PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Mark 8:22-26
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes.” (Mark 8:25)
I am not sure why this healing was a two stage process, but this still happens today.
Some people are healed immediately, many others receive healing over time.
God’s work of salvation in Jesus is accomplished, but it is not complete.
God works out this salvation in time, some right away and some not yet.
There are also times when, for a purpose, God will wait, or even say no.
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take my thorn away. He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
It was not a failure on God’s part that the man was not healed completely right away.
His grace was being made perfect through the process of weakness – healing took time.
I see my own salvation and healing like this – things are still fuzzy to me.
There are many things I do not understand, many things still to be healed or corrected.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
I’m still a work in progress, but what I can see makes me hopeful for the rest to come!
PRAYER
Lord, there are still things that are fuzzy to me. Your healing miracle in me is not complete. But what I see now is enough to make me eager to see the rest.
I can sense the difficulty Jesus had. He was compassionate and he wanted to help the people, but he didn’t want to have his popularity derail him from his mission – to drink the cup of redemption. So when people brought him a blind man and asked for healing: “He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.” Jesus did not heal him instantly – was it a test – was there lack of faith? I think the charge at the end of the healing: “Don’t even go into[a] the village” – says it all. Jesus wants the healed person not to popularize the healing – the two step healing is a reminder to listen to Jesus and to do what he says. Do I see? Do I see opportunities to share that make the genuine case for Jesus and not to spoil the message? I need to be genuine and real as I share of his love for me – of his saving grace!
The friends brought the man to Jesus. Good friends because they associated with the blind man which culturally then people did not. He led the man out of the town because of their unbelief. Jesus told the man not to go into the town when he returned home but he could freely tell those at home of the miracle. Jesus could have healed the man by touch or by His word which probably was expected. However the man’s eyes were gradually opened. Growing spiritual takes time – gradual restoration – which is also true for me – seeing things clearer over time – as did the disciples. Growing in the truth.
And his righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you
Allelu..alleluia
Man shall not live by bread alone
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God
Allelu..alleluia
Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and it shall be opened unto you
Allelu, allleluia