RHEMA 6/06/11:  HEALING IS SOMETIMES A JOURNEY OF FAITH

THOUGHTS TO PONDER:  Instead of healing the blind man right where he was, Jesus led him on a journey out of the town Bethsaida.  Then Jesus prayed the first time and asked him how he was seeing.  Then Jesus prayed a second time.  Bethsaida means house of fishing.  Was Jesus drawing him, fishing for the man's faith?

Mark 8:22-26

Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 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. And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking."  Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him away to his house, saying,  "Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town."

I considered the idea that Jesus led the blind man away from town and then told him not to go back after he was healed.  Was it because of unbelief in the town and Jesus did not want people to cloud his faith and ability to receive and then keep his healing? 

When Jesus prayed for him and there was improvement, was it because Jesus was giving him opportunity for his faith to grow, to be able to receive his full healing?  As I pondered these thoughts I wondered if Jesus was fishing for the man's faith... could he swallow this opportunity and take the bait of healing for himself, even though he never "saw" Jesus do miracles?

NT:966  BETHSAIDA

Bethsaida (bayth-sahee-dah'); of Aramaic origin [compare OT:1004 and OT:6719]; fishing-house; Bethsaida, a place in Palestine:

KJV - Bethsaida.

OT:6719

tsayad (tsah'-yawd); from the same as OT:6718; a huntsman:

KJV - hunter.

CONCLUSION:  As I ponder Jesus' methods in leading the blind man to receive his healing, I see that Jesus was giving us a role model in how to pray for the sick.

Mark 16:15-18

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."