What happens next is the first weird thing. Before touching the man's eyes, Jesus takes the blind man by the hand and leads him out of the village. Why does he do that?
It probably has to do with Jesus' desire that folks come to him for his Word, rather than coming to him to see some sort of miracles (or benefiting from one themselves.) But I love the image of Jesus taking this blind man by the hand and leading him away; away from the crowd, away from the markets, perhaps even away from those who had first brought the man to Jesus. Before Jesus does anything with regard to the man's eyes, he leads him to a different place.
In this different place, Jesus lays his hands on the man. And here is the really weird thing. When Jesus removes his hands, the man reports, "I see men; but they look like trees, walking." Jesus places his hands on the man's eyes a second time.
What is that all about? Why was Jesus stymied in his first attempt? Is it still a miracle if it only partially accomplishes the end one was seeking? What would have been this man's fate, had he given up after the first lying on of hands and departed from Jesus' presence?
This whole encounter fills 3 verses in our Bible. But how much time elapses from the start to the finish? It surely takes more time than it takes us to read of it. And yet, we think of miracles as instantaneous. What of the works of God which take more time, or (if I may dare to suggest) take multiple attempts on the part of God? Are such changes in our lives any less miraculous?
I don't think so. I hope not. And I pray that my eyes might be opened to see the miracles unfolding in my life. I will look for these kind as much or more so than those which happen in the flash of a moment.
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