Sermon Tone Analysis

*TOUCHED BY JESUS*

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*TEXT:  Mark 8:22-25*

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*INTRODUCTION*   Years ago if a person was unfortunate to have cataracts grow on their eyes they were doomed to blindness.

Fortunately today cataract surgery is readily available and frequently performed to prevent blindness.

Eye implants are becoming in greater number to help those vision problems to see again.

It was John the Baptist who sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was the “Coming One.” *Matthew** 11:4-5*  Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:  “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf  hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

The New Testament records at least 7 healings of the blind, by Jesus.

It is interesting to watch the actions of Jesus healing these blind men.

Matthew 9:27-30 .... 2 blind meal are healed as Jesus touches their eyes.

Matthew 12:22 ......

A blind and deaf man is healed.

Mark 10:52 ......... Blind Bartimaeus healed

John 9:6 ........... Jesus uses saliva and mud to heal.

Here in our text today, this man is three times touched by Jesus to bring about a gradual healing rather than instantaneous.

We zoom in on the healing of sight today, but also the three touches of Jesus.

Took him by the hand (vs.23) .... Touch of Encouragement.

Put His hands on him (vs.23) .... Touch of Enlightenment.

Hands on his eyes (vs.25) .... Touch of Enablement.

*I.

**TOUCH OF ENCOURAGEMENT .... 8:22-23a *

        The Scriptures tell us that “they”, perhaps this man’s friends or family, brought him to Jesus.

It is the concept of being a “Stretcher Bearer.”

These people had enough faith  and action to know that if they could get him to Jesus he could be healed.

The Scriptures say they “begged” (strong desire) Jesus to touch this man.

Do we believe as such?

Do we believe Jesus can still heal and change the lives of people?

After the request to touch the blind man, Jesus touches him with a touch of encouragement.

“He took the man by the hand and led him outside the town.”

Why .... when Jesus usually healed on the spot, ... would he take this man out of the town of Bethsaida?

*/Matthew/**/ 11:20-21  /*/Then He began to upbraid the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:  “Woe to you, Chorazin!

Woe to you, 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.

/

        The city of Bethsaida had become to calloused to be touched by Jesus.

Sad, but the fact remains true today.

Many in and out of the kingdom have calloused hearts toward the true touch of Jesus.

That’s why our altars are empty with no prayers for healing.

God is moving and working among us to touch us.

But this man, thanks to friends, would be the recipient of a touch of encouragement.

As Jesus took this man by the hand to lead him, I believe it was ....

!! A.       Personal touch ... tender & loving

!!! 1.      Jesus knows you personally.

He knows your needs.

He ministers to your individual needs

!!! 2.      Our church, town, families, friends, strangers ... all need a touch from us in the most personal way we can touch them.

Jesus shows us how.

Jesus showed an INTEREST in the man.

I’m sure this man was perhaps lonely and discouraged, having to live in darkness.

And now all attention, for the moment, was being given to him.

!!! 3.      The world wants to know that we are interested in them.

People really want to know that God loves them and they are looking for the love through you and I. Jesus took the  time to touch!

!! B.        Patient touch ... no hurry up!

!!! 1.

While we live in a busy world, Jesus always has time for us

!!! 2.      Hope was born as Jesus took the time for this man.

God is so patient with us!

We live in an “impatient generation.”

“We stand at the  microwave and scream hurry up!”

And with people we have even less patience!

But Jesus was patient to bring a hopeful encouragement to this man.

We must do the  same.

!! C.       Powerful touch

!!! 1.

He has the power to meet our needs

!!! 2.      I believe as Jesus took the man by the hand, the man knew that this touch was one of power ... that could bring healing.

!!! 3.      Jesus’ touch was powerful in that it was ....

!!!! a)      Relieving ...... as Jesus seemed to say “allow me.”

!!!! b)      Sensitivity .... Jesus would touch the man in his private world.

!!! 4.      Will we let Jesus touch us to encourage us?

To relieve us?

!!!! a)      Even if it calls for us to give up a very sensitive and private part of our life?

!!!! b)      Be assured Jesus’ touch is a touch of  encouragement.

!

II.

TOUCH OF ENLIGHTENMENT .... 8:23b-24

!! A.       It is interesting that Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and then placed His hands on them.

Now Jesus did not need the spit to heal, but the man did.

The man needed to feel that something was being done to him.

*/James/**/ 2:15-16  /*/If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

/

!! B.        This man needed to be touched physically to be healed from physical blindness ... but also for spiritual healing.

Our infirmities have the tendency to harden us.

Jesus was healing inside and out.

!! C.       This second touch, as Jesus asked if he could see, enlightened the man to a world of vision.

The man saw men as trees walking around.

Literally the man could see, but not clearly.

!!! 1.

We are too much like this man.

We see things but not always clearly.

!!! 2.      “It’s a terrible thing not to be able to see.

But it is even more terrible to be able to see but have not vision.”

(Helen Keller)

!!! 3.      Do we have an enlightenment to a vision?

!!!! a)      When we come to Jesus to be touched, we begin to see men and issues clearer than ever before.

Jesus’ touch is enlightening.

!

III.

TOUCH OF ENABLEMENT .... 8:25 

!! A.       Seeing men as trees is never good enough!

Jesus touches the man for a third time.

He was three times touched to bring about enablement.

This touch enabled him to see clearly his world, friends and family!

!! B.

Not only was the man enabled to see, but he was enabled to walk around, live life without the constant need of help from others.

(vs.26)

Jesus’ touch will help free us from the constant dependence on people or things (vices).

!!! 1.      ILL ... Little Red Riding Hood ... what big eyes you have ... the better to see you with my dear.