t have the answer, and I do have the answer. Confusing you say? Well, let me explain.
· I don’t have the answer – I do not know the mind or will of God about your specific illness, problem, disability, or whatever it is you’ve come to Jesus about.
· I do have the answer – I do know the mind and will of God about you and your life. He’ll do whatever will give him the most glory. If God can get more glory for himself through delaying while you wait, or through a partial solution, then he’ll do it that way.
I’m about to say something that I know that you don’t want to hear. So, pull up your big boy or big girl pants. Here we go.
God is less interested in your personal comfort, healing, and prosperity during this life. As a matter of fact, I can think of at least two things that he’s more interested in.
· First – developing and growing maturity and spiritual strength for the rest of this life.
· Second – preparing you for some future service to him, his people, the world.
Yes, as difficult as it is to think about, God is not as interested in your immediate comfort and success than about the future.
Are you willing to make that kind of investment in your future?
[1] https://youtu.be/NkwJ-g0iJ6w?t=10
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