Mark 8:22-26 (NLT)
When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”
The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”
Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home.”
Last week, the topic du jour dealt with perceptions. How a change in our perception permits us to see Jesus more clearly. Herein again, we see this principle played out before us. And it goes hand in hand with another principle which Jesus brings to the forefront: stages. How he works in stages.
If you’ve been following this devotion or read your Bible at all, you’re aware of Jesus miraculous healing power. While he walked through our shoes on earth (and still does as we await his return), Jesus healed people. Right then. Immediately. Instantly. Thoroughly. Changed forever. This type of healing is the one you hear the most about. It's no wonder that we expect such results all the time. We come to know Christ or give him our life and expect everything to change instantly. When it doesn’t, we get discouraged. With this miracle, Jesus displays that he doesn’t always work everything immediately, but in stages. Jesus could have healed the man completely the first time he touched him (with spit hands). But he had a greater lesson to teach us.
At the moment of salvation, no one knows the whole truth of GOD. Like the man from the story, we must humbly allow Jesus to open our eyes. In his time. He touches us and, from that point on, we begin to see. However, we see GOD’s truth with “blurry” eyes because it is only the beginning stage of a life-long journey to walk in the truth of GOD. It takes the additional “hands-on” experiences for our spiritual sight to become clear and complete.
This episode is a summarized version of the larger “reborn” analogy and the stages that follow. When we’re reborn in Jesus, we are truly that: born again. Like an infant, we must cry to GOD a lot, get plenty of rest in his presence, wiggle around in our newfound faith in order to strengthen our muscles. Eventually, over time, study, prayer, and fellowship, we will crawl, then wobble, then walk, and finally run. Along the way, we’ll trip. But continue to get back up, growing in confidence and endurance. You understand the point- it is all about the stages! You don’t jump right into becoming a mature Christ follower.
If you weren’t cured of everything the instant you started a relationship with Jesus, take heart in knowing that he works in stages also.
Application: Identify which stage represents you in the devotional reading today: Are you still spiritually blind? Are you seeing, but with blurry vision? Or are you seeing clearly. Thank GOD for whatever stage you’re at and pray and prepare for his hands to be laid on you as you continue the journey.
