What Do You See?
(S) Scripture
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."
Mark 8:22-26 (NIV)
(O) Observation
After Jesus' first touch the man could see but not clearly. Jesus then touched the man's eyes again and he could see everything clearly. My guess is that the man was thrilled to see "people as trees walking" even though it was not clear. At least he could see something. But Jesus wanted him to see clearly.
(A) Application
It seems to me that when it comes to seeing the needs of people around us many Christians are content to have blurry vision. If we saw things clearly we would be compelled to do something about it. Why are we content to live with blurry vision? I think that most often it is because we think we are better than others or that they are in their condition because they deserve it. We fail to see clearly as Jesus wants us to because that would mean we would have to act. Yesterday when we announced to the Upward Basketball and Cheerleading crowds that all the money spent at the concession stand would go to "Helping Hands," a local food bank, we took on nearly double as compared to other weeks. Over $1000 was given. People were made aware of an opportunity to help and they responded. That is seeing clearly. This week people prepared meals for a family in need, that's seeing clearly. There are so many things we can do if we will only let Jesus open our eyes. Today I want to see clearly with eyes that Jesus has opened.
(P) Prayer
Father, it is so easy to be content with blurry vision. Let Jesus touch my eyes again today and let me see clearly so that I can do what you want me to do. Amen
1 comment:
Another critical point often overlooked in this story is the fact that it took Jesus two touches for the man to see. It's an indiction of God's work of grace in our lives. It's a process that takes place over time, not necessarily instantaneous. When we encounter grace, we "see". However, we still need continual touches in order to fully "see." Perhaps the rason that Jesus instructed the man to not return to his village is Jesus realized that the man was still not fully "seeing" and thus had more grace that needed to be operating in his life. Applied to your point, this could mean that we don't really see the needs, crisis, hurts, pains and more in others lives because God is still in the process of helping us see. Some of us have been touched by God's grace, but it's through the persistent and continued encounters with his grace that we will learn to fully see the needs of others. In other words, the more we expose ourselves to his touch, the more we will respond to his grace by "seeing" others. What U think? The Bud.
PS Praying for you as you do the funeral Robin. You'll do well.
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