Question: Why did Jesus come to earth on that first Christmas Day?
Answer: In order that the blind might see.
Jesus gives this as the reason he came to earth more than once with one such instance being John 9:39. But more than merely restoring sight to those who are physically blind, Jesus is all about opening the eyes of those who are spiritually blind. And on one particularly interesting occasion, he restores the sight of a blind man in a way that acts as a parable to explain the far more serious nature of spiritual blindness.
The incident, recorded for us in Mark Chapter 8, takes place at Bethesda where Jesus appears at first glance to make a bit of a hash of the miracle in that he has to have two attempts at it before the individual in question is able to see properly.
Firstly, in verse 23, Jesus spits on the man’s eyes in a way that is likely to upset even the most relaxed public health consultant, and then, having laid hands on him, he asks if the man can see.
Which he can – but only partially! Because though the man says that he is able to see, all he can discern are men that look more like trees! Make no mistake, what Jesus has done is undoubtedly impressive, but it’s not what we might have expected from the one who is God, the sovereign Lord of the universe.
So Jesus has another go, and lays hands on the man a second time. And this time, normal service is resumed, and the man is not only able to see, but is able to do so perfectly.
So why the two stage healing?
Well the reason is made apparent when this event is considered alongside the one that takes place immediately after it. For it is then that Peter makes his first declaration that Jesus is indeed the Christ.
But when Jesus then begins to explain to the disciples that he must suffer and die, Peter isn’t having any of it, going even as far as rebuking Jesus for speaking in such a way.
Peter then, like the blind man after part one of his healing, is only partially seeing who Jesus is. He’s recognised him to be God’s chosen King, but not as the suffering servant that the King was always meant to be. As such, Peter will need to be able to see more of who Jesus is before he can be considered to fully know him.
So then, true spiritual sight involves seeing not only that Jesus is God, but also that he is the one who, by allowing himself to be nailed to a cross, would bring about our salvation.
That the Messiah should have to suffer is a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others, [1 Corinthians 1:23] but to those who have had their eyes opened, to those who are able to see clearly, it is both the power of God and the wisdom of God. [1 Corinthians 1:23-24]
And so I wonder, can you see who Jesus is?
Because it was to give sight to the spiritually blind that he came to earth on that first Christmas Day.
To reveal the secrets concealed behind door 13 of last year’s Christmas Countdown, click here
https://peteaird.org/2023/12/13/a-christmas-countdown-day-13/
Some musings 