If we thought Mark was treating us to a sandwich in our reading on 8.28, the past couple of days give the impression that he was serving up something closer to a 4x4 (click here for a mouth-watering visual trip to In-N-Out if you're lost).

Mark gives us two miraculous feedings, the second intended to expand our interpretation of what the first means about Jesus' mission (it's going to extend beyond the Jews).  Then yesterday the disciples come to two different conclusions about Jesus' warning about the 'yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.'  Somehow, even after witnessing Jesus feed multiple thousands of people on two occasions, their first assumption is that Jesus is scolding them for not bringing any bread.  Then, after Jesus refocuses their lenses for them, they realize He is talking about the teaching of the Pharisees and of Herod (teachings that, if allowed to permeate their understanding of Jesus' teaching, will have a negative impact on their ability to faithfully carry on His mission.)

Then we have a blind man, healed in two stages.  First, he can see, but not clearly.  The second time, "as the man stared intently, his sight was perfectly restored" (Mk 9:25).  This is no mere detail to bring the reader into the action.  It's a direction to the readers to make sure they, themselves, look intently at what's being communicated.

The story of the blind man sets up Jesus' two questions to His disciples, and the two answers they give.  "Who do people say that I am?" Jesus asks. 

"Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets."

This is the stage of partial understanding–partial sight–that the first half of each the last handful of stories has involved.  Then Jesus asks, "But who do YOU say that I am?"  Peter responds, "You are the Messiah."  Bam.  Perfect sight.  Only not so much.

Now the order of partial-sight/clear-sight is reversed.  Jesus clarifies for them just what kind of Messiah He is: the kind that will "suffer many things and be rejected... killed" (with the added piece that after three days He will rise from the again.)  Perfect sight.  But Peter doesn't like what he sees, so he attempts to add some 'rose-tinting' to his lenses.  In fact, Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him "for talking like that."  Sadly, sometimes when our eyes our opened to the truth, we would rather return to ignorance. 

Jesus instantly removes the rose-tinted film from Peter's eyes.  As a result, the reader sees that Peter is not a human in conversation with his Teacher, but Satan tempting Jesus to compromise His identity calling, and mission.  (Talk about corrective lenses!)  Then Jesus reveals the full-extent of just how poorly our sight is, just how radical a shift is required on our part to see who Jesus is, and what His mission means for us who would associate with Him: those who try to preserve their lives will lose them, but those who give up their lives will live.

Today, the theme continues uninterrupted.  Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain.  Suddenly Jesus' clothing turns radiantly white, and Moses and Elijah appear there with Him.  Truly, Jesus must be an amazing man for such esteemed figures to see out His company!: Peter thinks to himself.  But, in a reversal of Peter's humanity being exposed as demonic, a voice from heaven declares, "This is my beloved Son.  Listen to Him."  Jesus' humanity is revealed as a 'cloaking device' for His divinity.

And so it continues: John the Baptist was no mere prophet, but Elijah whose return was foretold by Malachi – whose return would precede the coming of the Lord again to His people.  

Twice in the last two days the Bible asks us, "Are your hearts too hard to take it in?  You have eyes – can't you see?  You have ears – can't you hear?  Don't you understand even yet?" (Mk. 8:17b-18, 21a).  And then, "You faithless people!  How long must I be with you until you believe?  How long must I put up with you?" (Mk. 8:19).

Today, I am challenging myself to see Jesus clearly in spite of my resistance to the challenge that following Him involves.  I am asking God to help me see what really is, rather than seeing what I see because that's what I want to see – because that's all I'm willing to see.  

Now that Jesus has touched my eyes, will I settle for spending the rest of my life with partial vision, or will I confess that I don't yet see clearly?  Will I surrender myself not just to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah (a truth that Mark compares to seeing people just clearly enough that they look like trees), but to the way that Jesus is the Messiah (a way that is required for any who would be His disciples)?  Will I respond to Jesus as though He's another great man, on par with a Moses or an Elijah?  Or will I acknowledge that He is GOD, and hear His teachings and commands for what they are – the requirements for my life made by the Only True God?

Is there a prescription somewhere in these passages?  Any Scriptural counsel offered for how to get from where I am to where I need to be?  Thanks be to God: yes.

There is a man in the final story today, of whom we can say: he sees clearly precisely because he knows he does not see clearly.  His cry is, "I believe – help my unbelief!"  From there, Jesus draws a straight line for us to an even stronger prescription.  He shows us that the belief His disciples do have lacks power, lacks authority, because they have neglected the aspect of the life of faith that lines up with the 'help my unbelief' part of the 20/20-sighted man's cry: prayer.

I believe.  It is in my returning daily to prayer that I confess to God, "Help my unbelief."  Do you want to see, understand?  Do you want to know Jesus us a good man or as God, to see Him as He is as opposed to the image we've created in Him in?  Do I want the Gospel that promises me everything I want, or the one that calls me to 'come and die' (which is actually the way to everything you want, it just takes a path that you would never chose for yourself)?  Do you want you want the courage to accept the road before you, or need the strength to overcome the obstacles before you?

Pray.  Today.  Tomorrow.  Pray and never stop praying.  Or, as the apostle Paul puts it: "Pray without ceasing" (1 These 5:17); "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Eph 6:18); "In everything, by prayer and petition–with thanksgiving–make your requests known to God" (Phil 4:6).  Prayer is actually what makes the difference between the blind man who says, "I see," (and, in fact, does) and the equally blind man who says, "You're a liar” (and who we all know is, in fact, the fool).