22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Mark 8:22-25 (NKJV)
This is one time in scripture when Jesus performed a miracle in someone’s life that was not complete. Have you ever thought about why he did this? When you read the whole chapter – this story actually fits. The whole chapter is about people that see – but don’t really see!
The community: not seeing clearly…
11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. Mark 8:11 (NKJV)
Bethsaida – this was not on Jesus’ list of top 10 favorite towns.
"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Matt 11:21 (NIV)
Here the people looked for a sign. Jesus had done many miracles here. They were amazed by him, but still missed who he really was him. They saw – but they didn’t really see.
The people of Bethsaida are blind to who he really is.
The disciples: not seeing clearly…
Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? Mark 8:18 (NKJV)
The disciples are even struggling. Jesus asks them in verse 27 – who do men say that I am? In verse 29 – who do YOU say? Peter – “The Christ”. Then in verse 32, Peter begins to rebuke him, and Jesus has to say
He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men Mark 8:33 (NKJV)
The problem is – everyone has a pre-conceived notion of the Christ. But He somehow refuses to fit into our molds.
In this story – we’re going to talk about a man that went from being blind to seeing clearly. The story shows us that sight does not always come instantly. In truth, God reveals Himself progressively.
I wonder if anyone here wants to really see? Yesterday as I was praying, “God – I want to see you. I see you, but I don’t feel like I am really seeing you”. And the Lord started talking to me about what needs to happen if we want to see him:
It is safe to say that those who brought this man to Jesus had a pre-conceived notion of what happened when Jesus touched someone.
Jesus reached out his hand… Everyone held their breath… Nothing happened.
Except that Jesus led the man out of town.
We must be released from the expectations of others.
The truth is – it may not happen for me like it happened for others. What Jesus wants to do in my life is unique. The questions “How are others doing it?” and “How did it happen in the past” will cause us to serve too small a god.
Co-dependency… Getting your sense of value from another, instead of God.
How frightening must it have been for this man to walk out of town with a total stranger. There is no record at this point that the man has had any part in this. He has not asked to be healed.
We must trust Jesus to lead us into the unknown.
Even after Jesus had not healed him instantly – he trusted Him enough to let Jesus lead him.
Then Jesus did something very strange. After he had the man alone, he spit on the man’s eyes. I looked at this throughout the scriptures. There wasn’t anything polite, or complimentary about this… It was then, just like it is today – a sign of disdain.
We must not be offended.
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:66-68 (NIV)
Another example – Syrophonecian woman.
The question here is – will you be around for the real miracle? I think the biggest problem for most people – the reason that they do not receive the miracle, is that they give up on Jesus too soon.
I would like to tell you that I knew why Jesus spit on him. I actually spent a couple of hours yesterday trying to discover the answer. I finally came to this conclusion:
I don’t have to know why.
Does it matter? Oh yes – it matters. There IS a why. Jesus had a particular reason for doing it. It somehow factors into this miracle.
Jesus spits on a deaf man in Mark 7. He spits in the dirt and puts the resulting mud on a blind man’s eyes in John 9. My analytical mind wants to know why. What’s the pattern? What does it symbolize? But I’m gradually beginning to accept that I may never in this life understand the significance of Jesus’ spitting on someone.
And as I consider this – I realize that I may never understand the significance of many things that he does in my life. I have to accept his love for me – and not be offended.
Because if I get offended, I may leave – right before God does what he really wants to do!
All things work together for good… Rom 8:28
Jesus touched the man, and a miracle took place. But it was only a partial miracle. Jesus asked him the question, “Do you see anything”?
Jesus knew the answer. He just wanted the man to talk to him.
We cannot be passive.
These words may or may not be the first words this man spoke to Jesus. They are the first recorded words.
I looked at other instances in the Bible where Jesus healed blind men. In the instances that he healed them instantly – they themselves had worshipped him and asked him to. In the instances where he healed them gradually (2) – someone else had done the asking.
But Jesus wants me to be involved in the process…
I cannot necessarily explain it – but throughout the Bible there is this inseparable bond between the heart and the mouth. There is a connection between our faith and our confession.
That’s why Jesus says “I know what you need before you ask” – but he still says “Ask”.
We must be honest with God when we speak.
This guy was brutally honest. I love that. Who knows – perhaps Jesus was actually testing this guy’s honesty! When you think about it – this guy had all the motivation in the world for being dishonest in this particular communication.
- What if he offended Jesus?
- What would others think of him, since he wasn’t healed instantly, like others had been?
- What if he allowed some expression of doubt?
You know – we have a lot of reasons for not being honest in our communication with God. Yes – many of us pray dishonestly.
We really don’t have to worry about offending God –he knows exactly what we are thinking, so it does no good to say otherwise.
We often say (esp. in public) what we think others will want to hear.
Sometimes we’re afraid of saying anything but “faith words”.
I love David… He was a man after God’s own heart. This is a guy that knew how to talk to God. Just listen to him in Psalms 21:
1 O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! 2 You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips… Psalms 21:1-2 (NIV)
Now, listen to him in the next chapter:
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Psalms 22:1-2 (NIV)
Here’s my real message today. I see men as trees walking.
There is a strength that lies in understanding that God uses time in revealing his person, his plan.
When things don’t happen as quickly as we think they should – we have a tendency to:
1) second-guess our own value
2) become disillusioned and give up
3) compare ourselves with others, seek the commendation of others
4) try to convince ourselves that we have it all (that men actually look like trees)
In all of these – there is a danger that we will:
- turn our back on him in anger and leave
- become satisfied and stay where we are
But I believe, with all my heart – that God has something more for me. For this church. So I’m going to forget about what other people expect from me. I don’t know where I’m going, but I know that He is holding my hand, and I’m going to trust him. And I’m going to be honest in my relationship with Him.
I’m not what I was – nor am I what I will be…
I only have HALF of the miracle I expect… |
