I Can See Clearly Now. . .

I am always amazed at how obtuse I can be when I read the bible. Seriously, it is almost laughable sometimes when I look back and read my responses to different bible study questions. I really am trying to understand - but honestly, sometimes I don't get it. I think part of it has to do with author's intent. . . you know that whoever wrote the bible study has a particular answer in mind, and often times I just end up going the wrong direction. It's no big deal, and certainly nothing to actually be ashamed about (I'd rather be in the word coming up with the wrong conclusions and being corrected rather than avoiding it all together), but it does make me laugh. Sometimes it gets to the point where I read the author's answer before I write my own, so that my answer will actually be right. Oh my word, did I say that out loud?

Ha! Well, it's the honest truth. But it is also the beautiful, amazing thing about scripture. We can understand the truths that it holds on such varying levels. The truth doesn't change, but our ability to comprehend and apply can grow and change drastically!!! I was particularily reminded of this truth while I studied this morning.

In Mark 8:22-26 Jesus heals another blind man. This time he does it in two steps. The first time he asks the man, "Do you see anything?" And the man replies, "Yes, I see people, but I can't see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around." So Jesus lays his hands on the man's eyes again, and it says that his vision was completely restored.

So, the wonderful author of my bible study asks me, "Why does Jesus heal this man in two steps?" And in my depth of wisdom, maturity, and insight I reply, "I have absolutely no idea. Why don't you tell me?" =)

But seriously, once I read Tim's thoughts my own eyes were opened and it seemed so clear! The stories before this all show the disciple's (and Pharisees) own spiritual blindness - they see Jesus, they just don't see Jesus, you know? In the story after this one, Peter finally confesses Jesus as the Christ, which means he is starting to see Jesus for who He really is. So when Jesus heals the blind man in two steps, its like he showing us that even though we can physically see, we may not fully understand. At first, the man could see, but he compared people to walking trees. Obviously his mind was not able to comprehend what he was seeing. So Jesus restored the understanding of his vision, and he could see clearly.

The bible talks about this truth elsewhere. . . the idea that despite all that is right in front of our eyes, we do not understand what God is revealing to us.

Listen, you foolish and senseless people-- who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. Jeremiah 5:21

The truth of the matter is that we need God to open the eyes of our hearts and minds to understand what we see. We need to pray and ask God to give us His eyes for the people and things of this world. When we aren't looking through God's eyes, we tend to have a skewed view of what is real. Just a few verses later in Mark, Jesus has a very intense warning for Peter:

Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then said to Peter very sternly, "Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of
view, not from God's." Mark 8:33

It matters not just what we see, but how we see! I am so grateful for bible studies like the one I'm currently doing, because when I read the perspective of one who sees with greater clarity and understanding than myself, it encourages me to think, see, and understand from God's point of view. That doesn't mean that Tim or any other bible study author is always right. It is up to us to go back to scripture and examine it to see if they are on the right track. . . but the wisdom that we gain when we do these things together is tremendous!!

Oh, I pray that we would all have eyes that see and ears that hear the beautiful, magnificent truth of our Savior today!!