The Most Humbling Thing 
By Becky Rule

Have you noticed how Jesus seemingly used a different approach with each person He healed? In very similar situations, Jesus dealt with individuals in completely different ways. And He did so from start to finish!

Looking at the several blind men that Jesus healed as an example, we find great variety. Sometimes He went to the person in need of healing. Sometimes friends or relatives brought Him someone to heal. Other times Jesus stood still and either called the needy one to Him or commanded that the person be beckoned. Some folks were taken away to privacy while He healed others in the midst of crowds.

Sometimes Jesus touched a man’s eyes and he instantly saw. With another, he immediately received his sight without a physical touch from Jesus. One man’s healing was a process. It took being led away from town by the hand, having his eyes spat upon, AND being touched -- not once but TWICE -- before he was restored and saw clearly.

Even Jesus’ instructions after a healing varied. He strictly charged some to tell no one. Another He sent to his home with the command to not go into town or tell anyone. He allowed others to follow Him in praise and worship.

Most times Jesus asked questions of people, but He did not often use the same question. Apparently, there was no secret formula or magic approach. And sometimes there were no questions at all. In the instance of the man who was blind from birth, the man did not ask for healing, nor did Jesus ask any questions of him. Jesus simply saw and healed him by spitting on the ground to make clay, anointing the man’s eyes, and telling him to go wash. As a result of the healing, the man endured a barrage of questions by neighbors and religious professionals. Twice, he was pulled before the Pharisees for questioning, with the result of being thrown out of the synagogue. Think of what must have gone through this man’s mind! He had been born blind through no fault of his own. Now he was healed, not because he chose to be, but because Jesus chose him. And what had it gotten him? Nothing but trouble! After all the interrogation and the resulting excommunication, Jesus sought him out again. He had first healed him physically. Now after all the conflict, He spoke to him about spiritual healing. And the man received it (see John 9).

In my own experience I have watched God deal with Mike and I quite differently from each other, and I have often deeply struggled with it. As husband and wife, we find ourselves facing the same issues while being led to handle the circumstance in two seemingly contradictory ways. It has confused me, often leading me to believe that we are not likeminded or united. While recently reflecting on yet another area where this has surfaced, God asked a question He continually uses powerfully in my life: What is the most humbling thing?

With pride as our greatest enemy, it stands to reason that humility is our greatest challenge. In each instance of a blind man’s healing, we see Jesus respectful of human dignity and tenderly concerned. But at the same time He challenged each man to humble himself and choose faith. Jesus was not being inconsistent in His treatment of them. He was continually looking at their hearts instead of their actions or behaviors. He was always looking deeper than the surface level. It is possible that it took the whole interaction with the Pharisees and the community before the man blind from birth would be willing to receive Jesus’ gift. It may have been best for the man who experienced the gradual healing to choose humility and faith more than once. Our journeys are custom made to challenge our pride and humbly receive.

Looking again at the men Jesus healed, for some the most humbling thing was to stand up and move forward to Jesus. For others, the most humbling thing was to have Jesus come to them. Some needed the experience of being led to Him. For some, it was humbling to have Jesus touch them. For others, the greater humbling was to receive sight without being touched. Some needed instant healing. Others were allowed gradual healing.

How does this apply to our lives today? Maybe the more humbling thing for some of us is to remain alone and stay quiet, while for others it is to speak up in our relationships. For some of us, the more humbling thing is to be told what to do. Others need to be challenged to take initiative and make decisions. Yet another needs to stand up and lead others. Are we willing to allow each other the freedom to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling?

The more humbling thing varies not only from person to person, but also from situation to situation in our individual lives. At times it is most humbling to sit still and wait on God, for to act would be taking a situation into our own hands in unbelief. Other times, to act in the midst of uncertainty is more humbling and an expression of our faith. The more humbling thing in some instances is to not bring an issue to God again. Other times, the more humbling thing is to continue asking and trusting, again and again and again, with a heart wide open, though God seemingly does not hear and it feels like He continually hands your broken heart back to you in pieces on a platter.

Jesus meets each of us individually and personally because of our unique filters by which we view the world and make our choices. Only God is capable of dealing with us both as individuals and the Body. He shows no favorites, and His goal is to raise or lower us at the appropriate times in order that we all humbly land at the same place: His feet. The challenge is to meet each other at the level of humility, not the more superficial level of our behaviors (which are only results and expressions of our individual choices between pride and humility). Though we often let it drive us apart, this very tension can keep our eyes on Jesus -- not on our walk with Him, not on what we do or do not do, and not on others and what they do or do not do. Which takes greater faith: to do what others do or say to do, or to choose “the most humbling thing” for you, alone and misunderstood? I find this to be especially difficult with those closest to us because we desperately want to be unified and like-minded. However, the greater is that we are like-HEARTED in our pursuit of Jesus. Yes, sometimes we experience tremendous loneliness, uncertainty, insecurity, confusion, apparent inequity and supposed error. But as I watch Jesus meet each of us for who we are, in the situations where we find ourselves, in the end it only increases my awe of Him and my appreciation of how intimately He knows us. He so carefully and tenderly handles our lives…all for the ultimate and extreme good of all.

Verses for Reflection 

And when Jesus passed on from there, two blind ones followed Him, crying and saying, Son of David, have mercy on us. And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him, Yes, Lord. Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith let it be to you. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See, let no one know. (Matthew 9:27-31)

And behold, two blind men were sitting by the wayside. When they heard that Jesus passed by, they cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David! And the crowd rebuked them, saying that they should be silent. But they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David! And Jesus stood still and called them, and said, What do you desire that I should do to you? They said to Him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. (Matthew 20:30-34)

And He came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. And He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spat on his eyes and had put His hands on him, He asked Him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, I see men as trees, walking. And after that He put His hands again on his eyes and made him look up. And he was restored and saw all clearly. And He sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. (Mark 8:22-26)

And as He came near Jericho, it happened that a certain blind man sat by the roadside begging. And hearing the crowd pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passed by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, Son of David! Have mercy on me. And they who were in front rebuked him that he should be quiet. But he cried so much the more, Son of David! Have mercy on me. And Jesus stood and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, What do you desire that I should do to you? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said to him, Receive your sight! Your faith has saved you. And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And when they saw, all the people gave praise to God. (Luke 18:35-43)

And an argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Yeshua [Jesus], perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him Who sent Me; for he who is least among you, this is the one who is great." And Yochanan [John] answered and said, "Commander, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to hinder him because he does not follow with us." But Yeshua said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." And it came about, when the days were approaching for His ascension, that He fixed His face to go to Yerushalayim [Jerusalem]; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him. And they went, and entered a village of the Shomronim [Samaria], to make preparations for Him. And they did not receive Him, because He was going with His face toward Yerushalayim. And when His disciples Ya’akov [James] and Yochanan saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire to come down from Heaven and consume them?" But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, "You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; "for the Son of Man did not come to utterly ruin men’s lives, but to save them."] And they went on to another village. (Luke 9:46-56)

…He told him, "Keep following me." Peter turned around and noticed the disciple whom Jesus kept loving following them. He was the one who had put his head on Jesus' chest at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he said, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will for him to remain until I come, how does that concern you? You must keep following me!" So the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple wasn't going to die. Yet Jesus didn't say to him that he wasn't going to die, but, "If it is my will for him to remain until I come, how does that concern you?" (John 21:19-23)