Friday, April 07, 2017

Five Minute Friday: ENOUGH


Today I'm participating again in the Five Minute Friday blog linkup. This week's word is ENOUGH.


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[Jesus and his disciples] 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.

(Mark 8:22-25)



I love reading the stories in the Gospels about how Jesus met people, interacted with them, blessed them, healed or taught them. I was reading this passage from Mark just the other day.


When I don’t wear my glasses, people DO sort of look like trees walking around -- very blurry trees -- so I can imagine how the blind man felt when Jesus applied spit to his eyes and asked if he could see anything. 


As I pondered the passage, I imagined what it would have been like if, instead of telling Jesus that people looked like trees, the man had said, “Wow! This is amazing, Jesus, thanks! It’s so much better than what I had before. No, really, this is good enough! Blurry is better than blind. I’m satisfied.”


This man might have thought, after Jesus touched his eyes, that this was the best he was going to get. He could have reasoned, “This isn’t really what I hoped for, but it is a major improvement. I don't want to seem ungrateful. Jesus is doing his best here, and he’s a busy man. Maybe I should just pretend it’s good enough.”


I’m glad he didn’t pretend, but was honest with Jesus. When he told the truth, Jesus touched his eyes again and he could see with perfect clarity.


I wonder if Jesus did this two-stage healing on purpose: to give the man a chance to play a role in his own healing. The man had needed others to bring him to Jesus, but here he had a chance to own his need and say honestly, “This is good – but it’s not enough.”


Are there times that I settle for second best because I’m afraid to say it’s not enough? Maybe Jesus can do more of a work in me if I’m truly honest, like the blind man was.



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19 comments:

  1. I love your interpretation of this passage! I had always wondered why that description would be there. But, yes! His vision wasn't 20/20 and he let Jesus know. And I love that Jesus tried again. Such a good reminder for us, too isn't it? Thank you for the clearer vision with this passage! (Visiting from FMF)

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    1. I really appreciate your comment, Annie - thanks for coming by! This passage has always been one of my favourites.

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  2. I really, really like this take on the story. I want to tell the LORD exactly what it is I want. Great post. #14

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  3. Whoa!! I never thought of it this way before!! (Joining from FMF #45)

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  4. Now I'm wondering how many times I fail to look for more blessings from God. He's never going to run out of them, that's for sure.

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  5. Love this, Jeannie. The story's one of my favourites, though my take on it has always been that Jesus was showing people that sometimes you've got to dig a little deeper to get the job done.

    Good leader. Showed it, didn't say it.

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    1. Your take on it makes total sense, too. I love imagining myself in the place of these people who met Jesus in person -- wondering what they might have thought and felt.

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  6. Hi Jeannie! I thought this was a very though-provoking take on this well-known story. I'm sure I often say that things are good enough, even though it really isn't! That includes my faith- it often isn't good enough for an all-powerful God. I'm so thankful we're deemed "good enough" through the blood of Jesus! Thanks for this great take on it!

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    1. I appreciate your feedback, Amy. I think I might do some more 5-minute free writes about Bible passages just on my own; it is so interesting what you can come up with.

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  7. I love your last line here, Jeannie, about letting Jesus do more work in us if we're honest about needing Him. (And happy birthday again! Hope you had a good day!)

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    1. Thanks Betsy - I appreciate your feedback. And my birthday has been good.

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  8. Wow, Jeannie! I have NEVER thought about this passage with your perspective before. That is powerful! Jesus does want us to be honest with Him. He may test us sometimes, but when we are authentic with Him, I believe we make Him smile. Thank you for the reminder to be honest about our need and our hopes. :)

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    1. Thank you, Jeanne: I'm sure there are more learned interpretations of this story but this is where my ponderings led me.

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  9. That is so true, and I too have never really thought of it like that before! I would have just gone with the blurry vision (which I have right now, like you, as well!) and thought that was the best He could do... but you are so right... honesty with ourselves and Jesus is so important.

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    1. Thanks, Emma--I really appreciate your feedback!

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  10. Thanks for your thoughts, Stephanie. I don't know if this is the "right" way to approach the passage but that's where my reflections led me.

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