Lord, Give Them Sight!
Mark 8:22-26 “They [Jesus & the Disciples] came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 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?" 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. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village. "
Our sons and daughters are living in a time when information is so easily seen, heard, and accessed from almost anywhere. That said, the ease of access does not guarantee accuracy or completeness. We may ‘see’ a lot, but do we discern? Though information is abundant, sadly, wisdom and discernment are not.
The account of the blind man in Mark 8 gives us much to consider and pray about for our sons and daughters. Though his neighbors and fellow citizens brought him to Jesus for healing, it’s uncertain whether they believed in Jesus or just wanted to see a miracle performed. So Jesus intervened and worked in some unusual ways.
Jesus removed the man from the presence of others. He led him away from those who wanted to use him for ‘entertainment’ or to satisfy their own curiosity. An audience was not needed. Jesus protected Him from those who could have taken advantage of or distracted him.
Sometimes those around us don’t truly desire the best for us and Jesus needs to move us away.
Jesus led him by the hand because he could not see. But the man trusted Jesus enough to follow, even though he left everything and everyone behind. He trusted Jesus meant it for good.
We need to be willing to take Jesus’ hand and let Him lead us, even if we can’t see where He’s taking us. Trusting God means leaning into Him and letting Him lead.
Jesus led him away from the crowd, from the noise, to a place where the man could be one on one with Jesus and hear his voice. As a blind man, he likely had very sensitive hearing and being in the midst of the crowd would make it difficult for him to discern Jesus’ voice.
We need to quiet the noise in our life- those things that would drown out the voice of God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We need Sabbath- a time of rest and listening.
Jesus worked in an unusual way. The villagers wanted Jesus to touch the man and heal him. Stories abounded of that and of Jesus speaking and healing. But Jesus worked differently this time. He spat on the man’s eyes and then laid hands on him. Though it wasn’t the way the man expected to be healed, he trusted.
Too often we ‘plan out’ how God will answer our prayer or solve our dilemma. But He works outside of those things that restrict us. He is not bound by time or space. His power is limitless. His wisdom is infinite. He WILL work. We need to trust Him and His plan. His ways are higher than ours.
Healing wasn’t immediate. Jesus was fully able to heal instantly, the first time. But He chose to make it a longer process. Sight was partially restored, then fully made clear.
Oh how we struggle with patience. We want it NOW. Yet, God has a plan that may involve our waiting. It is for our good and His glory. He is GOD. Why wouldn’t we trust Him? Notice, the blind man never argued, asked questions, pushed back on how and where God was working…he trusted, followed, and believed.
Jesus told the blind man to avoid the village and just go home. Perhaps the man needed time to ponder his encounter with Jesus. He needed to adjust to his new ability to see clearly. He needed to process all that happened without being badgered by questions or arguments. Jesus wanted him to be still and know.
We need to not rush to jump back into the fray but ensure we understand what God did…and is doing, before we share. Do we see clearly? Did we obey? How has this changed us? What does God ask of us now?
“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
We don’t know the name of this once-blind-but-now-seeing man. But he represents many of us. We were all blind, and when God healed us from our sin, our spiritual sight didn’t come into focus immediately. It was a gradual process of learning and growing. If we’re honest, we’re still gaining insight into God’s word each time we read and study.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
This week, let’s pray that our sons and daughters:
Move them away from people who would distract them from Him.
Hear the voice of Christ.
Trust Him to lead them, even if they cannot see where they are going.
Trust the process, even if it doesn’t make sense to our human mind and understanding.
Ponder all that God has done and is doing so that their testimony is strong and sure.
“Lord, your Word is so rich with examples and truth of Your love for us andYour compassion for our frailties. You used an unnamed blind man to show us the beauty of trusting You to lead, to protect, and to heal. I can just imagine meeting this man in heaven and hearing, firsthand, what it was like to be led by You, touched and healed, and pointed in the direction of Home. Lord, I pray that You would work in (name)’s life this week. First, remove any influences that would pull them from You. Whether people or information, in person or online, Lord protect them from anything that would distract them. Lord, open their spiritual ears to hear Your voice. Let them listen carefully and to be still and know. I pray that they would trust You to lead them. Help them to lean into You, even if they’re unsure of the next step, You are good to guide and will protect them from tripping and falling. Give them faith to believe and follow without question. Help them to trust You, even when things don’t seem to be happening, when circumstances continue to be hard, when healing is slow to come. Lord, You are leading, even through those times that are difficult, dark, and seem to be lacking hope. There is always hope in You- You are our anchor! Our hope is not in this world, but in the eternal life promised in Your Presence. Help (name) to focus carefully and steadily on those promises. Give them clear spiritual vision to see that You have a plan and will that is for their good and Your glory. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18. Give them the ability to see the unseen, to fix their eyes on what is promised and to rest in Your guiding hand to lead them safely. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen,”
Prodigal prayer
So often what seems obvious to us as believers is veiled to those who don’t know the Lord. The spiritual truth can be right in front of them, but they cannot, or will not see. They are desperately blind to spiritual things, living in darkness and listening to the voices around them rather than the voice of the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray that God removes the veil and enables them to see and understand their need for a Savior.
“Oh dear Father, my heart is heavy for (name). They are so blinded to spiritual truth. They cannot see, no matter how evident the Truth appears nor how strongly it is presented. Only the Holy Spirit can move their heart. I pray that You would soften their heart and make it tender toward You. Open their ears to hear Your voice and open their eyes to see Your truth. I pray that one day, (name) will say the words of the other young blind man who was healed by Jesus, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25b). Oh, Lord, enable them to see and believe! I trust You, even in the waiting. I know You are working. Please help me to continue waiting with hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.