Seeing with Unclouded Eyes

Jesus has the ability to open eyes. When His disciples were concerned about only having one loaf of bread, they began to discuss how they had no bread. Just before this event in Mark chapter 8, Jesus had just fed 4,000 men plus women and children with seven loaves. Earlier He did the same feeding about 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves. The disciples could even tell Him how much was left over each time. Yet they had no concept that with Jesus their one loaf could be more than enough. While they were discussing bread, Jesus was talking about something much more serious to which they were totally tuned out. Seeing this He rebuked them for their hardness of heart leading to them not having eyes to see.

Immediately upon reaching shore, a man born blind was brought to Him. In response Jesus was moved to heal him, but only part-way. The man was enabled to see only part way with men appearing as trees. There was no clarity as if he were seeing in a fog or with cataracts. It was after the man saw this way that Jesus then took the additional step to restore him to full sight. This was most likely not done for the man’s benefit, but His disciples’ who were not putting the pieces together. They had been seeing Jesus as in a fog with hearts that were closed to who He really was. Later, after His resurrection, Jesus would speak to His disciples again in Luke 24:41 opening their minds to clearly see and understand.

As it was then, so it is now. God always sees clearly, and we can trust Him to give us the sight we need. This is true whether it is in coming to salvation or even to trust Him when we are walking through tough times where our sight is dim.

(Written on 10/16/18 for Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters)