Mark 8:22-26 tells the intriguing story of a blind man healed by Jesus. The location was the city of Bethsaida – a city marked by Jesus for its unbelief. The gospel writer tells us that Jesus led the blind man out of town. I find it significant that before doing a miraculous work in the man’s life, Jesus separated him from an attitude of unbelief.
As the story goes, Jesus touched the man and asked how he was doing. The blind man said he was doing a little better. So Jesus touched him again and made him look up. I can see Jesus putting His hands on either side of the man’s head and redirecting his gaze upward.
Why do you think Jesus did that? Maybe when the complete healing didn’t come with the first touch the man dropped his head in discouragement. That happens, you know. Disappointment can crush you if you let it. The man had stopped looking up. So Jesus redirected His gaze and the healing came.
It’s important where you look. As someone once noted –
This story teaches us that no matter how bleak the outlook, we should never lose hope. As the Hebrew writer said, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Hebrews 10:35). No matter what happens, faith never stops looking up. The answer is in the upward look.
Pastor Todd Weston
As the story goes, Jesus touched the man and asked how he was doing. The blind man said he was doing a little better. So Jesus touched him again and made him look up. I can see Jesus putting His hands on either side of the man’s head and redirecting his gaze upward.
Why do you think Jesus did that? Maybe when the complete healing didn’t come with the first touch the man dropped his head in discouragement. That happens, you know. Disappointment can crush you if you let it. The man had stopped looking up. So Jesus redirected His gaze and the healing came.
It’s important where you look. As someone once noted –
- If you want to be distressed, look within
- If you want to be defeated, look back
- If you want to be distracted, look around
- If you want to be dismayed, look ahead
- If you want to be delivered, look up
This story teaches us that no matter how bleak the outlook, we should never lose hope. As the Hebrew writer said, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Hebrews 10:35). No matter what happens, faith never stops looking up. The answer is in the upward look.
Pastor Todd Weston
