Mark 8:22-26

Mark 8:22-26 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 go into the village.”

Today we see Jesus performing a wonderful miracle, and we can read about that miracle of a blind man receiving sight and rejoice that even the blind were healed when Jesus touched them, but how does this story relate to our lives in the here and now? As I read it, I had two thoughts. First, I thought that many people are blind today. We walk around thinking that we can see, but we are sometimes blind to the spiritual realities that matter most. We are blind to our own needs and the needs of others. Many of us are naked and blind, and we need a fresh touch from Jesus. We have sins and dysfunctions in our lives that we tolerate and hide, but we do not bring them to Jesus for his healing touch. In this story some people brought a blind man to Jesus. We all have friends who need a touch from Jesus, yet we let them continue on their way without offering to bring them to him, without seeing his healing power release them from sin and sickness. Perhaps we fear exposure, the illuminating and refining fire of God. Perhaps we fear the rejection of our family or friends if we were to offer Jesus as an answer to the obvious needs in their lives. Is it better to stumble hopelessly in the darkness than to turn to the Light?

Another thought that came to me as I read the account of this man's healing was that Jesus had to put his hands upon him a second time. Some of us need a second touch from the Lord. We came to the Lord at some time in our lives and He gave us sight; He set us free from the sins that bound us. We were blind but then we could see; we were lame but now we could walk and leap and shout his praises. But as time has passed, the pressures of life have caused us to drift from that close walk by his side. We used to take everything to him, to read his Word, to meditate upon his goodness, to give him our first fruits, our very best. Now He often receives the leftovers if anything at all: a quickly muttered prayer, a plea for help in a time of stress, a complaint in a time of frustration. Our vision is cloudy, distorted--we see men as trees walking. We need a Savior and his healing touch. We need to fall before him in repentance and faith, remembering the past, remembering what true sight was like, when we saw clearly, when we saw his face and heard his call: "Come to me my child. Take up your cross and follow me." That calling requires a daily commitment, a daily dying to self and to the world, the flesh and the devil. But in that dying, there is more than new sight; there is light and life, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. There is peace and hope and faith to share with those we love who need a faith that will take them through this life victoriously. Arise a shine today my Christian sisters and brothers. Let him give us new eyes of faith. He is in the room. Love, Mom (Jacqueline) (Sitting in for Dad who is baby-sitting)