Blind man of Bethsaida - Mark 8 22-26
I had been blind from birth and had been working as a basket weaver since I was seven years old. I had a small workshop on the high street in Bethsaida and was well known by everyone in town. I managed to make a living because I made good baskets with the help of my work partner Amos. I was grateful to have a profession and I thanked God daily for my blessings. I was a faithful attender of the synagogue and I payed my tithes and my taxes. In most ways I considered myself to be a good man and for the most part I was a contented one.
The day I met Jesus, Amos told me that there was a prophet in town who was teaching about a new kingdom and doing miracles. Amos really wanted to go and hear the prophet speak, and as we could not run the shop without him , I agreed to close early and go with him to find out what this man was all about. Amos led me to the market square where a large crowd seemed to have gathered. I could feel the press of people round me as Amos dragged me forward. And then people went quiet and a man's voice asked everyone to sit down. People around me were sitting on the ground. Amos guided me to a space and we sat. Then the same man began to speak. He told stories about seed and pearls and fathers and sons. He was entertaining to listen to but he also made me think. I knew that his stories all had a deeper meaning, and that he was explaining the nature and character of God in ways I had not thought of before. The woman sitting on my right turned to me and said ' Did you hear that he fed a huge crowd of people with just four loaves of bread the other day? They are saying it was a miracle. My cousin was there when he did it and she said it was impossible. He just took a loaf of bread and kept on breaking it into pieces and it kept on being whole again. I really think this man is a prophet of God' I didnt reply - I wasnt sure what to think of that. It sounded like a fairy story.
After quite a long time of teaching Amos nudged me and said ' Quick, get up, the Rabbi is leaving'. He pulled me to my feet and dragged me quickly forward through the people who were still sitting on the floor. Im afraid I trod on quite a few fingers and tripped over quite a few feet. After a couple of seconds I heard Amos say ' Rabbi, please have mercy on my friend. He was born blind. Please touch him and restore his sight' I was taken aback when I heard him say this. Nobody could restore my sight. It was impossible. I didnt mind being prayed for and blessed but..... well..... it wasnt even a question of restoring my sight, Id never had any sight in the first place. If I was to see it would be through sight being created not restored. And that was even more impossible.
As these thoughts were rushing through my mind I felt a hand firmly grasp my elbow and heard the voice of the Rabbi telling me to come with him. I didnt know where we were going but I didnt really have a choice. We walked for about five minutes until I could no longer hear the sounds of a crowd. Then we stopped and I sensed the man standing right in front of me and leaning in very close. The next thing something hot and wet landed on my face and before I had a chance to react and wipe it off a hand was rubbing my eyes. Then the Rabbi said ' Can you see anything?' I was so stunned by what had just happened that for a minute I didnt even open my eyes. But when I did I was blinded by the most incredible light and I had to close them again pretty quickly. I put my hand up to my eyes and opened them again, just a little. Shading my eyes from the sun I looked around and realised that I was able to see! ' What can you see?' Asked the Rabbi. I wasnt really sure what it was I was looking at. I said ' Im not sure. I think I can see people. Maybe it's trees. Im not sure. I can see something moving'. I was very confused. The Rabbi put his hands on my eyes again and he prayed. I cant remember the words he said now but then he told me to look up. And when I did I realised I could see clearly and well. The first thing I looked at was his face.
He was a man of about thirty. He had dark eyes and a dark beard and a kind smile. He looked tired but also somehow strong and determined. I looked at his hands. They were large and rough and not very clean. He was dressed like I was, not like a Rabbi or a teacher from the synagogue. He wore a simple robe with a rope belt. He said to me ' You have received sight. Now go and look with eyes that see past the outward appearance and see the heart. And please dont tell too many people that you met me. In fact, just go straight home, dont go back through town. The more people who know about this the harder it will be for me to do what God has sent me to do'
I looked around for Amos. I realised that I had no idea what he looked like. So I shouted his name and a man came towards me grinning. We hugged. There were other men standing at a distance, who I took to be friends of the Rabbi. They were chatting amongst themselves, seemingly unaware that my world had just changed forever. The Rabbi moved off to join them and waved at me as I headed off towards my house. I didnt sleep for two days after that. I just walked round my house and then round my town and then out into the countryside looking at everything. I had to touch things to work out what they were. I could not believe how rich and wonderful colours were, how funny animals were, how amazingly diverse people were. And then on the second day I went to the synagogue to give thanks to God that I had been blind but now I can see. I was in darkness but now I am in the light. It is almost as though I was dead but now I am alive.
