Scripture
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
~Mark 8:25, NIV
Quote
For the first time ever, everything seems to be in place for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
~Ronald Wilson Reagan
Mark 8:22-26 is a rich passage. It is the story of Jesus healing the blind man from Bethsaida {House of Fish}. There are three very interesting and unique things about this story. One of them you will recall from Wade’s famous sermon, “Don’t Go Back To The Village.” First: Jesus takes the blind man by the hand and leads him away from the village. Picture an adult leading a child by the hand–the child may stumble but he or she cannot fall because the stronger hand is holding them. The second point is the one Wade emphasizes: Jesus lead the man away from the village {the world of unbelief} and after healing him, instructed him not to return to the village {world} but it is the third that I want to emphasize today.
Jesus healing of this man came in two phases. After the first touch, the man could see but not clearly. He could not focus. He could see the general shape of things but he could not make out the details. Then there is the second touch and after this the man could see clearly. This is prophetic: we all get two touches. At regeneration we began to see but we can’t see clearly. We do recognize the light and we are able to walk in it but we do not see clearly. I thank God for what I can see but I admit that many things are not clear to me. I do not understand why St. Jude is filled with sick children. I do not understand how God can be so patient and forbearing with a wicked and adulterous generation such as the one we live in. Let’s face it, Sodom couldn’t have been much worse than Washington D.C. So I and you are awaiting a second touch and we will get it at glorification. When Jesus returns we will get our vision completely restored and we will see clearly. Jesus said, “Surely I am coming soon.” We say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
There is an awful thin line between praising the LORD and boasting. The LORD always knows the heart but I’m going to take a chance and tell you we had a good day yesterday. Couldn’t ask for the LORD to be better and I do want to praise him. Josh Melson, our Youth Pastor at Grace Point, is filling our pews literally. His FFA string band lead our praise and worship yesterday and they did great. We only had 25 empty seats. God is good.
Joe David’s sermon was good and our small group discussion went good. Good day all around: thank YOU Jesus.