I have missed writing and sharing the past two days. Some days we get sick. I spent a whole day in bed yesterday, also with a sick five year old. Some days it's an effort to do basic things, like eat and pick up kids from school.
But today is a new day... On the mend, I took our new puppy out for his morning walk and was delighted at the beauty of the day. Fresh snow, falling silently, making the distance houses and trees blend into the blanket of white.
So I opened my Bible.
Mark 8.
Once again, Jesus is teaching, healing, and serving. I am struck by two key themes in this scripture. I am particularly interested in Jesus' persistence of teaching his disciples. Interpreters of Mark's Gospel often feel that this book makes the disciples look a little like 'clowns,' stumbling around Jesus, not fully understanding what Jesus is doing.
But Jesus continues to try to help them understand. He continues to challenge them, lead them, and help them to understand.
In the middle of this persistence, Jesus performs an interesting healing. He heals a blind man at the pools of Bethsaida. What is interesting about this healing is that it comes in phases and it was initiated by Jesus spitting on the man's eyes.
This is a curious healing... But as I read it, I am convinced that this is part of the continued teaching for the disciples. It is a physical representation of our own healing and understanding. Sometimes we understand all at once. But perhaps more often, we are healed in stages and often the path to healing is less than appealing. Perhaps it is even humbling, a little gross, and a little messy.
Perhaps this healing shows us that sometimes the process of healing challenges, humbles, and even disgusts us.
Perhaps sometimes the process of healing is slow and partial.
Perhaps we have to stumble in darkness with partial sight before we can appreciate the full vision.
Isn't it just like Jesus to not only teach but to show what it looks like to walk in this world with him, eyes fully open.
As we sang in church on Sunday, may it be my prayer..."Open my eyes that I may see."
Happy Reading.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8&version=NIV
But today is a new day... On the mend, I took our new puppy out for his morning walk and was delighted at the beauty of the day. Fresh snow, falling silently, making the distance houses and trees blend into the blanket of white.
So I opened my Bible.
Mark 8.
Once again, Jesus is teaching, healing, and serving. I am struck by two key themes in this scripture. I am particularly interested in Jesus' persistence of teaching his disciples. Interpreters of Mark's Gospel often feel that this book makes the disciples look a little like 'clowns,' stumbling around Jesus, not fully understanding what Jesus is doing.
But Jesus continues to try to help them understand. He continues to challenge them, lead them, and help them to understand.
In the middle of this persistence, Jesus performs an interesting healing. He heals a blind man at the pools of Bethsaida. What is interesting about this healing is that it comes in phases and it was initiated by Jesus spitting on the man's eyes.
This is a curious healing... But as I read it, I am convinced that this is part of the continued teaching for the disciples. It is a physical representation of our own healing and understanding. Sometimes we understand all at once. But perhaps more often, we are healed in stages and often the path to healing is less than appealing. Perhaps it is even humbling, a little gross, and a little messy.
Perhaps this healing shows us that sometimes the process of healing challenges, humbles, and even disgusts us.
Perhaps sometimes the process of healing is slow and partial.
Perhaps we have to stumble in darkness with partial sight before we can appreciate the full vision.
Isn't it just like Jesus to not only teach but to show what it looks like to walk in this world with him, eyes fully open.
As we sang in church on Sunday, may it be my prayer..."Open my eyes that I may see."
Happy Reading.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+8&version=NIV
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