On our trip to China, we visited the mainland; Beijing and Dalian to be exact. We encountered many wonderful things there, but, honestly, it is pretty hard to get around. Even if you can see! So, that’s why I was so pleasantly surprised when we left mainland China and visited Hong Kong. It was so easy to navigate. Especially when you can’t see!
Well, as I write this I am eating some dark chocolate and sipping some cinnamon tea because that is what I do when I need to regroup emotionally. Why, you might ask, am I needing to regroup emotionally? Let me set the stage…
I am alone in my kitchen. I am listening to an instrumental collection of songs entitled “Peace”. I am humming along to Chris Rice playing “Like a River Glorious.” I am totally, thoroughly, completely soaking in the moment; quiet house, peaceful thoughts and the fragrance of cinnamon tea brewing. While the tea is brewing and my thoughts are hovering somewhere above planet earth, I walk out of my kitchen to get my favorite tea cup from the dining room. I walk directly into my kitchen wall.
Bang. Ouch!
I think for centuries, the “blind man from Bethsaida” has been misrepresented. He is not actually the “blind man from Bethsaida,” he is actually the “formerly blind man, now sighted man from Bethsaida!” I love that. It should remind me; remind all of us, that our past does not define us. It impacts who we are, but it does not define us. Jesus’ touch on our lives is what defines us.
The blind man could have sung the line from Amazing Grace with conviction and celebration: “T’was blind but now I see!”
His healing wasn’t instant but it was complete. But, between the first touch of Jesus and the final touch, there was the awkward in-between place; not totally blind, but not totally healed.
Recap of Mark 8:22-23: Jesus was filled with compassion when He encountered the blind man. He led the blind man outside the village. Once outside the village, Jesus put His hands on the blind mans eyes.
“Do you see anything?” Jesus asked after the blind man’s eyes opened. Jesus asked a question for which He knew the answer. So why did He ask?
My eyes well up when I see this picture in my mind’s eye. Jesus took the blind man by the hand.
Jesus could have instructed His disciples to lead the man. Jesus could have nodded at the person who brought the blind man as a signal to continue to lead him out of the crowd. But, Jesus Himself took the blind man by the hand.
