THINK TOGETHER.
Imagine if you were blind. What would you miss seeing?
READ TOGETHER.
Mark 8:22-26. 22And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
This story can seem a bit strange at first. We know Jesus can raise the dead and heal the sick, even the blind. We know that Jesus has power over everything bad in this life. So why does it take Jesus two tries to make this blind man see? And, why on earth does Jesus spit on this blind man’s eyes? How gross.
Back in Jesus’ time they believed that physical problems, like blindness, were connected to sin. So to heal a person of blindness was like healing them of their sin and guilt. To spit on somebody back then, just like today, was not nice. It was a way of cursing or condemning them. But Jesus turned this around. He was showing that he would not curse this man, but instead he would bless him with sight!
That’s what Jesus did on the cross. He took something bad, like spitting, and turned it into something good, sight. He took the wicked cross and turned it into our eternal life. When Jesus was crucified, people spit on him and cursed at him. But his shame becomes our glory, honor, joy, and praise when we trust in him. Now, with Jesus, we can see God’s forgiveness and love for us. With Jesus, we are no longer blinded by our sin and selfishness.
But seeing God’s love is a process. We never understand God all at once. That’s why Jesus healed this blind man in two tries instead of one try. Jesus was using this healing to teach us a lesson – it takes time to completely know and trust Jesus. The first time the blind man opened his eyes everything was blurry. So Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again. This time the man could see clearly!
My hope is that as you grow up in Jesus you will be able to see him more and more clearly too. That you will want to know him more and more, and that you will trust him more and more.
Sometimes it might feel like you are blind, not with your eyes, but with your heart. Things may seem blurry, and it may be hard to remember that Jesus loves you. But never forget that he was spit on too. He was crucified on the cross for you. He is turning everything bad and gross into something good. He is always with you, helping you to see his love more and more clearly each and every day if you will let him.
I hope you will.
Because of Jesus we are no longer blinded by sin.
With Jesus we can see his love for us more and more clearly as we grow.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Play some blindfold games together (you can google ideas). Talk about what it feels like to not be able to see. Ask you kids to think about spiritual blindness too – what would that feel like?
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, you have given me spiritual sight, but sometimes things are still blurry. Help me to see you more clearly every day. Amen.
TLICfamily 