The story about Jesus healing the blind man in Bethsaida is an encouraging one because it's nestled within other episodes that show the pains Jesus took to build the faith of His disciples and train them to discern between light and darkness. From this story, we can take comfort in knowing that He wants to train us too. We can also take courage that He wants to send us out to boldly share our faith in faith!
Check out Mark 8. Do you see how Jesus warned the disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Leaven was an element used in baking, so the disciples thought He described ordinary bread. But Jesus used the picture of bread to warn the disciples about allowing elements of the Pharisees' doctrine to infiltrate their spiritual understanding.
The disciples didn't "see" what Jesus was warning them about, however. When they went to Bethsaida, the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip, Jesus received a blind man brought to Him for healing. Through this event, He would steer everyone toward unrelenting faith in Him.
Before He healed the man, Jesus took him out of town. He spat on the ground and used the paste to touch the man's eyes. At first, the man saw men as trees. Jesus touched him again, and the man saw completely.
There's a lot to chew on in this passage. The usual question is why didn't Jesus heal the man instantly? Perhaps the better approach is to meditate on the context.
Jesus wanted the disciples to view spiritual things from His perspective, and it was taking them minute. Bethsaida was the home of at least three of the disciples. Bethsaida also was one of the places Jesus later rebuked in Matt. 11:21 for its unbelief.
Could that be why Jesus took the man outside of town? Sometimes God isolates so that unbelief doesn't soak the atmosphere. Jesus took that approach when He healed the dead girl in Matt. 5:35-43. He kicked out mourners who ridiculed Him for saying the girl was only asleep.
Jesus may also have allowed the blind man to be healed after two touches to demonstrate divine patience. God holds all power, so the hold-up wasn't with Him. The man from Bethsaida, a community with a faith problem, may have had to undergo an inward transformation in some way -- at the discretion of Jesus. Perhaps the man had to submit to leaning on Jesus for his healing, and not himself or others.
Likewise, the disciples had to learn to trust Jesus implicitly, even if they didn't understand immediately. They had to hunger for the pure bread of heaven instead of the corrupted religion the Pharisees offered. And, like the blind man, their spiritual healing was taking time.
If God puts us into a quiet place this Thanksgiving week or during the Christmas holiday, perhaps it will be His chosen opportunity to build our faith at deeper levels. He may present object lessons that reveal His desire for us to believe in Him without any reservations.
Get ready.
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| Wikipedia -- Christ Healing the Blind Man by A. Mironov |
Check out Mark 8. Do you see how Jesus warned the disciples to beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. Leaven was an element used in baking, so the disciples thought He described ordinary bread. But Jesus used the picture of bread to warn the disciples about allowing elements of the Pharisees' doctrine to infiltrate their spiritual understanding.
The disciples didn't "see" what Jesus was warning them about, however. When they went to Bethsaida, the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip, Jesus received a blind man brought to Him for healing. Through this event, He would steer everyone toward unrelenting faith in Him.
Before He healed the man, Jesus took him out of town. He spat on the ground and used the paste to touch the man's eyes. At first, the man saw men as trees. Jesus touched him again, and the man saw completely.
There's a lot to chew on in this passage. The usual question is why didn't Jesus heal the man instantly? Perhaps the better approach is to meditate on the context.
Jesus wanted the disciples to view spiritual things from His perspective, and it was taking them minute. Bethsaida was the home of at least three of the disciples. Bethsaida also was one of the places Jesus later rebuked in Matt. 11:21 for its unbelief.
Could that be why Jesus took the man outside of town? Sometimes God isolates so that unbelief doesn't soak the atmosphere. Jesus took that approach when He healed the dead girl in Matt. 5:35-43. He kicked out mourners who ridiculed Him for saying the girl was only asleep.
Jesus may also have allowed the blind man to be healed after two touches to demonstrate divine patience. God holds all power, so the hold-up wasn't with Him. The man from Bethsaida, a community with a faith problem, may have had to undergo an inward transformation in some way -- at the discretion of Jesus. Perhaps the man had to submit to leaning on Jesus for his healing, and not himself or others.
Likewise, the disciples had to learn to trust Jesus implicitly, even if they didn't understand immediately. They had to hunger for the pure bread of heaven instead of the corrupted religion the Pharisees offered. And, like the blind man, their spiritual healing was taking time.
If God puts us into a quiet place this Thanksgiving week or during the Christmas holiday, perhaps it will be His chosen opportunity to build our faith at deeper levels. He may present object lessons that reveal His desire for us to believe in Him without any reservations.
Get ready.
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