3 Questions answered 10/16/22
Notes
Transcript
In Mark 8:22-26 Jesus healed a blind man, but the man could only see men like trees walking so Jesus had to put his hands on the man the second time to complete healing. What happened that Jesus didnt heal him the first time?
In Mark 8:22-26 Jesus healed a blind man, but the man could only see men like trees walking so Jesus had to put his hands on the man the second time to complete healing. What happened that Jesus didnt heal him the first time?
Mark 8:22–26 contains an important fulfillment of prophecy.
Notice here, Jesus heals a physically blind man directly after dealing with spiritually blind Pharisees (Mark 8:11–12) and disciples (Mark 8:14–21).
But it can't be overstated, particularly in this precise place in the book, that healing the blind is specifically listed in the Old Testament as a sign of God's Messiah (Isaiah 29:18; 35:5; 42:6–7).
The Bible doesn't say why some healings are immediate and some take a little time.
One possible reason is that the more involved healings provide a metaphor for the spiritual healing of His disciples. They are beginning to see Jesus for who He is—and, indeed, Peter will soon declare Jesus to be the Christ (Mark 8:29)—but they have a way to go. They don't yet understand that the Messiah has come to save the world from sin, not the Jews from the Romans. And they're still confused about how Jesus can provide for their needs.
This can also picture our sanctification. Sanctification is the process by which we grow in spiritual maturity and knowledge of Jesus. When we become believers, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us to teach us truth (John 16:13). We begin like the blind man, seeing Jesus as a tree, walking around. But as He works in us, we learn more about God and what He has planned for us.
Of the people that Jesus healed, He would tell then not to make him known. Yet on other occasions Jesus would tell them to go and show themselves to the priests and to offer sacrifices for cleansing as a testimony. Why the difference?
Of the people that Jesus healed, He would tell then not to make him known. Yet on other occasions Jesus would tell them to go and show themselves to the priests and to offer sacrifices for cleansing as a testimony. Why the difference?
I think there are perhaps three reasons for this (but ultimately we just don’t know)
Publicity
Publicity
One problem with people spreading the word about Jesus healing them was that it resulted in large crowds following him around.
If everyone was crowding around him trying to touch him and clamoring to be healed, it would be harder for him to preach – and preaching, not healing, was his primary objective.
When it came to demons, Jesus understandably didn’t want demons to be proclaiming who he was, lest people associate him with demons, or they misrepresent him.
Furthermore, the Jews had many misconceptions of who the Messiah was going to be. Some didn’t believe there would be a Messiah; others thought there would be two Messiahs (a king descended from David and a Levite priest); still others were waiting for a warrior-king to overthrow the Romans. In many cases, Jesus wanted to introduce himself to people first, before telling them that he was the Messiah, so he could teach them things without the baggage of their expectations influencing the way they heard the things he said to them.
Timing
Timing
Jesus had a very keen sense of timing. For instance, according to prophecy, he had to die in Jerusalem at the Passover.
There are several passages which show Jesus’ sense of timing and his caution to not come out too early.
John 2:4: Jesus tells his mother that the time to begin his ministry had not yet come.
John 7:6: when his brothers challenged him to go to the festival, Jesus tells them that “the right time for me has not yet come.”
Luke 9:51: it says that the time was approaching for him to be taken to heaven, and at that time, he turned his face resolutely toward Jerusalem.
In John 6:15 we read that some people, hearing that Jesus was the Messiah, wanted to come and make him their king, by force!
However, once the timing was right, Jesus revealed himself as king on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21), and encouraged his followers to tell everyone. For Jesus, this was a matter of publicity and timing.
Law
Law
By Law, some diseases such as Leprosy required inspection by priests and certain sacrifices were commanded as thanks for healing. We must remember that Jesus never violated the Law he came to fulfill the law.
What does the Bible say about saving for retirement vs. just trusting God?
What does the Bible say about saving for retirement vs. just trusting God?
The Bible does not specifically mention saving for retirement, per se, and it doesn’t mention 401(k) plans, IRAs, or things like that.
But, the Bible does speak about saving money and gives us principles to guide us in if we as Christians should save for retirement or not.
The Bible speaks positively about providing for oneself financially through work. In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul gives a warning against idleness. He reminds the Thessalonians of how he and his companions worked to provide for themselves while serving the church, despite the fact that they had a right to receive monetary support from the church. In verse 10 Paul says the rule is that “the one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” It seems, then, that we are responsible to provide financially for ourselves when possible.
The question becomes whether we should save money during our working years in order to provide for ourselves during our retirement years, when we are unable to generate income.
The book of Proverbs has alot to say about saving money and other resources.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
8 Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
Recognizing a future need and making provisions for it today is a biblically wise thing to do.
Financial stewardship now, including saving for retirement, can enable us to better serve others later.
We see Joseph exemplify the wisdom of saving in Genesis 41 when he stored provisions for the prophesied famine to come.
We could even say that God’s command to the Israelites to gather enough manna on the sixth day to provide for both Friday and Saturday is a form of saving for a future need (see Exodus 16).
Of course, “some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none” (verse 27). In their failure to plan ahead and save, they went hungry.
On the other side, we have passages like Matthew 6:25–34 in which Jesus encourages us not to be worried for tomorrow or to seek after the things of the world.
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Later on , Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool, who had such an abundance of crops that he planned to build a larger barn to store up provisions for himself so that he could
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
“But God said to him,
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
Jesus concludes with this application:
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
The issue in both passages seems to be one of the heart.
Jesus is not speaking against saving now for needs in the future. What He is talking about is where our hearts should be focused.
We are to value the things that God values, trust in His provision instead of our own wealth, and also live wisely.
Christians are wise to examine their current spending patterns and their perceived future financial needs. When considering how to save for retirement, it is good to pray over the matter, search the Scriptures on the appropriate use of money, and meet with a financial adviser.
Saving is wise, and trusting God is wise. As we save for retirement, we recognize that the goal is not a selfish enjoyment of a lavish life after years of work. The goal is not even self-sufficiency, since our dependence is always on God. The goal is to exercise godly wisdom in providing for our needs in future years and having enough to continue giving to others. Our trust is not in government programs or 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts. Our hearts are set on things above, where our true treasure is. Ultimately, our money belongs to God and is directed for His purposes.