Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the
village… Mark 8:23
Brothers
and Sisters, warm greetings in Jesus name,
Imagine
for a moment, that you are this person who took a walk with the Lord of heaven
and earth! A short walk. A life-changing walk. A walk that changed everything.
A never go back or be the same again walk. Do
you feel the warmth of Jesus hand as He takes your hand and leads you out of, and away from, whatever is hindering you or lying to you or pulling you down?
Why
did He lead the man out of the village? I believe it was because Bethsaida had
already been judged for its unbelief. (Matt 11:21-24) He was separating him
from a place, that was for him, a place of temptation. A place that would bind him and blind him and hinder him from being in the center of God's will for him and succumb to a sinful life. Oh how we
need to come to a place where Jesus takes us by the hand and leads us out of and
away from all that hinders and leads us to His will for us. O that we would long for a
heart that longs for His will in our lives.
Nothing
happened for this man until he looked up! I was so moved reading this passage. Do
you go through life looking down, looking at all the world has to offer you
when God wants you to look up? I could feel His hand holding mine and leading
me to Himself in a deeper way.
Another
unusual thing is it took two tries to heal the man from blindness. It was a
gradual healing. So much unbelief hindered Jesus from doing many miracles.
Was
Jesus protecting the blind man when He instructed him not to return to the
village, not to even enter it? I believe He was.
Reach out your hand in
faith and choose this day, whom you will serve. Let Jesus take your hand and
lead you to Himself in a life changing , never go back again, never be the same
again walk! He will restore your eyesight spiritually and heal your soul.
Following
the scripture about the blind man Jesus continues to teach His disciples. “And He was
stating the matter plainly.” This refers to verse 31 of
chapter 8 ’And He began
to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by
the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after
three days rise again.
Now
Peter steps in and tries to help the LORD see that it couldn’t and shouldn’t
happen. And Peter took Him aside and began to
rebuke Him. But turning
around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, “Get behind Me, Satan;
for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Jesus helps Peter see it
not only could happen, but should happen and will happen.
Do
not miss the powerful closure in verses 34 and 35 of chapter 8. “Whoever wants to be my
disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For
whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for
me and for the gospel will save it.
Then
He addresses the crowd including them in His teaching and this includes us. Are
you walking with Him? Are you hearing Him? Are you longing for Him? Does He
hold your hand? Are you denying yourself and taking up your cross daily? This is
our invitation to crucifixion. See Galatians 2:20 also.
Jesus stated
the matter plainly that we too might hear and see…. He healed a deaf man (ears)
and then a blind man (eyes). Isn’t it obvious He is making a point? He asks his disciples in
verse 21 of chapter 8, “Do
you not yet understand?”
This is also a question we need to answer. Do we not yet understand?
The Cross expresses my love for you. Come take my
hand…trust me.
Love
in the LORD, az
Precious Lord,
take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Refrain
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Refrain
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Refrain
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Refrain
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Words: Thomas A. Dorsey, 1932.
