So many were blind, and despite our song, we sometimes are, too
By Dean Collins
“…was blind but now I see.”
We have all read the phrase and sung it many times. The idea of blindness as a metaphor is as old as the Garden of Eden, I suppose. Maybe our first and best example is Satan blinded to the purposes and plans of God. He thought he knew how to defeat God’s plans for his creation, but he was clearly blind to the reality of the purposes and plans of the Divine.
In Mark’s Gospel, we would do well to consider the storyline that builds in chapters 8 through 10. Throughout the Gospel, it is clear that many, and maybe all, don’t really see who Jesus is and what he will accomplish. The Pharisees are questioning Jesus and trying to shut down whatever his agenda might be. The disciples are following Jesus but continue not to see or fully understand his mission and message.
Out of food—again
In Mark 8, Jesus and the disciples are in a situation where the crowds have again run out of food. The miracle of feeding the 5,000 is now followed by a slightly smaller crowd of 4,000. Numbers mean nothing and everything to Jesus. There is no number too small, nor any number of people too large, to receive his gifts of love and mercy.
After a brief verbal attack by the Pharisees, the disciples are alone with Jesus, having forgotten to bring the leftovers from the recent miracle. Jesus begins to explain the problem of the Pharisees, but the disciples could not see beyond their empty stomachs or the potential disappointment they anticipated from Jesus because they forgot to bring any food with them. Jesus looks at them and says, “‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?”
A miracle—with questions
I suspect he has said as much to us at different moments in our faith walks. When the disciples arrive in Bethsaida they are met by a group who brought a blind man to Jesus and are begging that Jesus heal the man. The group asked Jesus to touch the man and heal him. We too have asked as much of Jesus for many situations in our lives and in the lives of those we love.
Jesus took the man by the hand and led him out of the village. Why didn’t Jesus heal him in the village? It seems like Jesus could easily have provided his healing touch at the time and place of the request. Don’t we always want Jesus to fix whatever is broken in our lives and situations at the time and places of our requests? Certainly we know what’s best.
This miracle leaves us with so many questions. As Mark narrates the story we learn that Jesus spat on the man’s eyes. Really! The request was for a touch. No one imagined spittle as a part of the process. Jesus continued by placing his hands on him and asking, “Can you see anything now”? And the response was that the man saw people but not very clearly.
Was Jesus running out of miracle power? Earlier Mark reported that Jesus had healed the leper instantly. He fed the thousands easily. But now we see a partial miracle from the hands of Jesus. But Jesus continued by placing his hands on the man’s eyes a second time, and this time he is fully and immediately healed. I suspect that you and I would always prefer full and immediate healing in the broken places of our circumstances.
Clear evidence—without understanding
Just two chapters later, Mark tells us of another blind man. Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was near and cried out loudly asking for mercy. The crowds tried to hush him but he was not deterred and shouted even louder. Jesus heard the man’s cry for mercy and stopped to help. He asked Bartimaeus what he wanted him to do and Bartimaeus was very clear: “I want to see!”Jesus didn’t spit. As far as we know Jesus didn’t touch the man. He simply told Bartimaeus that his faith had healed him. The man was instantly healed and began to follow Jesus down the road.
We would think that eventually the disciples would admit they once were blind but now they see. But no matter how many times Jesus tried to explain the way of the cross, they didn’t see it or understand it until it happened. Even after the resurrection, we know from John’s Gospel that they didn’t really understand all of the implications of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus or how his kingdom was advancing.
We do not yet see clearly, either. Yes, we have been given and have received forgiveness for sins and the promise of eternal life. And yet each day brings both new struggles and new opportunities to experience God more fully and to see the wisdom and power of God at work in our lives and in the world.
Jesus doesn’t need extra time or to recharge his batteries in order to heal and restore all things. But I suspect we do. We will not fully see and understand the fullness of his power and grace until we see him face-to-face. It is completely true to say and to sing, “I once was blind but now I see.” And with every step of faith we take with Jesus we will see more clearly. He is active in every situation, bringing clarity and healing as we pray with him, “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Thank you, Jesus, for providing a way for us to be forgiven. Thank you for the journeys we travel together and with you. We surrender our lives to you today and ask that you open our eyes so that we might see you more fully and follow you more closely until the day we see you face-to-face in glory. Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Mark 8:18, 22-26; 10:46-52 NLT
Photo by Andrew Schwark at Pexels.com.
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