Mark 8:22-25 (NLT) 22When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. 23Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?” 24The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” 25Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly.
The touch of his hand and the use of spittle occur in many of the miracles Jesus performed during his ministry. In fact, in the previous chapter of Mark, another miraculous healing is recorded.
Mark 7:31-35 (NLT) 31Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns. 32A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him. 33Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. 34Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” 35Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!
In my time of study, I notice similarities. As mentioned, the use of touch and spittle occur in both. But I have discovered the use of spittle was a common remedy of that time and culture. Perhaps it is why, even today, when we burn our finger, we immediately put it to our mouth to ease the pain.
Another similarity is that in both events Jesus led the man away from the crowds. Also, in both cases Jesus gave the instructions not to spread the news of the healing (c.f., Mark 7:36 and Mark 8:26). News was already spreading rapidly and news of the events were drawing Jesus’ ministry here on earth to a close; and quickly so. In my limited understanding, less notoriety could create more time to provide more opportunity for even more miraculous events. Jesus’ time was limited. In his compassion his desire was to help as many people as possible. As I read through the gospels, this makes sense to me.
Yet there is a striking difference between the two miracles. In the case of the deaf man with the speech impediment, healing was instantaneous. This seems to be the way of most of the recorded miracles in the gospels. However; in the case of the blind man, or at least this specific blind man, the healing occurs in stages. The fact that the man knew what trees looked like, and the use of the words completely restored, cause me to believe that at one time this man had vision. Why did this man’s healing occur in stages? In my limited way of thinking; I believe it is because Jesus knew best what this man needed. He knew how much the man could handle all at once, and how much would be “too much” and sensory overload. I believe Jesus healed the man in stages because he compassionately knew that the man needed to be healed in stages.
In Scriptures, we are promised wisdom to understand the Scriptures if we ask for wisdom.
James 1:5 (NLT) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Yet I strongly believe, at least in my own case, that our Loving Heavenly Father knows how much we can handle at any given time. He opens our mind’s understanding of his Word gradually, over a lifetime. Each time we open our Bible and read; each time we open our Bible and study; each time brings deeper understanding and a closer bond with our Heavenly Father—who He is, what He desires. And THAT dear friends is the greatest motivation for beginning today. Start reading your Bible today. Start studying your Bible today. Leave the amount of wisdom and understanding to your Heavenly Father for he knows how much you can handle. He is faithful.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the promise of wisdom and understanding to know You and Your desires for your faithful people. Thank you for helping us grow in stages.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The devotional Speech Impediments and Walking Trees appeared first on
Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment