BEYOND BELIEF: TRULY SEEING, ONE STEP AT A TIME

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Mark 8:22-26 (NKJV) Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put Hishands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”

1. The desperate need to see

Vs 22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him

• As in many other locations, people longed for Jesus to heal their family and friends so they brought them to Jesus
• Whether deaf, mute, lame or blind, people had come to accept that this Jesus was able to bring about healing
• The word “begged” (in the Greek – parakaleõ) conveys an urging which goes beyond the desire for a sign, they wanted their friend to be healed

1. The gradual process of sight

Vs 23-25 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly

• In an interesting display, Jesus doesn’t heal immediately even though He is more than capable of doing so. Why?
• This two-part healing process was a sign, not for the man, but for the disciples…and all of us.

1 Cor. 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.

1. The failure to see when it’s right in front of you

Vs 11-12 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

Vs 14-21 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.”20 “Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” And they said, “Seven.” 21 So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”

• Clearly, Jesus was teaching His disciples they had not yet fully understood who Jesus is and why it is important
• He challenges them on their inability to see what was right in front of them so He uses the healing of the blind man to instruct His disciples in

Vs 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

Application:

1. Looking for Him is the first step to truly seeing
2. It takes time and effort to fully understand who He is
3. Seeking and trusting Him leads to absolute sight

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and thatHe is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.