A Journey To Clear Vision

Sermon: A Journey to Clear Vision

Scripture Lesson Mark 8:22–25 “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."

Introduction: What does it mean to have clear vision? Having clear vision means seeing with clarity. Having a clear sense of purpose can guide you when things don’t go as planned and help you navigate those moments when you feel unsure of your next steps. Have you ever felt like you could see something, but you could not see it clearly? If you have had good eyesight and are in your mid-forties, you may have noticed that things are not as clear as they once were. You probably need glasses.

When I was about 40 years old, my father told me that I would soon need glasses because at about that age, eyesight begins to change, and it becomes harder to read. I somehow thought that I would beat the odds and would not need glasses, but by the time I was 45, I was having a hard time reading. I wanted to pretend that the words on the page were clear, but I could not see them very clearly. My arms did not quite seem long enough to hold the book in a place where I could see the text. I finally gave in and got a pair of glasses. Once again, I could see clearly. (HD TV)

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 8, Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida. We find a man who went from being blind, to seeing but not seeing clearly, and finally to seeing everything clearly. His was a journey to clear vision. It is one of the most remarkable miracles ever performed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and it has great lessons for all of us. In the time of Jesus, if someone was born blind, people assumed this was because God was punishing the parents for something they had done wrong. Jesus says this is not true and then heals the man born blind to show that human struggle is an opportunity for God to be Glorified. Jesus has power over every struggle large or small.

The healing of this blind man is quite unlike any other healing that took place during the earthly ministry of Jesus. It seems that this healing of the blind man took place in stages. At first, he could not see at all. Then he saw men that looked like trees. And finally, he saw clearly. This miracle is unusual. It is a gradual and sensitive healing of the blind man. Mark uses it to highlight the blindness embedded in the minds and hearts of men, which can hinder God's working in us. I reflect on my own slow struggle to believe fully in Jesus, and His ability to grant full deliverance. Many times, I seem to settle and say at least I feel better or its better than it was. I am constantly asking God to help my unbelief in every area of my life. The Lord can complete what He started and bring it to a flourishing finish.

We must ask ourselves what is going on here. This is not the way that Jesus normally healed people. When Jesus healed people, the healings were normally instantaneous. Since this healing took place in stages, unlike any of the other healings of Jesus, we have to ask ourselves why the man was not completely healed the first time. Why was his vision so unclear after the first touch? Why did he need Jesus to touch him a second time? Was the healing of this blind man more difficult than the cleansing of a leper, or the healing of a paralyzed man, or the restoration of a withered hand, or raising Lazarus from the dead? Since all the fullness of God lives in Christ, the healing of this blind man happened in stages was not because Jesus had to try again to get it right! Something else is going on here. Jesus asked the blind man, “Do you see anything?” For a blind man to see meant a miracle had taken place. With this limited, improved vision, the man could manage his life better. He could avoid bumping into things, but what he has received is not God’s best. I have seen many physically sighted men who need their eyes opened. Many have distorted view of men. They too see men as trees walking around. They see men taller, bigger, and most impressive than they really are.