David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 8:22-23
And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to [Jesus] 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?”

Patients come from the clinic following eye surgery in Kilgoris Kenya.

There are several questions in the Bible, asked by God or by angels, which intrigue me. This would not have been on my list until today. When God asks questions, he is not in search of information he doesn’t know. God knows all things. When God asks questions he is, however, very interested in our answers. He’s interested in our answers not just knowledge.
In this case, Jesus is inviting the once-blind man to confess his continuing need for Jesus’ help. Because Jesus is fully man, and has subjected himself to human frailty and limits, it is not clear that Jesus didn’t know how complete the healing was. Whether or not he was able to know intuitively – by the man’s non-verbal language – is not clear. But, I believe there is a message here for us that aligns well with another question Jesus asked on one occasion: “What do you want me to do for you?” It seems that Jesus was inviting the man to look for complete healing; not settling for fuzzy tree-like-looking people, but a clear vision of the world around him.
How many times do we settle for less than the fully expression of God’s work in our lives? Might Jesus invite us to be honest about the process of his work in our lives? Whether it is in the realm of healing, relationships, or any other challenge we face, Jesus has the power and desire to bring us to a full measure of wholeness.
How is it with you today? Is there work that Jesus must continue in your life in order that you experience the fullness of his healing touch? It may be that he desires us to acknowledge that and seek his continuing work in our hearts and lives.

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.”