Letter for November 1987

Dear Friends,

The healing of the blind man at Bethsaida by Jesus recorded for us in St. Mark 8 v 22 to 26 is interesting, not only for the evidence it gives of Jesus’ power and compassion, but also for the way he did this healing, and the insight this gives when applied to the spiritual realm

Jesus healed in all sorts of different ways, according to his own wise sovereign purpose. He never acted without a purpose. The way Jesus goes about this healing is certainly strange. He could have said "Receive your sight", and the blind man would have instantly been able to see perfectly, but Jesus did something different here.

Firstly, he led the blind man outside the village. This meant that the blind man had to wait and wonder what Jesus was up to. He had to exercise trust in Jesus and go along with him. Then Jesus spat on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him. The man had to quietly and obediently submit to these acts, even though they were acts which were distasteful, and which of themselves were useless, except for divine power.

This experience in the physical realm have their counterpart in the spiritual We come to Jesus and beg him for his blessing upon ourselves or someone else. We hope for an immediate answer, but though their is an immediate response from Jesus to our prayer, we often seem to be led through some odd and sometimes difficult ways before we get the answer. This requires trust and obedience, coupled with patience. We trustfully believe that Jesus acts according to his wise purpose, even though it may be hidden from us. The purpose may simply be to teach us more about obedience and faith.

Then notice the peculiar nature of this healing. At first the coming of sight was only in part. He sees but imperfectly and dimly. Jesus then again touches this man’s eyes, and only after this repeated action of Jesus did he see clearly.

In the spiritual realm the experience of this man in receiving his sight gradually, is a very helpful one. The light of the Gospel dawns upon us, and we see the truth of salvation, and we enter the blessings which this light brings. We know in some measure the assurance of forgiveness, and that we are a child of God, and an heir of heaven. But we still only see things dimly. Clearer spiritual sight and understanding comes later as we are taught by the Spirit through the Scriptures, and thus our assurance of God’s love and salvation grows.

It is not that we see wrongly at first. No! we see the truth rightly and it saves us, just as this blind man saw people. But as this blind man saw the people imperfectly, so the full knowledge of the truth may not be fully appreciated and understood by us. This fuller knowledge comes later as Jesus goes on dealing with us and blessing us.

We must not be surprised, therefore, if things are not all clear at first, and that we still have questions and doubts. We are seeing still dimly. Jesus will not leave us like this, however, he will go on touching us and teaching us, so that more and more light is given, and more assurance gained. This process will continue until we come into perfect sight in heaven.

Jesus deals differently with us all, just as he healed people in the New Testament in different ways. Some have a full understanding of the Gospel from the very start, others come into this full understanding more slowly.

Your servant for Christ’s sake,