Wednesday, February 16, 2022 Some material from Time and Miracles
...and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, Do you see anything?"And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around. Then again, He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. Mark 8:23b-25
Our story this week involves a man who had lost his sight. No record is given as to how long he had been blind or how his blindness has occurred. It is merely a description of his condition. He had some hope for healing when friends took him to Jesus. Yesterday we talked about how Jesus reached out and took the man by his hand – offering a touch of encouragement. Today we learn how Jesus offered a second and third touch – one of enlightenment, and one of enablement.
A Touch of Enlightenment
It is interesting that Jesus spit on the man's eyes and then placed His hands on them. Jesus did not need the spit to heal, but the man did. The man needed to feel that something was being done to him. James 2:15-16 says If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
This man needed to be touched physically to be healed from physical blindness...but also for emotional and spiritual healing. Our infirmities have the tendency to harden us in order to withstand the judgment and critical eyes of others. Jesus was healing from the inside and out.
This second touch enlightened the man’s senses. The man saw men not as they are but as trees walking around. Literally the man could see, but not clearly. We are too much like this man. We see things but not always clearly. The tragedy would be to settle for the potential and never realize the actual sight. "It's a terrible thing not to be able to see. But it is even more terrible to be able to see but have not vision." (Helen Keller)
When we come to Jesus to be touched, we begin to see ourselves, others and circumstances clearer than ever before but the enlightenment is gradual. Jesus' touch is enlightening but seeing men as trees is never good enough! Jesus touches the man for a third time.
The Third Touch - Enablement
Then again, He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored and began to see everything clearly. Mark 8:25
This blind man was touched three times to enable healing. This third touch from Jesus enabled him to see his world, friends and family clearly! Not only was the man enabled to see, but he was enabled to walk and live life without the constant need of help from others.
Jesus then told the man not to go home through Bethsaida. And He sent him to his home, saying, Do not even enter the village. Mark 8:26 The man probably was not from there but had been brought there by friends. Remember Jesus’ curse on that city? Jesus did not want him having to deal with the unbelief and cynicism toward Him in that city. This man could have been in danger had he returned.
Jesus' touch will free us from the constant dependence on people or things (vices). Enlightened eyes are the beginning of being enabled to overcome addiction, depression, and sin. Today we need those eyes ... the better to see clearly the things that threaten us. The world sees nothing wrong with the evils that surround us, but we do! More than ever we need the touch of enablement to discern properly what is happening on our world.
Another lesson from this passage is that ministry is disabled when we fail to see clearly what God can do. The touch of enablement allows us to see ... clearly ... consistently ... continually. Look for what God is doing! The man came to Jesus with the help of others. We may be guilty of not being the kind of friends the blind man had who positioned him for Jesus to help. As we consider the lives of those around us who are blinded by sin or the lies of Satan, we may find opportunity to lead them out of their Bethsaida to a place where God can reveal Himself to them.
Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded, And the ears of those who hear will listen. The mind of the hasty will discern the truth, And the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak clearly. Isaiah 32:3-4
