An amazing experience was recorded in Mark 8:22-25 between Jesus and a blind man, 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 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?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 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.
Out of this brief episode comes some wonderful teaching:
Some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. When you think about it, there was no way that this blind man could locate Jesus for help on his own. He couldn’t see! With the depth of the darkness in the world today, how many folks do we touch on a daily basis that are spiritually blind and can’t get to Jesus on their own? They need help from others. In this case, “some people” (ordinary people, no distinguishing accolades for Mark to highlight…just people) took this blind man to Jesus. Then, they begged Jesus to touch him. I don’t know about you, but I hate the word, beg. When I think about begging, it takes me to bothersome people at congested intersections or along busy sidewalks in our cities without any pride, humiliating themselves by asking others for money. You know what?! I am a jerk. Romans 3:11&12 states “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Without God, I am worthless! Once I clearly see how wonderful our Holy God is and recognize without His grace and mercy, I am no better than a beggar. These people begged Jesus to touch this guy.
(Jesus spat) on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” Not exactly the way you would do it today but if you are blind, you need to feel something. I can assure you the loving hands of Jesus tenderly touching his eyes rubbing in the spit was marvelous.
(The beggar) looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around. Things were blurry and scary. I see “trees walking around.” Isn’t this what we see when we first go to Jesus with a problem? Things are blurry, disconcerting, and fearful. Most times, we stop after our initial encounter with Jesus. The problem is just too confusing and huge.
Notice what happens next between Jesus and the beggar. 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. The 2nd touch of Jesus’ hands on the blind man’s eyes resulted in the man seeing everything clearly. Here’s the lesson for us. We go to Jesus onceand see trees walking and give up. If we humbly go back to Jesus persistently AND TAKE ANOTHER LOOK, we discover that our eyes become 20×20 vision.
- Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. The tense of the verb “seek” should be translated “continually seek.” You don’t go to God once and see trees walking but seek Him continually so that you see everything clearly.
- Matthew 7:7&8, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. The accurate translation is “Keep asking…keep seeking…keep knocking” and you will receive, find and the door will be open so that you can see clearly.
Take another look! You will see clearly if you do.
Barnabas Man 