Sermon Title: Its Important to Focus
"They came to Bethsida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 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?' He looked up and said, 'I see people; they look like trees walking around.' 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. Jesus sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village.'"
Two questions arise from the reading of this story: one, why did Jesus tell the man who was healed not to go into the village? Biblical scholars give many reasons, but the most probable reason is because Jesus was not finished with His ministry in Bethsida and was afraid that the man who was healed would cause chaos and a crisis. This had happened before in Galilee (see Mark 1:45). This is in contrast with other places where Jesus told those who were healed to "proclaim" what was done for them (see Mark 5:18-20). In those places Gentiles (non-Isrealites) were the dominate population, so they were not expecting a Messiah who would deliver them. Today, God wants us as Christ followers to tell others about the miracle-working Christ and the salvation that is provided through His death and resurrection throughout the world (Mark 16:15).
The second question that arises: why did Jesus have to touch the man's eyes twice before he was fully healed? To hear the answer to that question, you have to come to church on Sunday and hear the sermon! Hope to see you then!
