Mk. 8: 22-26 – Ways and time

22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 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?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Jesus did what the townspeople of Bethsaida begged him to do—touch a blind man. Imagine the crowd’s anticipation when Jesus took his hand, waiting to see if a blind man would see.

The people wanted Jesus’ touch to immediately heal the man in their presence. He’d done it before. It would be another great sign, another moment to gawk at the Healer. Then they could go back to doing whatever they were up to.

Yet, the man remains blind.

Jesus leads the man away. What a disappointment. No sign. No healing. Seemingly no power from the one guy in Galilee who could solve their problems. Now that Jesus has the man alone, Jesus would just say a word to restore his sight. Yet this time, words won’t do. Apparently, spit is required, with an additional laying on of hands. “Anything?” Jesus asks.

Now the man can make out a few things. But really, where’s the power of Jesus? Where’s the fast, complete healing? He lays hands on him once more. Finally, the man can see. Now would be a great time for the man to skip into the village and show everyone the miraculous healing power of God. But Jesus tells the man to go straight home.

Wouldn’t it be great if God acted in our way on our time? The people of Bethsaida wanted Jesus’ touch to immediately heal a blind man. Instead it took several tries, and when it finally happened, the people in the village didn’t see it. You could say the town of Bethsaida remained blind.

Trusting God’s way and timing can be difficult, can’t it? Sometimes we may not see the results we’re looking for. Yet Jesus’ visit to Bethsaida reveals that He is trustworthy.

Have you ever been disappointed with God? What might He have been doing in your life at that time?