So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
Mark 8:23
The Gospel of Mark offers us an exclusive text that tells of a unique miracle, performed in two stages by Jesus. We are in Bethsaida, an ancient fishing village where Peter, Andrew and Philip came from, and whose name means “house of fishing”. It is not difficult to imagine the chain of acquaintances that brings this blind man to Jesus, who has already performed a series of miracles and “those who touched him were healed” (5:56). There are two elements in this story that catch my attention. The first is Jesus taking the blind man by the hand and leading him out of the village before intervening and responding to his need. The second is the man's inability to see clearly. Let's take it in order. Even with the deaf-mute, Jesus had previously had the same scruple of not wanting to make a spectacle of him by taking him aside, “far from the crowd” (7:33). In our case, the separation from any possible onlookers is even more marked by going outside the town. Many interpreters read the two healings together, as a parable of the difficulty of the Pharisees and the disciples in understanding who the Master really is. Symbolically, Jesus aims to open the ears, loosen the tongue and illuminate the eyes of those he calls to follow him. But to do this, it is necessary to leave our village, to move away from the crowd.
Jesus taking us by the hand is a detail of unprecedented tenderness. How many times in our struggles do we wish we could find that hand that will grab us and lead us out? I think that being taken by the hand is what is often missing. The spiritual life is just this, letting the Lord take you by the hand, far from any form of spectacle. He works far from the noise and disrespectful curiosity. He seeks a relationship with the person, to enter into the depths of their being and work there. He needs to go to a place where no one is looking at him, because if he feels stared at by others and can't look them in the eye, he won't be able to open his own eyes. We can't perform divine acts under the influence of judging, heavy stares. His closed eyes speak of insecurity; for him it's the middle of the night. That's why the Lord acts protectively. First taking him by the hand and then touching his eyes is like an all-encompassing embrace. Even rubbing his eyes with saliva is a gesture that communicates warmth and security. Only now does Jesus ask him if he can see anything. He sees and does not see, so much so that people appear to him as “walking trees”. His condition is that of someone who still cannot see clearly.
It's not enough to be taken by the hand, to walk a little with Jesus, to even get away from the crowd and the widespread suggestions. Despite the change, you realize that you see little and blurry, you still can't focus on your surroundings. And He knows it. I greatly appreciate the honesty of this man who wasn't afraid to tell the truth, without pretending that everything was fine. His sincerity leads Jesus to lay his hands on him again and only then does he see “clearly”. The Master touches people's pain by identifying with them. He doesn't accuse the man of not having enough faith. His touch allows people's eyes to open again. He instills that confidence that allows us to see life in a different way. For all these reasons it is important to let ourselves be touched by Him, even several times. In fact, this man's healing happened little by little, not immediately. This is what often happens to each of us when we draw closer to the Lord. Once we find the strength to leave the “village”, the widespread way of thinking, our eyes begin to see, but gradually. What completely changes us takes time. I believe that this principle of gradualness preserves us from an emotional faith linked to the effect of the enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ. Lord, come and take my hand. Lord, touch me.
Weekly Bible Reading Plan #09
February 24, Numbers 7-8; Mark 4:21-41
February 25, Numbers 9-11; Mark 5:1-20
February 26, Numbers 12-14; Mark 5:21-43
February 27, Numbers 15-16; Mark 6:1-29
February 28, Numbers 17-19; Mark 6:30-56
March 01, Numbers 20-22; Mark 7:1-13
March 02, Numbers 23-25; Mark 7:14-37
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