Mark 8:22–26 (NIV): They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25 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. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
Mark’s gospel has an interesting way of unfolding a story. This passage will be followed by three episodes of Jesus telling his disciples plainly what will happen to him, and they are oblivious to his teaching. Mark then tells a second story of a blind man being healed. A story of physical blindness, three stories of spiritual blindness, and a story of physical blindness.
The first story of healing blindness is noteworthy because Jesus had to touch him a second time. What an illustration of our spiritual blindness! There are times we realize we’re blind and ask for healing and Jesus comes to clear up our vision, but we still can’t see clearly. We are in need of a second touch from Jesus.
The white American church is walking around fairly blind. I feel like there are times I have recognized my blindness and asked for healing… and then still bumped around. I have needed a second touch from Jesus.
I wish I could say there is an “awakening” coming. I don’t have the confidence to be that prophetic. I will say we’re still stumbling around and, like the disciples, there just may be a time the blindness is healed.
I look for that day.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 