Jesus, The Healer; Jesus, The Word of God

Scripture References

Mark 8:22-26 NASBS

[22] And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. [23] Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?" [24] And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around." [25] Then again, He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. [26] And He sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village."

 

Psalm 1:1-3 NASBS

[1] How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law, he meditates day and night. [3] He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

 

This is a very interesting situation and requires some analysis! The blind man was most likely blind from birth. There are some very interesting things happening in this scene. I have three points that I want to share with you all. 

 

1. The Mode or Method of Healing or Miracle 

Jesus used a very different approach on this man. He literally spits on his eyes and laid his hands. Even if you are blind, someone spitting on your face as a mechanism of healing sounds crazy. Why not just do a simple prayer? Is spitting necessary? If you have read the entire Bible, you are probably aware of the fact that some of the ways God did healing and miracles does not have any human logic or sense to it. It not only sounds stupid but more in a practical sense has no scientific evidence behind it. I guess that's what you call a miracle; something beyond the natural; a supernatural event. Think about the event at the wedding in Cana. Jesus told the servant to serve water to the headwaiter which became wine instantly as the cup was put into the headwaiter’s hand. Another good example is where Elisha instructs Naaman who was suffering from leprosy to dip himself seven times in the Jordan river which was muddy. The bottom line is that regardless of how absurd God method or instruction sounds, it works one hundred percent. So, don't go all crazy and start complaining and murmuring on Gods ways. If He said it, He will fulfill it. God has magnified His word above his name (Psalm 138:2). So, stand firm in faith and do not loose heart. God stands true to His word and His word works. 

 

2. Did Jesus Fail to Heal the Blind Man the First Time? 

This is something that bothered me. Why? Because it really seems like that Jesus failed. I have checked a lot of Bible commentaries and they all say that here we learn that God sometimes heals in stages or progressively or something around that line. The truth is that I am not satisfied with that answer. We must remember that Jesus Christ is the only person in whom all the nine gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit worked in perfect harmony. When something is perfect, then there is no room for failure or second chances. This is probably the only healing or miracle performed by Jesus where we see failure. My question to you is this: did Jesus really fail or something else is going on here? I believe something else is going on. I believe Jesus healed the blind man's eyes the first time he spits and laid his hands on them. But he also opened his spiritual eyes. In other words, both his physical and spiritual eyes were open. Since we are spiritual beings, God allowed this blind man to see through his spiritual eyes. He was actually looking into the spiritual realm. At this point, Jesus asks him if he could see anything. He answers that he sees men like trees working around. There are a few things very important to notice here. One, the blind man has not seen the physical world and the things in it from birth. Therefore, for him to know what a man and a tree should look like is in a logical sense impossible. Image asking a blind person who just gained his sight what color yellow looks like. Of course, he won't know. The only realm where a person automatically knows what is what and who is who, even the thoughts and intentions of the other person is visible is in the spiritual realm. The blind man must be seeing with his spiritual eyes to know what a man looks like and what a tree looks like. Consider Psalms 1 where it says that a righteous man is like a tree. The blind man saw the men around Jesus like trees. But who exactly are the man around Jesus? These are his disciples. Think about what you just read with a clear mind. Jesus had not only healed his physical eyes but also opened his spiritual eyes. He did more for the blind man than was needed. Occasionally, our God does something extra ordinary than the regular healings and miracles. That's just His style. It is up to us to recognize these extra ordinary healings and miracles. Where most of us would have seen failure in Christ, it turns out to be a greater and more supreme kind of healing and miracle. That's just the way our God is sometimes! 

 

3. Are You a Tree Firmly Planted by Streams of Water?

So, the blind man saw the disciples of Jesus like trees working around. Psalms 1 say that a righteous man is like a tree planted by rivers of water. Who exactly is the rivers of water? You probably guessed by now; yes, it is Jesus Christ. The Bible calls Jesus the living water of life. Let's have a quick look at Christ’s conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well: 

 

John 4:10 NASBS

[10] Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

 

Let's look at another passage of scripture: 

 

John 7:37-39 NASBS

[37] Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. [38] He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" [39] But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

 

According to the above two verses Jesus Christ is the source of the living water of life. But how exactly do you get this living water? The disciples were around Jesus Christ and looked like trees to the blind man. Let's look back at Psalm 1 where verse 3 says, "He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers." Can you imagine that; Jesus is the living water of life and his disciples are like trees firmly planted around Him absorbing the very word of God Himself twenty-four seven since they are with Christ day and night. Remember that Jesus is not only teaching them the word of God but He himself is the word of God manifested in the flesh. In John Chapter 1 Verse 1, it is written that in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. Then in verse 14, John says that the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw His glory. Than later in his life, the Apostle John writes in his letter, 1 John 5:12, that He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. In other words, the only way to have this everlasting life or eternal life or living water of life is by being firmly grounded in the Son of God whose name is Jesus, the Christ. But what exactly does it mean to be firmly grounded in the Son of God? Since Jesus is the word of God manifested in the flesh, this statement means to be grounded firmly in the Word of God. How exactly does a person become firmly grounded in the Word of God? Let us look quickly at verse 2 in Psalm 1: 

 

[2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law, he meditates day and night.

 

It says that the righteous men delight in the law of the Lord. It is synonymous to saying the children of God delight in the Word of God. The next verse reads that the righteous men meditates on the law of God day and night. This is synonymous to saying that the children of God read, study, hear, share, meditate, memorize, teach, pray and apply the Word of God on a consistent and continuous basis. The Word of God is their spiritual food. Check your life and be your own judge. Decide for yourself if you really are a tree planted by streams of water? Is the Word of God supreme in your life or something else? How vital is the Word of God to you? It's important that we be honest with ourselves and compare our life styles with what the Word of God says. If we have not been faithful in following Christ Jesus till now, let's decide to do so today; let's take a stand and build our lives on the solid rock which is the Word of God. Let us approach the throne of God with boldness and confidence. Jesus said: "Whoever comes to me I will never cast out." John 6:37

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would encourage each one of you to take God's Word seriously. Do the following things with the Word of God and your spiritual life will bloom as a living testimony before all:

 

a. Read Your Bible Daily

b. Study Your Bible Daily

c. Meditate on Bible Promises that Apply to Your Situation, Circumstance or Problem

d. Memorize at Least 3 Scriptures on Important Subjects such as Faith, Healing etc. 

e. Personalize and Pray God's Word

f. Share the Word of God with Non-Believers

g. Share What You Learn from Your Bible with Other Believers

h. Attend Church Service, Bible Study and Home Prayer Meeting Every Week

i. Apply What You Learn in Your Life

j. Follow in the Foot Steps of the Master

 

Friends, I truly believe the above suggestions will greatly bless you. So, stand firm in God's Word and do not loose heart. God loves you so put in some effort to know Him and do His will. Amen. 

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