They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, 'Do you see anything?' He looked up and said, 'I see people; they look like trees walking around.' Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
This is the only miracle in the Gospels that happens in stages. Jesus heals once, the man has partial sight. Jesus heals again, full clarity. Usually we want instant, complete healing. But maybe sometimes restoration requires time and multiple touches. I've experienced this in therapy, in spiritual direction, in healing from trauma. The first breakthrough brings partial sight—you can see that you're carrying something, that patterns exist. But you still see through a fog. You think people are trees, you don't quite understand what you're looking at. Then you need another touch, another layer of healing, another moment of clarity. This verse gives me patience with the slow work of restoration. Not every healing is dramatic and instantaneous. Some healing is gradual, requiring multiple encounters, patience with partial sight until full clarity comes.
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