Saturday's Scripture Story
Jesus Heals Blind Man - Twice
Mark 8:22-26
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
25 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. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
Pondering Point
According to the Texarkana Gazette, spitting is uncouth, but for Jesus it seems to be part of His healing ministry. In this story and at least two other places (Mark 7, John 9), He spits – expectorates – (got to love that word!). Read this short story, follow it up with verses 27-30 and notice the parallel of how some people see Jesus clearly and others do not, left with incomplete vision.
Mark 8:27-30
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Let’s not needlessly end up with an inadequate vision of God or of ourselves: As the prophet Jeremiah encouraged, Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD (Lamentations 3:30).
Consider the Examen as another tool for your spiritual belt of truth.
Here are the 5 steps to the Examen, this week’s spiritual discipline of prayer (generally taking about 15 minutes to do). Look back in the week to review each area along the way.
- Recognize that you are in the presence of God (presented on Monday)
- Look at your day with gratitude (presented on Tuesday)
- Ask for help from the Holy Spirit (presented on Wednesday)
- Review your day (Presented on Thursday)
- Reconcile and resolve (record observations on paper) (presented on Friday)
Write about your observations from your heart-to-heart
with Jesus into your computer, laptop, notebook or journal.
Prayer Prompt
Ask God to give you Daniel-like faith and courage to stand up for your convictions regarding your God and beliefs. Consider which friends of yours are most likely to stand with you amid faith challenges and say a prayer for them. Sometimes they are going through trials and could use a “fast friend” also.