“They came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’ And he looked up and said, ‘I see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, ‘Do not even enter the village.'” Mark 8:22-26
When the blind man was brought to Jesus, the Healer had a captive audience. He could make a name for Himself and perhaps persuade some curious onlookers into following Him. But instead, He led the disabled man by hand out of the village before addressing him and restoring his sight. With the gentleness of connection and the authority of a leader, He took him away from onlooking crowds, the chatter and comments, any who would use this incident for notoriety or gossip. Jesus led him to a place where he could see clearly, and see Him.
Jesus sees our brokenness and deals with us one on one. He knows the self-pity, criticism, and doubt that press and buzz around us, as well as our spiritual and emotional infirmities. He gets the deception of sin, and the darkness of the world’s influence, every urge and tittilation of temptation. He often needs to remove us from distractions and what we’ve always known to give us new spiritual sight and understanding. With Jesus, away from routine and unaffected by the ‘village’ around us, we learn to see anew. Truly, in His light we see light, and all else, with holy clarity. (Psalm 36:9; Matthew 4:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 4:15)
What ‘village’ of ingrained bad habits of temper or favoritism, long-held resentments, unhealthy practices do we need be extricated from to see all God has for us? To what opportunities, needy people, or potential new ministry has our current way of living blinded us? Do we take regular time to leave the village of my schedule, my plans, how it has always been and I like it to be, to meet with Jesus afresh and be changed by His touch? To yield under the pressure of his hands and be redirected to uncomplicated holy living?
And is there anyone who is blinded by the allures of this world, or false teaching, whose hand I can take and lead them to Jesus? Can I see clearly enough to see and care about them?
“Spirit of the living God
We’re leaning in to all You are
Everything else can wait
Spirit of the living God
Come now and breathe upon our hearts
Come now and have Your way.
‘Cause when You speak, when You move
When You do what only You can do
It changes us
It changes what we see and what we seek.” ~Vertical Worship (2015)
Lord, give me the will to leave my comfortable village to be with and changed by You. By the power of Your word and touch, open my eyes to clearly see wondrous things in You, Your word, and Your world, and give you praise. (Psalm 119:18)
As the rain and snow 