July 7 - 7th Sunday after Pentecost

Blindness and Sight - What is God asking us to see and hear?

Mark 8:22-30 (CEB)

A blind man is healed

22 Jesus and his disciples came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch and heal him. 23 Taking the blind man’s hand, Jesus led him out of the village. After spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on the man, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”

24 The man looked up and said, “I see people. They look like trees, only they are walking around.”

25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again. He looked with his eyes wide open, his sight was restored, and he could see everything clearly. 26 Then Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go into the village!”

Jesus predicts his death

27 Jesus and his disciples went into the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

28 They told him, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets.”

29 He asked them, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30 Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Reflection Notes:

Jesus has done two miracles in Mark 7 and 8—one of opening a man’s ears and now today opening a man’s eyes. God longs for us to see and hear more fully so we understand and grasp the depth of God’s call upon our lives. In these healings, Jesus provided two touches in order to heal fully, to restore hearing and sight. We need the touch of Jesus in our lives to open our ears and eyes. And when we hear and see, we recognize Jesus’ journey is going to the cross but we call upon Jesus as our Christ, as our Messiah. What does God want us to see and hear more clearly?