Mark 8:22-26
"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."
(Mark 8:24-25)
Digital autofocus cameras have made it easier to take flawless photos. The camera locks onto the subject and the result is a picture that is perfectly focused.
Today we read about another kind of focus. In the Bible, physical blindness often signified spiritual blindness. Unlike some other people healed by Christ, this blind man received his sight in stages - a picture of our own spiritual lives.
Young or old, when we come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, most of us don't fully understand all that this new life entails. God justifies us at the moment of new birth by declaring us righteous. But for the rest of our earthly lives, the Holy Spirit works to sanctify us - to make us more like Christ in our thoughts, words, and deeds. As we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18), we understand more of His Word; our trust in Him increases.
Like this blind man, the Lord's touch in our lives brings increasing clarity to our spiritual sight until we, too, can "see clearly."
INSIGHT
IS THERE AN AREA IN YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE THAT IS UNCLEAR? SURRENDER TO CHRIST'S TOUCH AND ALLOW HIM TO BRING SPIRITUAL CLARITY IN THAT AREA.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Jeremiah 23-24
Psalm 115
1 Corinthians 5-6
Mark 8:22-26
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 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[a] the village.”
Footnotes:
a. Mark 8:26 Some manuscripts go and tell anyone in
Cross references:
A. Mark 8:22 : S Mt 11:21
B. Mark 8:22 : Mk 10:46; Jn 9:1
C. Mark 8:23 : Mk 7:33
D. Mark 8:23 : S Mk 5:23
FIGHTING THE ENEMY
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. Instead, the Bible tells us it is a spiritual battle. How do we fight our battle effectively?
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