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TRY & TRY AGAIN!
Gospel Reading: Mark 8:22-26
A second time Jesus laid hands on his eyes, and he saw perfectly. v.25
Even Jesus had to try more than once in healing the blind man at Bethsaida! In a sense you could say that Jesus' own example gives credence to the old saying. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." No doubt there are many areas in our own Christian life where this is necessary.
Christian Life Is a Process
Perfection doesn't happen overnight; total perfection doesn't happen at all. However, a substantial mastery over life's various problem areas is possible with daily work and patience. Jesus instructed us to take up our cross daily. Paul spoke of the struggle between his flesh and his spirit, and told us that he often did the things his spirit didn't want to do. John wrote of a continual process of confession, repentance, and forgiveness. We can't broad jump into victory and healing, we usually take one step at a time.
Repetition, Patience & Perseverance
Just as our personal Christian life is a process, ministry to others is also a process. We must be ministered to repeatedly through many steps; likewise, we must minister to others through many repeated steps. This is the essence of today's Gospel. Jesus healed the blind man of Bethsaida through steps. It didn't happen all at once. In a sense, this also happens with ministry in general. Jesus said that if they don't receive you in one town, shake the dust from your sandals and move on to the next. This involves repetition, patience and perseverance.
Are we willing to "try and try again" in our Christian life? Remember that losing a battle does not mean you have lost the war. Today's Gospel reading teaches us that even Jesus used a process to heal the blind man at Bethsaida. His healing wasn't instantaneous. We should not be discouraged if sometimes we must do the same.
John Michael Talbot
1 comments:
I always cringe when people wonder if Jesus "had to" lay hands on this man twice because of some inability.
What is incredible was the gift the man received the first time Jesus laid His hands on him!
Jesus, over and over again, taught that men are like trees! This is the Spiritual view that He had of people. We are all called to follow and obey Him. Our walk in righteousness is the fruit, the result, of the root of righteousness in us.
I wish sometimes that we could be as blind as that man who saw men as God sees us. It is so sad to hear him claim at the end that he saw men as "they really are", even though he was seeing perfectly--in the flesh.
It sad to think that the way we truly are is how we see ourselves. I wish we could all see ourselves as Jesus sees us!
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