Jesus Takes the Man Out

He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.  When he had spit on the man´s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”  Mark 8:23 (TNIV)

Peculiar may be the way in which Jesus healed this blind man.  They were in town when He was asked to heal the man.  Jesus could have performed the miracle right there.  How many people had already been healed by merely touching His garments?  How many people had been healed by a few simple words or even just a touch from Jesus?  But in this case Jesus takes the man physically by the hand.  He gently leads the man through the streets and out of the village.

What a sight to picture.  Jesus is the teacher.  Jesus is the healer.  Jesus is the one people flocked to see and hear.  But here He is, leading a poor blind man out through the village.  It was not coincidence.  It was not an accident.  Jesus knew what He was doing.  Jesus is forever teaching us too.  He led the man out of his former environment.  He led the stumbling man on a short journey.  It was a journey made not only physically.  It was made also with the heart and with the bonding of spirits.

If we have ever had the chance to lead a blind person, we will understand.  A person who cannot see must trust the person who leads them.  This is not an easy thing to do.  Those who cannot picture it can put it to the test.  A simple blindfold and a helping hand is all we need.  Try to cross a crowded room, a street or a shopping center.  Then we begin to get the picture.  It takes trust.

Tenderly Jesus led the man step by step.  As they walked the man learned a lot about our Savior.  He knew more clearly than we do just how much Jesus cares for us.  His heart had time to start to go out to Lord and bond in a special way.  It learned to lean on our Savior.  It learned to return care because it had first received kindness.

With our blindness it is not different.  Jesus will need to take us for a walk too.  We may realize that we are blind to spiritual things.  But this does not mean that we know how to trust Him.  Jesus sees the obstacles that we do not.  He sees the turns.  He knows where we need to place our feet.  He can keep us from danger.  It is not easy to trust Another.  If we haven’t learned it yet, we can take the time now.  Back up. Repeat the blindfold exercise.

For each one of us Jesus may need to take a different path.  But we must learn to trust in Him.  This trust is not handed to us.  It must be built.  It must be tried.  He must prove true. Each one of us must learn it for him or herself.  Our religion is nothing without this trust.  It is worthless if someone were to hand it to us.  We must each take a little walk with Jesus.  We must learn His care and His guidance.  We need to learn to depend on His voice.  We each need to see for ourselves where He is leading our heart.  We need to know that we are safe with Him.

Dear Jesus, like a man long ago we ask You to heal us too.  Please take us by the hand and lead us on a little journey.  Take us out of our little comfort zones.  Lead us unseeing where You want to take us.  Let us lean on You.  Let us learn of Your care and Your love.  Bond us together in an intimate bond of trust.  Then, when we are where You would take us, let Your healing begin!  Take away our blindness that we may see Your sweet face!

Amen