David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 8:22-26
And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Vision for Kenya Mission Trip – Doctors treated a number of people for various eye problems in the Lutheran Church in Kilgoris, Kenya.

Sometimes the desire for a meaningful application of a miracle of Jesus is so strong that we rush past the miracle itself. In a desire to connect something Jesus did 2000 years ago with our lives today we connect Jesus’ action with a spiritual truth and miss a potentially more important reality.
In this case Jesus’ miracle of healing the blind man can easily be passed over for the possibly more important truth of our need for spiritual insight and Jesus’ ability to grant us such insight. We could talk long and intensely about the need for clarity of spiritual vision. It would be true: we need clarity of vision in life: what plans does God want us to pursue for the sake of his kingdom?
But the reality of Jesus’ miracle ought not to be lost on us. it is important to know that Jesus really did heal this man from his physical blindness. He really did spit(!) on his eyes. He really did ask him if he saw anything. He really did lay his hands on the man’s eyes a second time before his sight was fully restored.
This miracle marks Jesus as the Son of God and our Savior King. Opening the eyes of the blind (among other miracles) shows him to be ruler over all things, and the King of a kingdom of life, light and salvation. Jesus’ ability to perform miracles is a sign of God’s favor and proof of God’s reign in Jesus.
The manner of Jesus’ dealings with this man is also notable: He takes the man aside, away from the crowd. Jesus is not interested in a public spectacle or dramatic show. Jesus is committed to relieving this man’s blindness, not in drawing attention to himself. He will show this man and us that he cares about the person not the PR impact his healing might bring.
When we turn to Jesus – 2000 years later – we turn to one who is committed to our good, our blessing and the Kingdom’s presence among us. We may need spiritual insight. We may need to have our blurry vision of the Kingdom of God cleared. But we certainly do need a Savior who is committed to our good, and to God’s reign in our lives. When we embrace the actual accounts of Jesus’ miracles we will learn to see how good he is and how blessed we are when we look to him.