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 (Mark 8:25).
When it comes to spiritual truth, sometimes our spiritual vision can be a bit blurred. Our "own understanding" often gets in the way and keeps us from seeing clearly all that God has for us.
Such was the case for the disciples during Christ's earthly ministry.Their eyes weren't fully open to the plan of God. They were like the blind man from Bethsaida after Jesus touched his eyes the first time. Here is the story.
People in the town brought to Jesus a blind man and begged him to heal him. What happened next is quite peculiar and even strange. Jesus led the man out of the village, spit on his eyes and laid hands on him. Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see anything?" When the man looked up he said "I see people but they look like trees walking".
The man could see. And that was better than before. But he couldn't see clearly. His vision was blurred. Much like the disciples' spiritual vision.
Right before Jesus performed this miracle, he miraculously fed first 5000 and then 4000 men with just a few loaves and fish. The disciples were there. They saw what Jesus did, yet as they got in the boat they worried because they only had one loaf of bread with them.
Jesus asked them, "Do you still not see or understand?" (Mark 8:17). No they didn't. And this became even more evident when Jesus told them about his death, burial and resurrection. You will recall that Jesus asked his disciples about his identity. Peter stood and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
But when Jesus then told them that he would suffer, be killed and then rise again, Peter rebuked him. Here is what Jesus said in response; "Get away from me, Satan!" he said. "You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's" (Mark 8:33 NLT).
When we try to bring our human point of view to the Gospel, our vision blurs. We can't figure it out through our own understanding. It can only be revealed to us by God himself. Like for the blind man, it takes the touch of Christ to open our heart and mind to clearly see the purpose of the Gospel for us.
What about you? How is your vision? Are you judging the person and work of Jesus from a human point of view? If so, are you willing to let go of your own understanding and trust the Lord to give you the eyes of faith to clearly see the person and work of Jesus Christ on your behalf?
In Him,
Bob Christopher