The day I met Jesus, Amos told me that there was a prophet in town who was teaching about a new kingdom and doing miracles. Amos really wanted to go and hear the prophet speak, and as we could not run the shop without him , I agreed to close early and go with him to find out what this man was all about. Amos led me to the market square where a large crowd seemed to have gathered. I could feel the press of people round me as Amos dragged me forward. And then people went quiet and a man's voice asked everyone to sit down. People around me were sitting on the ground. Amos guided me to a space and we sat. Then the same man began to speak. He told stories about seed and pearls and fathers and sons. He was entertaining to listen to but he also made me think. I knew that his stories all had a deeper meaning, and that he was explaining the nature and character of God in ways I had not thought of before. The woman sitting on my right turned to me and said ' Did you hear that he fed a huge crowd of people with just four loaves of bread the other day? They are saying it was a miracle. My cousin was there when he did it and she said it was impossible. He just took a loaf of bread and kept on breaking it into pieces and it kept on being whole again. I really think this man is a prophet of God' I didnt reply - I wasnt sure what to think of that. It sounded like a fairy story.
After quite a long time of teaching Amos nudged me and said ' Quick, get up, the Rabbi is leaving'. He pulled me to my feet and dragged me quickly forward through the people who were still sitting on the floor. Im afraid I trod on quite a few fingers and tripped over quite a few feet. After a couple of seconds I heard Amos say ' Rabbi, please have mercy on my friend. He was born blind. Please touch him and restore his sight' I was taken aback when I heard him say this. Nobody could restore my sight. It was impossible. I didnt mind being prayed for and blessed but..... well..... it wasnt even a question of restoring my sight, Id never had any sight in the first place. If I was to see it would be through sight being created not restored. And that was even more impossible.
As these thoughts were rushing through my mind I felt a hand firmly grasp my elbow and heard the voice of the Rabbi telling me to come with him. I didnt know where we were going but I didnt really have a choice. We walked for about five minutes until I could no longer hear the sounds of a crowd. Then we stopped and I sensed the man standing right in front of me and leaning in very close. The next thing something hot and wet landed on my face and before I had a chance to react and wipe it off a hand was rubbing my eyes. Then the Rabbi said ' Can you see anything?' I was so stunned by what had just happened that for a minute I didnt even open my eyes. But when I did I was blinded by the most incredible light and I had to close them again pretty quickly. I put my hand up to my eyes and opened them again, just a little. Shading my eyes from the sun I looked around and realised that I was able to see! ' What can you see?' Asked the Rabbi. I wasnt really sure what it was I was looking at. I said ' Im not sure. I think I can see people. Maybe it's trees. Im not sure. I can see something moving'. I was very confused. The Rabbi put his hands on my eyes again and he prayed. I cant remember the words he said now but then he told me to look up. And when I did I realised I could see clearly and well. The first thing I looked at was his face.
He was a man of about thirty. He had dark eyes and a dark beard and a kind smile. He looked tired but also somehow strong and determined. I looked at his hands. They were large and rough and not very clean. He was dressed like I was, not like a Rabbi or a teacher from the synagogue. He wore a simple robe with a rope belt. He said to me ' You have received sight. Now go and look with eyes that see past the outward appearance and see the heart. And please dont tell too many people that you met me. In fact, just go straight home, dont go back through town. The more people who know about this the harder it will be for me to do what God has sent me to do'
I looked around for Amos. I realised that I had no idea what he looked like. So I shouted his name and a man came towards me grinning. We hugged. There were other men standing at a distance, who I took to be friends of the Rabbi. They were chatting amongst themselves, seemingly unaware that my world had just changed forever. The Rabbi moved off to join them and waved at me as I headed off towards my house. I didnt sleep for two days after that. I just walked round my house and then round my town and then out into the countryside looking at everything. I had to touch things to work out what they were. I could not believe how rich and wonderful colours were, how funny animals were, how amazingly diverse people were. And then on the second day I went to the synagogue to give thanks to God that I had been blind but now I can see. I was in darkness but now I am in the light. It is almost as though I was dead but now I am alive.
Comments
Post a Comment