vision

\Where do you need clearer vision?

I am about to get my Florida driver’s license. I will definitely take my driving glasses with me for a visual test. I just barely passed the last one up in Maryland struggling to read the last line.

Jesus was all about imparting vision to His disciples. 

One of the most surprising miracles is the story of a man who was progressively healed. The people of Bethsaida brought this blind man to Jesus and begged Him to touch the man and heal him (mark 8.22).

That part of the story isn’t surprising. People were always bringing people to Jesus with the hope they could be healed. What is surprising to me is how Jesus healed him. The healing is progressive; it has two parts.

First of all Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of his village. Then spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid His hands on him and asked, Do you see anything now ?(Mark 8.23). 

You might think that the first touch of Jesus would be sufficient since in His other miracles, it was. But it wasn’t. Now surely Jesus has divine power to access and human compassion for the man.

The man looked around Yes he said I see people but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around. This would be me trying to drive without my glasses. I would say it looks like a sign but I can’t read it. Neither could the disciples.

Jesus had been demonstrating to the disciples His identity and mission. Just before He does part one of the miracle, He had fed 5000 and 4000 men with old bread and sardines. He’s asking don’t you see Who I am, I am the Messiah. Don’t you understand? You have eyes but you don’t see? You have ears but you don’t see?

So the healing of the blind man is a parable indicating his physical  and the disciples spiritual condition. They were not grasping the spiritual reality. They and the blind man needed a second touch.

Then Jesus places His hands on the man’s eyes again and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored and he could see everything clearly (Mark 8.25).

It wasn’t that Jesus failed the first time and gave it a second try. He was intentionally healing this blind man in two parts to teach an even deeper spiritual truth. Our minds must be illumined by the Holy Spirit to grasp Who He is. For the disciples this would happen after the Resurrection.

What would it be like to be completely restored? To see everything clearly? To have perfect vision?

Sometimes our healings are progressive to teach us to continue to trust, pray and wait. I had been in severe pain with my back for several months. The PT and chiropractic care I received did not give me any relief. Though I am thankful for all their efforts, I did not get better; I got worse.

Travelling to Cuba and ministering there was joyful and agonizing. I couldn’t stand, walk, sit or sleep without unbearable pain.

So part one of my healing involved minimally invasive laser surgery. Eight weeks later I have no radiculopathy. It is like I can see but not clearly. I can stand but not without pain. I can walk but not comfortably. I need a second touch.

So I went yesterday for my second steroid shot into my hamstring and hip. Apparently I had a previous condition that the surgery didn’t cure. So I am believing that God is guiding me through this process. 

Just to show me His goodness, I expected yesterday to come to an office appointment and have to wait for clinic to get the steroid. The dr said Let’s do it now. So I wait for the second part of the miracle.