Tuesday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. Today Jesus heals a blind man in two stages and then asks the disciples the most important question: “Who do you say that I am?” Others can’t see but the disciples see. Peter makes the good confession, “you are the Christ.” Yet, the leaven of human thinking still lingers. 

As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.

Lord Jesus, you are the One who opens blind eyes.

You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

We look to you for life. 

We set our minds on you and your ways. 

We reject every influence that would corrupt or hardened our hearts to you. 

We give everyone and everything to you. 

It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to your name O Most High. To declare your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. 

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.

A Scripture Reading from Mark 8:22-30

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And taking the blind man by the hand he led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

The healing of the blind man is the only two-stage healing in the Gospel of Mark. With the first touch the man can see, but everything is blurry like walking trees. The man has gained real sight but his understanding is distorted. His perspective is off which is exactly where the disciples are spiritually. After Jesus touches him again, he finally sees clearly.

This story works like a living parable. People often need more than one touch from the Lord to see things from his perspective. Right after this, at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is. Peter correctly says you are the Christ. Even then they misunderstand what kind of Messiah he is. The leaven has clouded their vision. Their ability to see is only partial.

A Prayer of Adoration

Lord Jesus, you are the Christ. You are the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Son of David, the Son of the living God. 

You are the Great Physician who gives of yourself so that we can see. Lord, I don’t know how but your spit can open blind eyes and your precious blood can cleanse us of all sin. 

Lord Jesus Christ, you are our only hope! We worship you and honor you as the Anointed One of God. 

A Prayer of Confession

Lord forgive us when we see only blurry shapes and call it enough. 

Forgive us when we object and reject your ways because we can’t see clearly why you do what you do. 

Forgive us for speaking what others say about you instead of declaring what we really believe. Touch us again today so that we can see. Lord, we want to see you rightly!

A Prayer and Declaration of Trust

Lord, today we make the good confession, “Jesus, you are the Christ.” You are the Lord. We open ourselves to you to do your healing work and we trust your process. 

We have no other hope but you. 

Lord, we trust that we are in process and that we are not disqualified because of what we do not yet see or understand. 

We hear your invitation. You council us to apply your salve to our eyes so we can see. 

We receive you as our portion. You are the way, the truth, and the life. 

A Prayer of Intercession

Lord, we want to be like the people who brought the blind man to you and begged you to touch him. Lord, the blind have no way of seeing unless you touch them se bring before you all those we know who cannot see. 

Lord, have mercy and touch those who are in the dark. Have mercy Lord and touch them. Lord, bring them out of their community and spit in their eyes if you need to. Lord, touch those we know who do not see you. 

Lord, remove the leaven of hypocrisy and power-seeking from the church. God, we want to help people see you. We don’t want to be a distraction or a hindrance. 

And Lord, give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation to know you better. Let the eyes of our heart be enlightened to see you clearly. Open the eyes of our hearts Lord, we want to see you. 

A Moment of Reflection:

Lord, is there any area where my expectations of you are keeping me from seeing clearly?

As we listen to the passage again, let’s listen for a word, or phrase, or an idea that the Holy Spirit may want to say to us from todays verses: 

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And taking the blind man by the hand he led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”

And now Our Weekly Passage to Memorize together:

Mark 8:34

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

We pray the Lord’s Prayer together as we close:

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread and

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever

Amen