How clearly do you see Jesus? The blind man was completely unable to see Him, or anything else at first. But then Jesus performed a miracle. He not only touched the man, but spat on his eyes, making it clear that it is only personal contact with Jesus that brings sight to the blind.

But then something strange happened, something unique in the annals of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The man He touched didn’t immediately receive complete healing. Instead, he could only see people in a very distorted fashion, as if they were trees walking around. It took a second touch from Jesus for him to see clearly.

And isn’t that really the same sort of thing that happened to Peter? After being in contact with Jesus for almost 8 chapters of Mark’s gospel, and after witnessing too many miracles to count, Peter finally saw Jesus, recognizing Him as the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed Son of David that God had promised would rule over His people.

But Peter’s understanding of Jesus continued to be distorted, didn’t it? For when Jesus told His disciples that He had not come to sit on a throne but to be rejected and killed by the leaders of His own people, Peter rebuked Him. And why? Because Jesus’ plans didn’t fit with Peter’s preconceived notions of the Messiah as a powerful ruler who would destroy all his enemies and set up an earthly kingdom. Because Peter insisted that Jesus meet his own expectations, he remained at least partially blind to Jesus’ true identity.

So, how about us? Do we ever allow our assumptions about Jesus to blind us to what He is really doing in our lives? Maybe you believe that, if He really loved you, He would protect you from all the difficulties of life. Maybe you believe that, because He has promised to meet all our needs, He also has to give us all we want. Maybe you are assuming that if He takes someone or something very important away from you that He is not in fact willing or able to help you. Maybe you’ve lost your faith in Jesus because He hasn’t met your expectations.

But instead of rebuking Jesus, instead of trying to force Him into the box we have made for Him, we are simply called to come to Him, and to let Him continue to open our eyes so that we might see Him as He really is. So, will we accept Jesus on His own terms? Or will we continue to insist that He meet our own expectations?

Mark 8:22-32 (NASB)

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Him, and entreated Him to touch him.
23 And taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes, and laying His hands upon him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?”
24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I am seeing them like trees, walking about.”
25 Then again He laid His hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.
26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
27 And Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?”
28 And they told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.”
29 And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “Thou art the Christ.”
30 And He warned them to tell no one about Him.
31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.