The Gift of Hindsight

It is said that hindsight is 20/20. Looking back on a long life, we can always see clearer using today’s perspective. We see how our struggles ‘got us here’ and we see how God led us to encounter Him. All the while, amid struggle, we were blind to God.

At that time, the report concerning Jesus spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. The disciples of John told him of all these things. And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.” When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.’ I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John; but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

Luke 7.17-30

In today’s Gospel we learn how to discern prophecy. Saint John the Baptist, the final prophet of the Old Testament, and cousin of Jesus Christ, sent his disciples to Christ to gain hindsight. Christ said, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard.”

In sending them back to John the Baptist with a vision of what healings and ministries Christ had accomplished, they were learning to read prophecy. He turned their eyes to Isaiah 35 which taught about the savior. Jesus Christ was granting them 20/20 vision.

It wasn’t until AFTER they witnessed Jesus healing to blind and lame that they understood the prophecy was about Him. That’s how prophecy works. God prepares us to understand His promise, SO THAT, once we HAVE SEEN it take place, we will remember the promise.

John the Baptist was helping his disciples see Jesus for who He was, the Messiah. Then he faded away, sending his disciples to follow Christ. Then Christ lead them through three years of preparation to understand the promise of salvation.

The Prophecy of Isaiah wasn’t about a secular savior, sent to rescue them from Roman rule. The Prophecy was about a spiritual savior, sent to rescue all humanity from death. That is why so many, including His closest disciples, didn’t fully understand until AFTER the Resurrection.

Hindsight is only 20/20 AFTER the fact. Whether it was the prophets of the Old Testament, or the disciples in the New Testament, or the Holy Fathers of the Church, it is always AFTER God has blessed us that we see His promise.

Why do I bring that up? I invite you in today’s reading to ‘see your suffering’ today as something you will understand later, once God has accomplished what He wants for you. Accept today’s reading as a lesson in trust. Trust that God will reveal His blessings to you.

We may have to wait for a fuller understanding, but that is normally because we are not quite ready today. We may not be ready even tomorrow, but when God is ready to reveal it to us, we will be ready by God’s grace and our willingness to trust God’s timing.

His timing is always perfect. His vision is always perfect. It is our vision that is always a bit cloudy in the moment. When it comes to God’s blessings, hindsight is definitely 20/20.