Jesus Spit in His Eyes
Mark 8:22-26
Aug. 6, 2006 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction:
And they came* to Bethsaida. And they brought* a blind man to Jesus and implored* Him to touch him. 23 Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?" 24 And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around." 25 Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. 26 And He sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village." Mark 8:22-26 (NASB)
The entire landscape of the blind man’s life was changed after he’d been alone with Jesus. (Essence of the text in a sentence)
Jesus still wants to lead people to transformed lives. (Essence of the sermon in a sentence)
I pray you’ll allow Jesus the freedom to move in your life anyway He wants. (Objective)
I Jesus took his hand. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village
A As the blind man was led, we see a glimpse into the genesis of his faith.
1 Can you imagine what is going through this man’s mind?
a This man doesn’t know Jesus (know of "yes")
b As far as he knows he could be led to a secluded spot to be mugged, robbed, murdered...didn’t know where Jesus was leading him.
c This man has a basic belief that Jesus has something for him.
2 Jesus took the blind man by the hand (Jesus wanted this man to be healed).
B Jesus wants you to come to Him just like you are, & He’ll do the rest.
1 He knows we’re sinful, prone to wander, backslide, give into the lusts of our heart...
2 He wants us to allow Him to take us by our hands.
a We’ve got to believe He has something for us we can’t get on our own.
b When Jesus is genuinely leading us, we don’t always know where He’s taking us.
C (IL) Trust in God’s leading
II Jesus took him aside privately He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?"
A Jesus had something for this man that He wanted to give him in private.
1 Similar approach in 7:33. Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva ...Mark 7:33 (NASB)
2 I think there are several reasons Jesus brought him out of the village:
a Bethsaida was a place that didn’t want to God to move.
b Faith: Jesus wanted this blind man to have enough faith in Him to let Him lead. (Belief got him there, faith in Jesus would take him the rest of the way).
c Jesus wanted to spend some time alone with the blind man (relationship, fellowship, communion, intimacy).
B Often times you must get alone with Jesus to receive what He has for you.
1 One of the reasons many of us live outside of God’s blessing, annointing, God’s will, & without His touch is we do not spend time with Jesus alone.
a He’s going to talk to us...in private
b Convict of sin, correction...TRUE!
c Refreshing. Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord ...Acts 3:19 (NASB)
2 You can be alone with Jesus in a crowd of 40,000.
a Trust
b Ask, seek, knock. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Luke 11:9-13 (NASB)
C (IL) Private time with God
III Jesus touched him...twice
A ...and after spitting on his eyes...
1 Jesus used spit occasionally. Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva ...Mark 7:33 (NASB)
When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes ...John 9:6 (NASB)
2 Aren’t you glad there’s not a hymn, "Power in the Spit", "Are You Washed in the Spit?", "Holy Spirit Spit on Me."
a The power for healing was from God, not in spit.
b Maybe the spit was to help the man’s faith increase (something to touch, feel, smell...real. I don’t know)
B ...and laying His hands on him, He asked him, "Do you see anything?"
1 Laying on of hands to pray for the sick/afflicted is common in His ministry (disciples, Apostles, early church)
2 Jesus asks, "Do you see anything?"-I’m doing a work in you.
a Bartimaus-believed
b Man at pool of Siloam-shall we gather at the river
c Mark 8, "He touched me"
d God can move anyway He wants.
C And he looked up and said, "I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around."
1 "Said" in the Greek is in an imperfect tense (kept saying over & over & over)
2 The man was overjoyed with his limited sight.
a Not being unthankful, impolite, ungrateful...he’d been content without seeing blurs.
b Jesus had more to give him.
D Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.
1 The man would have been elated with a little sight, but Jesus had so much more for the man.
2 We have been touched once...satisfied, content
a Jesus wants to give you so much!
b Some of us need the first touch (salvation)
c Some of us are in desperate need for another touch
d Don’t be satisfied with blurry sight...see Jesus!
3 Restored literally means he was put back together.
a Many of us have things that Jesus needs to put back together (relationships, character, integrity, hearts).
b There’s healing in Jesus.
Conclusion
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
