13 Mar 2012

Men, like trees, walking

Submitted by theshovel
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In Mark 8, there is an account where Jesus healed a blind man in two stages. It's the only place describing such an event, but it illustrates why those who have had their eyes opened will often become confused as to what they see. In the story, a blind man was brought to Jesus for healing, which he didn't do before first taking him away from the village. And yes, I find this significant because, although the blind man obviously benefited from the miracle, the reality of this eye-opening event was meant for his disciples.

You see, after he spit in the man's eyes and then touched them, Jesus asked him what he saw. "I see men, as trees, walking." Do you suppose Jesus' question might have had anything to do with a recent confrontation where he asked his disciples: "Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?" I suggest to you that Jesus set the situation up so that the blind man would describe the confusion the disciples found themselves in. They saw something, but it looked like something else: men, as trees, walking. And because they did not understand, they discussed Jesus' words among themselves according to the reasoning of their world. I'm sure each of them thought they had a better understanding than the others.

I wonder if we realize how many of our discussions and reasons and justifications and viewpoints sound just like theirs did ... like people describing people who look like walking trees. I wonder if we realize why that is. I wonder if we might be stimulated to reconsider truth according to the mind of the one who is the truth.

Shovel Audio

Three audio files in the continuing series on Hebrews have been upload to the website since the last Spoonful was sent out. You don't want to miss these!

Spoonful: 
spoonful 2012
New Testament: 
Mark 8

Comments

DIGNZ - March 16, 2012 - 6:40am
do you think there is any significance in that he did not say ‘trees like men walking’? LOL men like trees walking - that is indeed a very distorted vision, isn’t it? i would like to see it portrayed in a drawing or painting. that would be cool.  :) “They saw something, but it looked like something else: men, as trees, walking. And because they did not understand, they discussed Jesus’ words among themselves according to the reasoning of their world. I’m sure each of them thought they had a better understanding than the others. I wonder if we realize how many of our discussions and reasons and justifications and viewpoints sound just like theirs did … like people describing people who look like walking trees. I wonder if we realize why that is. I wonder if we might be stimulated to reconsider truth according to the mind of the one who is the truth.” <~jim i am so thankful to have the Spirit of GOD … the mind of Christ, etc. to be ABLE to do so … to reason with the New Mind. :) it helps me somehow to know that the disciples did not have the indwelling Spirit of GOD at that time. that became very apparent after the death and resurrection of Christ … at Pentecost, etc. when their ‘eyes’ were opened then to see more clearly … to see with new eyes so-to-speak … to see men as men and not trees. LOL they understood the things that Jesus was telling them earlier on for the first time. all of that which was so confusing and unclear to them before, became very clear. :) “I wonder if we realize how many of our discussions and reasons and justifications and viewpoints sound just like theirs did?” <~jim yeah. more than we know and/or realize, i am sure. thank you for that most UNcomfortable thought! LOL it is a wonderful confidence and security to know that He Is our Source, Reason and Ability to ‘see’ Him more clearly. it IS a miracle! :)

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