The story of the blind man in Bethsaida is significant on multiple levels. It demonstrates Jesus’ compassion and power while also serving as a profound metaphor for spiritual growth and enlightenment. The gradual healing process highlights the journey from partial to full spiritual understanding, paralleling the disciples' and all believers' journey in faith.
[00:00:00] We're the spray friends together on our knees, let us pray friends together on our knees. And I fall on my knees with my face to the rise in sun, all over the earth, you see on the knees.
[00:00:27] Welcome to the Bible Speaks with Elgin Carelock. The Bible Speaks is a weekly ministry of harvest international.
[00:00:33] Our prayer is that the Bible Speaks will encourage you in your study of God's Word. You will be able to contact Elgin at the address given at the end of this broadcast. And now, here's Elgin.
[00:00:45] Brothers and sisters, I welcome you in the name of our risen Savior Jesus Christ. To another edition of Words of Inspiration. And today, we're going to discuss on the topic of Sing Clearly. Our scriptural text comes from Mark chapter 8, verses 22 through 25, which reads,
[00:01:13] Then he came to Besseda and they brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. So, he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of town. And when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands on him,
[00:01:30] he asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, I see men like trees walking. Then he put his hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everything clearly.
[00:01:48] I have been teaching Sunday's school for more than 20 years and have always sought to bring clarity to Scripture, so that those who hear as well as your astrually can carry out the purpose for which God called us to earth.
[00:02:04] One of the things I like to do is take passages of the word that may cause confusion and bring clarity, and so is my mission for today. One of the questions I hear most about our Squirtual text is why Jesus had to touch the blind man twice.
[00:02:22] Was there something wrong? Was Jesus not feeling well? Was what caused the blindness tougher than Jesus thought? So let's take a closer look and hopefully I can shed some light. When you think about when you gave your life to Jesus, what was your knowledge base?
[00:02:45] How well did you know the word and how capable were you of implementing? You may have been studying and memorizing the word, but undoubtedly there were experiences you had not yet encountered. Jesus' method of healing this blind man was deeply personal.
[00:03:06] He took the man by the hand and let him out of the village, indicating a personal and intimate engagement. This highlights Jesus' compassion and willingness to engage personally with those in need. Unlike many of Jesus's other miracles, this healing occurs its stages.
[00:03:29] Initially the man's vision is partially restored seeing people who look like trees walking. It is only after Jesus places his hand on the man's eyes a second time that his sight is fully restored. This gradual process symbolizes the progressive nature of spiritual insight and understanding.
[00:03:51] Faith in spiritual clarity often developed over time, rather than instantaneously. Why was this miracle gradual? Because Jesus wanted to show us that it is okay that some grow faster than others, but he is willing to lead us during the process.
[00:04:11] Even after you've been saved, God can still reveal things to you. That is the reason I enjoy studying the word so much. As I mentioned, I've been teaching Bible studying in Sunday School for more than 20 years.
[00:04:27] But it was in the last couple of years that I learned that Luke and Mark did not walk with Jesus. The blind man's gradual healing can be seen as a metaphor for our journey towards spiritual enlightenment. At first, our understanding of Jesus and his mission might be incomplete.
[00:04:49] However, with continued interaction and revelation from Jesus, our spiritual sight becomes clear. For example, in John 14 and 5, Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. On the surface, it is a straightforward statement.
[00:05:15] But as we grow to understand who Jesus really is, this statement transcends the spiritual and also has application in the natural. So if you're trying to make a significant decision regarding your business or career, Jesus is the way.
[00:05:34] Just as the word tells us in 1 Corinthians 3, verses 6 and 7, reading from the New International version, I planted the sea, Apollo's water did, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants, nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow.
[00:05:59] If God gives the increase and you can only come to the Father through Jesus, then Jesus is the key to the increase you seek. Further evidence of the progression can be found in 1 Corinthians 13 and 11. Where Paul writes, when I was a child, I spake as a child.
[00:06:23] I understood as a child. I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. Paul uses the metaphor of growing from childhood to adulthood to illustrate the journey from spiritual immaturity to maturity.
[00:06:41] He emphasizes the importance of putting away immature behaviors and attitudes to embrace a mature faith characterized by love. This maturity involves a deep selfless love that reflects Christ's teaching and transformed how we live and interact with one another.
[00:07:03] Brothers and sisters, the story of the blind man of Besseta is significant on multiple levels. It demonstrates Jesus' compassion and power while also serving as a profound metaphor for spiritual growth and enlightenment.
[00:07:21] The gradual healing process highlights the journey from partial to full spiritual understanding, paralleling the disciples and all believers journey in faith. This narrative encourages us to seek deeper spiritual insight and understanding, recognizing that faith and clarity often develop progressively through ongoing encounters with Jesus.
[00:07:48] I thank you for spending time with me on today and I look forward to our conversation on tomorrow. Until then, God bless. I've run away from this program is cared for by listeners who care.
[00:08:11] Your prayers and financial investment in this ministry helps to keep the good news on the air. We look forward to hearing from you and invite you to write us at harvest international post office box 66690 O'CalaFlorida 34488. Come in.