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.”
Have you ever argued with a friend about something, certain you were right, only to discover you bashfully wrong? Or have you ever misunderstood a conversation and made all kinds of assumptions before life corrected you? That, my friend, is certain blindness.
In the church, many of us are brought up with a religious mindset. The more we challenge these religious assumptions, the more the enemy can’t fool us. When our understanding is renewed and we begin to understand how God functions, the better we function in God.
In Jesus’ days, many miracles occurred in Bethsaida. Yet they still did not repent. Jesus said Tyre and Sidon, Gentile cities known for their iniquity, would be judged less than Bethsaida.
Why?
Bethsaida had revelation to shift to Kingdom understanding but they refused to embrace change. God gave the city chance after chance: their miracles were the proof of the invisible, that the Kingdom of God had come to them. Yet despite all the miracles, there was a spirit of unbelief remained. Unbelief will cripple a child of God, keeping them lame, when God’s intention is always for us to run free.
How did Jesus operate in Bethsaida, this city marked by unbelief?
The Messiah brought the blind man out of that town. Then, Jesus spit on his eyes and the man saw, first poorly as a Bethsaidan, then, clearly, as a believer. Once the man saw, Jesus then told the man, don’t go back into your village. Though his miracle was real, his sight would be lost if he returned to that place of unbelief.
You can be around certain individuals and not get your miracle. When you get out of their faithless company, you open yourself to receive a blessing not found in a rebellious village.
Consider 8 critical questions from this story of the blind man of Bethsaida:
1. What did his environment teach?
This man was taught naturally that miracles don’t exist and breakthroughs don’t come. If you need a miracle, you need to be willing to divorce an environment that preaches unbelief.
2. What did his family teach?
When life becomes challenging, we have a way of telling white lies in order to reduce our pain. Perhaps he grew up in a family that shielded him from the truth. Yet unless you know your complete scenario, you cannot come out of your trouble.
3. What did the authorities tell him?
Did the rabbi say, My child, just accept your fate. Did the leaders tell him the truth, that if you stay under the hand of God, He will lift him up in due time, that God’s arm is mighty to save?
4. What does his faith teach him?
Did his theology poorly teach that God provides for some people and not others? If Jesus could not help him beyond his thinking, how about you? Help yourself and repent for limiting God by your fears. Your problem will repeat unless you change your understanding.
5. What had guilt spoken over him?
Did he believe the lie that he was cursed by God? We, the children of God, washed by the blood of Jesus, can allow guilt to rule us! Come out of the sin, know you are forgiven and be restored. Do we value ourselves to believe we deserve help? The moment you align with the value God has placed on you, you attract the blessings of God.
6. What has the enemy told him?
Did he tell him his healing would never come? That he deserved his pain? That blindness was better? Those deceiving lies are from the pit of hell to take your off path. The devil comes to steal your joy, kill you and destroy you and he starts by dividing and ruling. Any thought that makes you want to walk away, to hurt someone, or that makes you feel angry and upset, these voices are the ancient serpent’s voice. Voices that proceed negative emotions are ones you need to expose, get rid of and fight! Don’t form negative bitter roots in your life; they bind you from the freedom God has for you.
7. What did his heroes teach him?
Did his uncle whom he looked up to discourage him? Did his teacher say not to bother trying? It is time to change your heroes. You can’t grow beyond your heroes. If your heroes are not growing, you are stuck alongside them. Choose to renew your mind and go where the Spirit is moving.
8. Who was his spiritual father?
The moment Jesus was ready to start his ministry, he submitted to John the Baptist, saying “Let all righteousness be fulfilled” (Matthew 3:15). Submission tells demons: You have no power over me. I am under authority. The enemy wants to build an army of rebels and keep them in captivity. Jesus is saying today, Son, this crowd will kill you. Get out of this village. Submit to My instructions. There are instructions from God given by our spiritual covering that are designed for our freedom Who are you listening to? Who are you willing to follow as your father?
Beloved, if you are willing to step out by faith, God is about to show you something that your entire village has never seen!
Now change your perspective, and may the blind see!
Watch the video here.