How to See the Light
“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.” (Mark 8:23-25)
When we open our Bibles, we must remember that the Bible is intentional. Mark was not scribbling away thoughts here or there like some teenager in her diary; no, Mark wrote with purpose. Pen and paper were pricey possessions, so every jot and tittle carried a cost. Moreover, the Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible altogether authored and organized every syllable for the sole purpose of showing Christ and His salvation. The passage before us is a prime example. How so? Well, let’s ask a few questions.
One, when has Jesus ever needed to “take another crack” at something? Jesus always gets things done the first time around, so we must pause and ask an important question. What was the purpose for this two-step miracle? What is Jesus teaching us? Second, what surrounds this passage? The old rule of thumb is to read ten verses beforehand and ten verses ahead. Well, before our passage, we find a lack of understanding, blindness even, in the disciples (8:21). After this passage, we find Peter confessing Jesus as the Christ with one breath while hindering His work with the other (8:27-33). One may say that the disciples saw Jesus, but He “looked like trees, walking.”
What does this teach us? First, does this not picture us all? Many of us have heard conversion described as a darkness-to-light experience; however, this is not always the case. For some, the light shines like the flicking of a switch; for others, it comes as the rising of the sun. We find Peter coming to see Christ by degree, Paul coming to Christ in an instant, and Timothy learning of Christ as a child, never knowing a day when he did not know of Christ. These matters come under the umbrella of Christ’s sovereign grace. He who calls us from darkness to light calls us when and how He wishes (1 Peter 2:9). But secondly, how little of Christ have we seen? How little of His glory have we comprehended? The morning star has indeed risen in our hearts, but we long to bask under the afternoon sun. And third, does it not push us all towards gentleness? Yes, some may know little of Christ because they have exerted little effort, but others may know less because Christ has not revealed Himself to them in that particular way. Be patience with your fellow Christian. Instead of belittling them for what they do not know, lead them by the hand into the light that you’ve been privileged to enjoy.
