A Needed Second Touch
Sometimes we just need another touch from God.
In Mark’s Gospel there’s a story of Jesus healing a blind man. Jesus came to the city of Bethsaida and some people brought a blind man begging Jesus to heal him. So, Jesus took the blind man outside the city and spit on the man’s eyes asking, “Do you see anything.”
The blind man looked around, and his sight began to return, but not completely. He said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking around.”
Then the Bible records, “Then He (Jesus) put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.” (Mark 8:25)
When we read this we rejoice at the healing, but a question arises, why wasn’t the man healed the first time? Why did Jesus have to do it again and in a different manner?
Jesus could have healed this man the first time around; He had done so on many occasions. Further, we can’t say the man or those who brought him lacked faith for such a healing.
Actually, I don’t have the answer, except that sometimes we just need another touch of God’s grace in our lives.
What I can say, however, is this man represents many who come to Jesus. They accept and know Him as Savior, but not as Lord. They see but have no clarity.
It’s kind of like the morning dawn. The light begins to shine, but you can’t get a clear picture of what’s around. But as the sun crests over the horizon we now get a clearer view and better sense of our surroundings.
At first, the new believer’s knowledge of God is a little confused as they try to bring their world into God’s word. What they need is another touch from Jesus. They haven’t fully given themselves to the Lord.
They need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. They need God’s empowerment to follow His word.