Missing the Truth
Sometimes it takes a little work to see things clearly.
They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.” 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?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” - Mark 8:22-33
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus helps a blind man see. Then Peter shows that he can see Jesus is the Messiah. But then Jesus gets angry with Peter for failing to see the truth.
We don't know what Peter said to Jesus to get him so upset, but he was obviously not focused on the divine aspects of the Messiah. He was thinking instead of Jesus as a king.
This is how everyone at the time thought of the Messiah. When the Messiah came, he would herald in a new kingdom.
While this is true, it is not the visible kingdom they expected.
So, is it fair to be so angry with Peter?
Perhaps Jesus thought Peter understood when he accurately described him as the Messiah, but he clearly did not.
How do we know when we are missing the truth?
We may think we understand, and we may even answer the questions correctly, but we might not have the whole picture.
Peter's experiences are great examples of our own struggles with understanding God's presence in our lives and our purpose in His world.
What is it we are supposed to see clearly? And how come we fall short?
The lesson for us may be to stay open to the truth, even if we believe we already know it. We may find something or someone will come along to help us see more clearly.
More to come...