Do You See Anything?

There is a scripture reading that tells a wonderful story of Jesus physically healing a blind man.  We see Jesus working intently to fully restore the blind man’s sight even to the point of laying hands on his eyes twice until the man sees clearly.

When Jesus and his disciples arrived at Bethsaida, people brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on the man and asked, “Do you see anything?” Looking up the man replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.” Mark 8: 22-26

Do You See Anything?

I was not drawn to meditate on the physical healing that occurred in this story, but was drawn to how it can relate to spiritual healing.  

First, I suspect that the people who brought the blind man to Jesus were most likely his family, loved ones or close friends. They wanted a physical healing for the blind man as it would have been nearly impossible to see the need for a spiritual healing. 

As I read, I thought this is what I do! 

I understand that a spiritual healing of the heart is actually more important than any physical healing. 

I prayerfully bring those I love to Jesus and beg Him to spiritually heal them. I pray for their conversion, and I ask Jesus to touch their hearts so that they come to know Him personally.  After all my biggest desire is their salvation, to get them to heaven.   

However, my tendency is to sit back and watch what happens.  Will I see a change in that person?   Do I see evidence of an encounter with Jesus?

This is where I could easily become judgmental. This is where I judge by appearance of what I see.  I have to let go and let Jesus take over.  After all I have no clue what is going on deep in the heart of someone else.  Only Jesus knows what is going on.  

I believe Jesus wanted the blind man to encounter Him alone, without others watching or judging.  This would be the reason Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town.  Jesus knows how best to heal and doesn’t need our input or interference.   

Often a spiritual healing requires that the person is removed from the environment that has kept them from Jesus in the first place.   So symbolically, this is what Jesus is doing with the blind man, changing his environment. Providing an opportunity for him to personally encounter Jesus one-on-one.  

As I meditated further, I imagined myself as the blind man in the story.  I imagined Jesus taking me by my hand and leading me to a place where we were alone.   Waiting.  Anticipating what will happen next.  As I meditated, I realized that while I don’t need physical healing, I am in constant need to be spiritually healed.   I need healing to overcome my ego, my pride, my selfishness.  I need healing to be able to love Jesus and love others more unconditionally.

And just like how the blind man didn’t completely gain his full eyesight when Jesus first laid his hands on him, I don’t see clearly the way Jesus wants me to see. Jesus didn’t give up on the blind man after the first try, and Jesus doesn’t give up on me.  

Jesus made spittle and rubbed it on the blind man’s eyes.  It was dirty and a mess. Then, Jesus asked the man, “Do you see anything?”  He wanted the man to describe the level of his sight to Jesus.  I honestly believe that Jesus already knew what he could and could not see, but He wanted the man involved, to participate.   I think this was so that the man had to assess his current situation.  Spiritually speaking, Jesus does the same thing with me.  He wants me to assess where I am spiritually, how do I see Him and how do I see others.  And sometimes, assessing myself can be messy, just like the blind man.  However, it’s in my participation and sometimes in the messiness, that I come to realize I need to see more clearly.  

Jesus wants me to see Him and others through His spiritual lens, not mine.  To do this, I need to allow Jesus to lead me by the hand to a quiet place where only He and I are alone.  I need to let go and let Jesus work on healing my spiritual eyes no matter how messy it may become. 

Lastly, at the end of the story, it says, “Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village.”  This is very profound.  Jesus doesn’t want the man to return to the environment where he was blind but to go forward with his new found sight.   Jesus wants the same for me.  He doesn’t want me to return to my previous worldly vision.  He wants me to move forward with my new found spiritual vision so when He asks, “Do you see anything?”, then I am able to say yes I’m seeing more through His eyes.

Today, let us offer our hand to Jesus and allow Him to lead us forward.  Let us ask Jesus to heal us spiritually in the messiness of our lives so we can see through His eyes. Let us not go back to our previous blindness but to go forward with Jesus's eyesight.