My Dear Friend,

In Mark 8:22-26, a perfectly blind man met a perfect Guide and followed His instructions until he was perfectly restored. Let us, the imperfect, pause to consider this lesson perfectly.

"They bring a blind man unto him" (Mark 8:22). A group of men who had heard of Jesus' ministry led a blind man to Him as He arrived near Bethsaida. So, as we first encounter this man, he is humanly guided, or guided by his friends' human reasoning. Two facts suggest he had not always been blind.

First, when Jesus initially prayed for him, the man without hesitation identified "men" in his field of vision and compared them to "trees" that were not static but "walking" (Mark 8:24). Only a man who had previously seen trees, men, and walking could so readily make such a positive identification without others' help. Second, Jesus' prayers "restored" this man's eyes, meaning returned them to their original condition and use (Mark 8:25).

Therefore, prior to the onset of his blindness caused by either illness, disease, or injury, this man had enjoyed vision. Able to guide his own way through life, he had been self-led, or guided by his own physical vision and human reasoning. So, at the time Mark introduces him, he had known two guidance systems: self-guidance, in his formerly independent life; and human guidance, through the friends who brought him to Jesus. Now, however, his guidance was about to take a permanent turn for the better.

When Jesus saw him, He took the blind man by the hand and "led him" away from Bethsaida (Mark 8:23). Suddenly, this perfectly blind man had a perfect Guide leading him in the perfect way. No longer was he dependent on his own "smarts." No longer was he at the mercy of human guides, who could lead him to Jesus or off a cliff, depending on their own imperfect vision, wisdom, and goodness. Now the perfect Guide, Jesus, had him firmly by the hand and was leading him in the best, the most perfect way, in life. Three good things followed.

First, as stated above, Jesus "led him out of the town" (Mark 8:23). Bethsaida's citizens were under a ban of divine judgment for having stubbornly refused to repent of their sins despite Jesus' many past miracles in their city. So, leaving God-forsaken Bethsaida was itself a blessing. Second, Jesus initially prayed for this man's healing with limited results, perhaps to encourage us when our prayers seem limited. Third, Jesus persisted, praying "again," and this time the man's vision was fully "restored," enabling him to see "every man clearly," or with perfect, 20-20 vision (Mark 8:25). Why did Jesus have to pray twice? Certainly not because He lacked compassion or power. He did so for our sakes, to give us an example of importunity, or persisting prayer, which He knew we would need when praying for the sick and afflicted in this church age (see Luke 11:5-10; 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). What a sweet end to his bitter trial.

But it wasn't the end, it was just the beginning. An entirely new way of life lay ahead for this healed man. I can't prove it, but there is a high probability that he followed Jesus' guidance the rest of his life.

You see, through his Christ encounter, he had learned one of life's greatest lessons: the wisdom of following Jesus, only and always - trusting His leadership alone, His presence, His voice, His prompts, His checks, His corrections. Never again would this man fully trust other people's human wisdom, however astute or well-intended. Never again would he fully trust his own human reasoning, however logical. He had discovered that Jesus' guidance could lead him out of life's worst "fixes," even total blindness, into the land of clear seeing.

Jesus' guidance began immediately. He "sent him away" from Bethsaida "to his house," which was in another location (Mark 8:26). The city had already misused its grace period and Jesus didn't want the man to waste his wonderful testimony on Bethsaida's disbelieving minds and impenitent hearts. Since there is no mention of this man disobeying Jesus' guidance, as some did (Matthew 9:30-31), I believe he followed it, not only on this occasion but also the rest of his life.

If this is correct, he now not only enjoyed his new 20-20 natural vision but also Jesus' 20-20 spiritual vision. You see, though physically healed, he was still a blind man in many ways, just as utterly dependent on Jesus' guidance as when Jesus first took his hand and led him away from Bethsaida to be healed.

Now under the fear, or wondering awe, of Christ, he realized how "blind" he remained to so many things in this ever-challenging life. I believe he wisely chose, again, to extend his hand and let Jesus take it and lead him all his remaining days. It was a God-decision, and an example for us all to follow. Why?

Despite having the eyes of our understanding opened to faith in Christ, despite being enlightened concerning God and His wonderful salvation, despite having the wonderful, bright light of the Word of God to lead so many of our decisions, we are still blind to many things in this sin-darkened world. For instance:

• We are blind to tomorrow. We are ignorant of what challenges or blessings it will bring.

• We are blind to relationships. We don't know which friendships will come, which will go, and which will endure.

• We are blind to our work or ministry. We don't know what crises or situations beyond our control will take us one way or another, to former or new scenes of service.

• We are blind to our culture. We don't know if the wokists will awake to reality or drift farther and farther into even worse Marxist madness and unjust social justice.

• We are blind to the fulfillment of End-Times prophecy. Though we believe, as Jesus prophesied, that He will awaken His bridesmaids in this midnight hour, we do not know exactly when, where, or how He will do so, or how much time will remain afterwards before He appears (Matthew 25:6-7).

• We are blind to world events. We don't know what geopolitical situations may arise today, even while you read this message, in Asia, Europe, or Central America.

• We are blind to our health. We do not know what kinds of illnesses, injuries, or infirmities may challenge our faith in Christ, our Healer, to restore us by medical or miraculous means.

• We are blind to our finances. Whether our bank accounts are fat or slim, we don't know what unforeseen needs may arise to empty them or severely devalue our nation's currency - and suddenly force us to live more entirely by faith, to more consciously and prayerfully trust Christ, our Provider, and His unseen riches in glory (Philippians 4:6-7, 19).

• We are blind to how our family members' lives will play out. We don't know when God will, in response to our intercessions, intervene in their lives, or where, or how, to turn them from sin to the Savior and their way to His.

• We are blind to our nation's destiny. While we know the true church, the bride of Christ, will make herself ready for His appearing and heavenly Marriage Supper (Revelation 19:7-9), we don't know what will happen next in Washington, in our schools, in our streets, in our next presidential election, or with our national debt.

But all this "blindness" need not trouble us. Just as Jesus knew what He would do for the blind man before He did it, at this very moment He knows all the unknowns listed above. And more. Divine omniscience knows all there is to know, everything that will happen, and the best, the most perfect way for us to navigate our way through even the worst mazes we will meet.

On one condition: if we will, despite our wonderful new spiritual vision in Christ, also humbly acknowledge our abiding life-blindness, and our need to utterly depend on His guidance at all times, in every situation, every day!

Are you, am I, wise enough to reach out through worship and prayer, take Jesus' hand, and request His guidance daily? Hourly? Situationally? Until He leads us from this disbelieving, divinely banned "Bethsaida" of a world to our heavenly home? He is still the perfect Guide of the perfectly blind.

"Whoever fears the Lord, he shall be shown what path to choose" (Psalm 25:12, Tanakh Translation).

Perfectly blind, perfectly guided,

Dr. Greg Hinnant

GREG HINNANT MINISTRIES