Brother Arnone Sharing Thoughts

In a world of pain surrounded by greed,
Heavenly Father this is my plead,
that all mens pride and selfish desire
would be laid aside so that you could inspire
the hearts and the minds once ruled by our sin
can now be transformed by Christ power within.
The key to this power is a blood tainted cross
that through Jesus sacrifice his life it did cost.
Surrendered not taken he laid his life down
that all who were lost now can be found.
Believe in your heart that Christ is the SON
raised from the dead he and his father are one.
Left for us his spirit the same is as he
a magnificent gift Gods own trinity.
So choose ye this day the path you will take
remember the cost for eternity's sake!

Bible Study Of Mark 8: 22-26

There is an account of a blind man cured by Jesus and is written in the Book of Mark. We see in most accounts of Christ, it is written in more then one gospel. We know not all of Jesus miracles were recorded. The ones that were selected are to help convey the message the Lord put on the Gospel writers mind. Each Gospel writer had a different perspective, so when you read about a miracle in one gospel it may be describe differently in another according to that Gospel writers prospective. It’s interesting that this miracle was only accounted in the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 8: 22-26
22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

23And 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 upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

After reading this passage I wanted to find out why it took Jesus 2 times to get this man to see correctly. It’s hard to believe the creator of the stars and planets and all life could not get it done on the first try. Here at TBS we have a banner that has a verse on it:

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

So the blind man did not come on his own, friends brought him there. It doesn’t say that the blind man asked his friends to bring or lead him there. In fact, this blind man may have even been talked into going not really thinking it will help. But his friends did have faith that Jesus Christ could cure his blindness. We also know this man wasn't from Bethsaida:
26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

Mark 8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town;

So Jesus comes to Bethsaida and the blind man is lead to him by his friends to Bethsaida. Now Jesus takes him by the hand and leads him out of town. Why?
Because the town is know for its unbelief.

Mathew 11:20-24
20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

It can also be found in Luke 10:13.

Mark 8:23-24 And 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 upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

This man was not blind at birth. How would he know what a tree looked like? And why is he not completely cured at this point.

The problem wasn't that Jesus couldn't cure him, it was because of the blind mans disbelief! He had no faith that Christ could heal him.He didn’t really believe, but when his eyes started to see things his faith grew.

25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

He saw every man clearly, 20/20 vision, God is not going to give his own second best.

In Mathew we see how people were cured the first time because of their faith.

Mathew 9:28-29 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Now these guys were healed on the very first try because they did believe.

Mathew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

I believe this scripture gives us another view how God works. How he changes our lives in stages, and it's based by our faith in him. I like the By Faiths:

Hebrews 11:7-33
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house;

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed;

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not

And though this man had little faith, Jesus gave him some sight and his faith increase. What is our faith?

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Mark 8:26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

This town had heard the word, seen Gods works and rejected it. They didn’t believe and did not have faith in Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

What happens when you reject the word of God?

Mark 6:11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

And the little faith that the people of that town may have had, will be taken away.

Luke 19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

Lord, we pray now to you, to the author of our faith, to help us diligently seek you, we pray for wisdom and understanding of your word and to increase our faith in all matters concerning you. Amen.