Beyond the Weekend

November 19 | The Half-Healing Lesson

November 19, 2020

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Mark 8:24

Read: Mark 8:22-26

Listen: Mark 8

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Many of Jesus’ miracles are public, in front of huge crowds. But not two in this section of Mark. The healing of the deaf and mute man (Mark 7:31-37) and the healing of the blind man (Mark 8:22-26) are only in the disciples’ presence. (There is a repeated key idea of seeing and hearing you likely starred in this section.) In the middle of these two disciple-only miracles, Jesus asks them, “Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?” For the disciples, the answer is, “Yes!” Spiritually, the disciples are the ones who are blind and deaf!

The second miracle is pretty weird. Initially, the man is only partially healed. It takes a second part of the miracle for the man to see clearly. Jesus doesn’t mess up here. He uses the healing as a teaching moment for the disciples. They’re the ones who don’t have a clear picture of Jesus. They need to have their eyes fully opened. With this half-healing lesson, he’s opening their eyes.

Watch this video clip as Pastor Aaron Buer tells us Jesus wants to open our eyes too. Whether we’re coming out of failure or feel like we’re steadily following, we all need to see Jesus more clearly. When we do, we can focus. Seeing Jesus clearly brings our struggles, challenges and disappointments into focus.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Answer these two questions, “Who is Jesus, and what does it mean to follow him?” Look back through your journal notes from previous weeks and develop your own definition or short statement. Share what you wrote with your small group the next time you meet.


Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.

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