Growing Your Faith
Jesus’ healing of the blind man in Bethsaida is unique in all the tellings of Christ’s miracles. It is the only miracle done in gradual progression, and it shows a very loving and patient side of our God. You see, there is one important thing missing from this account. We are told the friends believed that just one touch would heal their blind companion. What we don’t hear is the blind man confessing it. Now, the account of the men lowering their paralyzed friend through the roof (Mark 2) does not record any words spoken by the ill man. However, that encounter focused more on proving to the audience and to scribes in attendance that Jesus had the authority to forgive sins. All we are told in that account is that Jesus saw their faith – not specifically that it was the faith of only the men carrying him. One could assume that Jesus saw the faith of all the men involved and not just the ones bringing the paralyzed friend. In today’s reading, we are told specifically that it was the men who brought the blind man to Jesus who begged him to touch the blind man and restore his sight. We never hear the blind man asking for healing or in any way admitting that he believed Jesus could restore his sight.
Assumptions are dangerous when dealing with God’s Word so perhaps we should call this an educated guess. Please keep in mind that we don’t have an exact answer from scripture as to why Jesus healed this particular man in two steps. Hopefully, though, I can show you how this theory is sustained in scripture. I believe Jesus’ progressive healing of the blind man in today’s reading shows us God’s patience with our unbelief. Every time Jesus healed someone, he connected the healing with their faith. For example, Luke 17:19 says, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” We are also told the opposite. In Mark 6:1-6 we read about Jesus being rejected in his hometown. At the end of this account, we are told “He could not do many miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” This leads me to believe there is a correlation between receiving God’s blessings and the level of our faith. We see this theory supported by Christ himself in Matthew 17:19-20. After the disciples could not cast a demon from a man’s son, we are told, “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith…’”
Given this constant connection between faith and miracles, I believe Jesus was meeting the man where his faith was. Have you ever wanted to believe but lacked the courage? Have you ever uttered a prayer with a shaking level of doubt mixed in? I have tried to rationalize my lack of faith as leaving room for spiritual discernment, but both God and I know I am hedging my bets in case my miracle falls through. When my husband and I were first married, I told him God had told me when I was 16 in a vision I was going to have a daughter “who would bring me joy in my old age.” As the years passed by and we had no daughter to call our own, I stopped boldly declaring the coming of this miracle. Instead, my lack of faith changed it to ‘Perhaps God meant my daughter-in-law.’ When the Holy Spirit confronted my lack of faith, I had to deal with my unbelief. This is when God started answering small prayers and leading me deeper and deeper into faith. A year and a half after I stopped attempting to alter God’s promise, and 26 years after first receiving the vision, we received a call asking us if we wanted to adopt our daughter, Katherine. And yes, she is one of the greatest joys of our life. And, as my body keeps reminding me, I am getting to old age faster than I would like. God still does miracles, but they still depend on our faith.
My theory about today’s reading is that the blind man’s faith was skeptical. Instead of denouncing him as unbelieving, Jesus walked patiently with him into deeper faith. Maybe that was the reason Jesus led him out of the Bethsaida. We don’t know the conversation the two men had on the short journey, but I highly doubt they walked in silence. I believe Jesus used that time to deal with the more important matter: the condition of the man’s heart and soul. Then, by giving him the initial, partial healing, Jesus proved to the blind man that his faith would be in safe hands. He convinced him that God could in fact cure his blindness. As his faith grew, so did the clarity of his sight.
God wants to grow our faith. He understands that doesn’t always come in an instant, and he is patient with us. I am so glad my God sees my weakness as areas to grow instead of disqualifying characteristics. Give God the little bit of faith you have and let Him multiply it.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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