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.
Remember that some of the people of Bethsaida brought this blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village.
Jesus never made a show of his miracles. He never put-up posters about holding a miracle meeting somewhere. The focus of his ministry was teaching and preaching the Word of God. And yet in his compassion, he did the works of the Messiah, healing the sick, opening blinded eyes, and preaching the good news to the poor. Jesus has compassion for this blind man and wants to deal with him privately.
One of the important themes in the Gospel of Mark is that of seeing clearly, the importance of understanding. In Mark 4, Jesus told the parable of the man who went forth sowing the seed. Some of it fell on the pathway, some on stony ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil. But even the disciples of Jesus failed to understand the parable. Jesus then explained to them that the seed was the Word of God. The good soil represents those who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit. The parable holds the key to kingdom living.
This blind man is brought to Jesus and Jesus could have healed the blind man instantly by simply saying, “Receive your sight.” Our Lord had that power. Nothing is impossible for him. But Jesus did not heal the man that way. It was no accident that Jesus healed this blind man in stages. He is quite deliberate in what he does. He spits in the eyes of the blind man and lays his hands on him. Then he does something that he never does at any other time. He asks the man a question: “Do you see anything?” Jesus never asks the deaf if they can hear, or the lame if they can walk. But he asks this man, “Do you see anything” (v. 23).
So many people are at this first stage. It is hard to describe their spiritual condition. Jesus asked the man, “Do you see anything?” He responded, “Yes, I do see, but I see men as trees, walking.” Do you understand the position? It is difficult to describe this man. You cannot say that he is blind any longer. You cannot say that he can see clearly because he sees men as trees, walking. Now there are people like that. You may meet them and think, “Yes, that person is a Christian.” But the next time you are with them, they say something or do something, and you wonder how a Christian could do such a thing. These people are rather unhappy with themselves. On Sunday they will believe the preaching of the Word and believe themselves to be Christians, but then something happens, and everything is put in doubt.
There is a positive element to their condition: just as the blind man recognized that he should not see men as trees, walking, they realize that things are not as they should be. They see something. They see that something is not quite right. They are on the path to seeing clearly, but they have not yet arrived. Things are not yet clear for them. These people have come to recognize the truth of the Scriptures. They see that if everyone lived according to the principles in Jesus, this world would truly be a paradise. They may have come to see that Jesus is the only hope for the world. They may have seen that he is the Savior, though they do not understand exactly what means to be truly saved. But they are interested in him and believe that somehow, they need him. These people have not clearly understood the biblical teaching about justification by faith. They are trying to put themselves right with God. They are trying to be good enough to be accepted by God. But they see that it is not working. They have set a standard, but they cannot live up to that standard. They are trying to save themselves, but they see that they cannot. These people see, but they do not see clearly. They see as this blind man saw: they see men as trees, walking.
There are churches in the world today that give lip service to the Word of God but believe that it has to be modified and adapted to the modern world. The Bible may be a guide, but the principles have to be updated to keep up with the changing pace of our world today. “The world is changing,” they say, so they modify and reinterpret the Scriptures here and there to suit their own desires. But God is not out of date, no matter what the world says. God’s Word is timeless, and we must submit to it, or bear the consequences of our disobedience. With this miracle, Jesus Christ teaches us how great is the spiritual blindness of man, which only by degrees, and by successive stages, can men come to the light of Divine knowledge.
Many do not want clarity. They do not want the clear teaching of the Word of God. They want an experience, a warm fuzzy feeling, but not teaching. You see, the teaching of the Word of God is clear. Psalm 19:8 “the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes”. The road to clarity begins with our confession, we must admit where we are.
1. Admit You Need Clarity - This blind man had enough wisdom to realize that though he saw, he did not yet see as he should see. When God begins to open our eyes and to give us understanding, we must not think that we have arrived. We are tempted to announce that we can see, and often we encourage others to announce that they see when they do not yet see clearly. Let us not stop the Savior’s healing work before we see clearly. Many are unwilling to admit where they are. There is no growth, no joy, and no peace, but they are unwilling to admit their need. Is productivity, lack, and poverty God will or His best? Can God grow our church or meet our needs? Have we settled for less than God’s best? Is our faith really working? Can you see anything? Nothing can happen until we are honest. Can you see anything?
2. Keep Hope Alive - While we must not prematurely claim to see clearly, neither should we give up hope when we realize that we do not see clearly. Recognizing that things are not yet clear, we must not despair. We must not stop reading the Bible. We must not stop praying and seeking the face of God. The devil would want to stop you in your progress, but you must not listen to him. God has more! We must be honest enough to answer the Lord truthfully. “Do you see anything?” “Yes, Lord, but I do not yet see as I ought to see.” The man did not make some kind of false faith claim: “Yes, I see by faith.” No, he was completely honest with the Lord. Where do you stand? What is your condition with God? Do you see clearly or are you still confused about things? Are you full of joy, or still bothered with doubts and fears? Do you know God? Not simply believe in him, but do you know him? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ? God has another touch.
3. Submit Yourself to Christ’s Second Touch. Just like this man, God will touch us again. Jesus touched him once and he touched him again. The man did not object to the second touch but rather rejoiced in it. And had Jesus not touched this man a second time, I believe that this man would have asked him to. You can do the same. You can ask the Lord to touch you again, to continue his work in you. Tell him, “I want the truth, whatever it costs me.” Submit yourself fully to him. Let him be the Lord of your life, all your life. Plead with him to give you clear sight, perfect vision. He will do it.
Philippians 1:6 “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”
Then he laid his hands again upon his eyes and caused him to look up a second time; and upon this he found his sight was perfectly restored, so that he saw every man and thing about him clearly and distinctly. The healing of this blind man was a true pattern of our Lord healing spiritual blindness, which usually is done gradually, but perfected at last as this bodily cure was.
I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind, It's gonna be a bright (bright)Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day. Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone. All of the bad feelings have disappeared Here is that rainbow I've been praying for. It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day. look all around, there's nothing but blue skies. Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies.
I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way Here is that rainbow I've been praying for. It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day. It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day.
