This is strange! Usually Jesus heals completely with just a command or a touch. Here it takes two attempts for Jesus to heal a blind man!
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. When he had…put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"
He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."
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.
The first attempt doesn’t restore the man’s sight perfectly. The second one does. What’s going on here?
Surely, Jesus could have healed him immediately. Why doesn’t He?
He's giving a sign. Setting up the two-step He's about to do with His students. After this healing, Jesus is going to call for a clearer vision and deeper commitment from the Twelve.
Remember, Jesus first called them to leave their jobs to become His students. And they do this simply because they understand He can help them live a better life, come closer to God.
But at first they don't see clearly what the Teacher ultimately planned for them. This more complete vision will only be theirs when He shares with them His intention to die on the cross and be resurrected.
Now in this second step, their Teacher will call upon them to take up their cross and follow Him in a more radical form of self-denial and sacrifice for His cause.
It’s the same today, this two-step. At first we only see Him as a Savior from sin and a hope for heaven. Only later do we see with clarity what our Teacher desires for us. That we become like Him, take up our cross and follow Him.
Very good thoughts - yet I wonder if this man wanted to dance to begin with!
ReplyDeleteOthers brought him - maybe they just wanted to see Jesus perform another miracle. Maybe they were friends and wanted their friend to be able to see. We don't know - but we know others brought him (maybe just implying he couldn't see to get there by himself)
Maybe step one was to give the man a little faith that Jesus could do that and more. In other places he didn't heal for their lack of faith. Maybe step one here was to get him to have the faith needed to restore his sight completely. (maybe not - just a thought I had)
How could this apply to us? Similar to Danny's thoughts. What have we seen God do in our lives so far? Are we satisifed with that, or has that helped our faith? And if our faith has been boosted, what can happen next!!!
With faith like a child...