26/01/2014 - WHAT WAS IN THAT TOWN

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Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Do not even go into the town.” Mark 8:26

Nothing that Jesus did or taught was without a reason. He was driven by the Spirit of God, so He did what a normal man could not accomplish. His teachings awakened and brought faith to people. Whenever something catches your attention when you read the Scriptures, pray and ask the Lord to show you the lesson that should be learnt, for it will certainly do you good.

Christ went to Bethsaida, when some people brought Him a blind man, begging Jesus to touch him. Now, in the days of His earthly ministry, the requests were not every time fully attended by the Lord – and today it is still the same. We can be sure that every case is a different case, but the fact is that we all need to ask for divine orientation if we are to succeed in what we do.

Jesus answered that request. However, so that the miracle would happen, it was necessary to take that blind man away from town. So, acting in a different manner, Christ spat on that man’s eyes and put His hands on him, so that he would be healed. The Master asked if he saw anything, and then again, he put His hands on the blind man, for he could only see men like trees (Mk 8:24).

After the second time Jesus put His hands on the man, he was healed.He answered Jesus that he saw well and that he could distinguish the people from one another. Then the Lord sent him home and ordered him no to enter the town. The reason that led the Master to say that is something we do not understand. What did the people that took that man think when Christ ordered him to return home without entering the town?

There are some questions that we will only have the answer when we get to Heaven. Everything that the Lord does and says has great importance, so always listen to what he orders you. Those who leave it for later – who want to examine His orders or do not obey them right away -  will learn later that they were wrong in not fulfilling what He ordered them.

What was there in Bethsaida? Was it the unbelief that he would return to be a blind man again? Was that place dominated by a demon that would not allow the divine power to work? Would that man not exercise his faith, or would he deny his faith, and return to being blind in that place? Since we do not understand everything, the best thing to do is what our Saviour tells us, for He knows all things (Psalm. 33:13-15).

If the guidance for the man not to return to town were unnecessary, the Lord would not have given it. When God says something, do not discuss; do it! He says it through His Word.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares