Do You See Clearly? The Incomplete View of Jesus in Today’s World
Many people today—including some in the church—have an incomplete view of Jesus. They know something about Him, but they don’t fully grasp who He is, what He has done, or what He demands of His followers.
This isn’t a new problem. Even when Jesus walked the earth, those closest to Him often misunderstood Him. The disciples struggled to truly comprehend His identity until after His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
One passage that illustrates this partial understanding is the two-stage healing of the blind man in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22–26). Unlike Jesus’ other miracles, this one was not instantaneous—the blind man was only partially healed at first, seeing people “like trees, walking around.” Only after Jesus touched him again did he see clearly.
What was the point of this unique miracle? More than just physical healing, it was a living parable of spiritual blindness and growth—a truth that applies to many in our world today.
1. Partial Sight: A Common Problem in the Church Today
Many people recognize Jesus but do not fully understand Him. They may acknowledge that He is loving, that He performed miracles, or that He taught great moral truths. But their view of Him is blurred, like the blind man’s first sight.
Just as the disciples had partial sight before the resurrection, many today hold onto a comfortable, incomplete version of Jesus.
Some see Jesus only as…
A Moral Teacher – They admire His wisdom but ignore His divinity.
A Social Revolutionary – They emphasize His concern for justice but neglect His call to holiness and repentance.
A Cosmic Cheerleader – They believe He exists to make them happy but overlook His demand for sacrifice and obedience.
A Symbol of Tradition – They attend church and participate in religious activities but have no personal relationship with Him.
The Disciples Had the Same Problem
Before Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples had only a partial understanding of who He was. They saw Him as the Messiah, but they misunderstood what that meant.
They expected Him to overthrow Rome, not to die on a cross.
They argued over who would be the greatest rather than understanding the call to servanthood.
They ran in fear when He was arrested rather than trusting in His power.
Like the blind man in Bethsaida, they saw, but not clearly.
2. The Need for a Second Touch: Spiritual Growth and Full Sight
Just as Jesus touched the blind man a second time, He also "touched" the disciples a second time—through His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. That was when they finally understood.
“Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45, NASB)
Before that moment, their faith was weak and uncertain. Afterward, they boldly proclaimed the full truth of who Jesus was—even in the face of persecution.
The same is true for us today. Many people need a second touch from Jesus to move from partial understanding to full clarity.
How Does This Happen?
Through the Word of God – The more we study Scripture, the clearer our vision of Jesus becomes. (Romans 10:17)
Through the Holy Spirit – Only God can open our spiritual eyes. (John 16:13)
Through Surrender and Obedience – As we yield to Christ, we begin to see Him as Lord and King, not just a teacher or helper. (Matthew 16:24-25)
Through Suffering and Trials – Hardship often strips away false views of Jesus and reveals His true power. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
If you are struggling with doubt, confusion, or a limited view of Jesus, ask Him to touch you again—to reveal Himself fully and powerfully.
3. The Danger of a Blurred Vision of Christ
Having a partial view of Jesus is dangerous. It leads to weak faith, compromised beliefs, and spiritual stagnation.
A Partial Jesus Leads to a Shallow Faith – Many fall away in times of suffering because they never knew the Jesus who calls us to take up our cross (Matthew 10:38).
A Partial Jesus Creates False Expectations – Some believe Jesus exists to make them comfortable, and they become bitter when life is hard (John 16:33).
A Partial Jesus Leads to Spiritual Blindness. Just as the Pharisees rejected Jesus because He didn’t fit their expectations, many today reject the real Jesus because they prefer a Jesus of their own making (John 5:39-40).
Jesus warned about this:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 7:21, NASB)
We must seek to know Him fully, not just the parts of Him that are comfortable or appealing.
4. Seeing Clearly: Who is Jesus Really?
When we allow Jesus to remove our spiritual blindness, we begin to see Him as He truly is:
He is Savior – The only way to God (John 14:6).
He is Lord – The rightful King who demands our full allegiance (Philippians 2:9-11).
He is Judge – The One before whom every knee will bow (Revelation 19:11-16).
He is the Suffering Servant – The Lamb who was slain for our sins (Isaiah 53:5).
He is the Conquering King – The One who will return in power and glory (Revelation 1:7).
Do you see Jesus clearly? Or are you still seeing "trees walking around"?
If your view of Him is blurred, incomplete, or distorted, pray that He would open your eyes fully—so that you may know Him, follow Him, and worship Him as He truly is.
Conclusion: Ask for the Second Touch
Like the blind man in Bethsaida, many today have only a partial understanding of Jesus. Some have never known Him truly, while others have allowed culture, comfort, or false teachings to distort their vision.
But here is the good news:
Jesus is willing to touch us again.
Jesus wants us to see Him clearly.
Jesus is ready to open our eyes fully.
If you find yourself struggling to understand Jesus, or if your faith feels weak and uncertain, ask Him:
"Lord, touch me again. Open my eyes. Help me to see You as You truly are."
When Jesus heals our spiritual blindness, we don’t just see a great teacher—we see the Lord of all creation, the Lamb of God, and the Savior of our souls.
And when we truly see Him, everything changes.
“Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, NASB)
Let us seek the second touch of Jesus—so that we may see clearly and know Him fully.