Scripture

then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn fro your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me. If you try to hang onto your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, and for the sake of the good news, you will save it.”

Observation

At Bethsaida, the people beg Jesus to heal a blind, man. Jesus takes the man, leads him out of the village, and then spits on the man’s eyes to heal him. At first, the healing is incomplete, but then Jesus lays hands on him a second time and he can see normally

Jesus takes his disciples to a different region along the way he asks them, “Who do people say I am?” This leads to Peter’s confession, that Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus calls to the crowd and the disciples and says that anyone who wants to follow him, must turn from his wicked ways, take up his cross and follow him. To hang on to our life, we must give it up for the sake of Jesus and the good news. If we are ashamed of Christ, he will be ashamed of us on the day he returns.

Application.

I often feel that the church of the 21st century has softened the gospel and watered down the requirements of discipleship. Here Jesus gives us three steps for being a disciple.

1. We must turn from our selfish ways. Being a disciple means that we give up our old self-centred lifestyle and genuinely repent of our sins. This is not a matter of words, but of changed actions.

2. We must take up our cross. The man carrying a cross was a marked man. He was marked for execution and was already as good as dead. As Christians, we learn to put God’s way ahead of our own desires and ambitions and understand that God’s ways are better than our ways.

3. We must follow Jesus. He has a unique path for every person. For one person the path may lead to overseas missions For another it might lead to volunteering in an aged person’s home. We seek his path, not our own path.

We don’t die to ourselves for its own sake, but for his sake.

Listen

Lord, it seems odd to me that you were unable to completely heal the blind man immediately, What was this about?

Keith, you must remember that in my body of flesh, I was both human and divine. On this occasion, I missed a complicating factor. This man was blind bu both a physical cause, and by an evil spirit, When I first laid laid hands on him, the evil spirit left. But cataracts remained which meant that he could still only see partially

This actually happens quite often. Some illnesses, as you know, have multiple causes, and a quick prayer for healing is not enough. This is why Mark Virkler talks about healing as spiritual warfare.

Sometimes it is straightforward, but other times, there may be two or more steps required.

Scripture

“Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

Observation

The local Pharisees meet Jesus and demand that he performs a miraculous sign for them. Jesus sighs deeply and tells them they will not be given any sign from him.

They get into the boat again. On the journey across the lake, the disciples discover they only have one life of bread between them. Jesus warns them to be aware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. They think Jesus is talking about the bread situation, but he reminds them of the feeding of the four thousand and the five thousand.

“Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asks,

Application

The disciples had experienced these miracles, but did not understand the lesson they taught. There was no need to worry about food when Jesus was around.

People can still worry unnecessarily, even mature, people who have known God’s provision in many situations.

The issue is not that we know God can provide. The issue is, will he meet my needs right now in this situation? We know he can multiply food to feed a multitude, but we fear that he may not multiply this two dollars to provide food and rent for my family.

Jesus, demonstrated and taught that if we seek God’s kingdom first, then he will supply everything that we need.

Can I trust him in that promise?

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me today?

Keith, it is all about trust or faith. You are saved through trusting that my death on the cross is enough to set you free. Similarly, faith is needed to activate my promises of provision.

I will supply all you need as you trust me. It won’t always come in the way you expect. I used ravens to bring food for Elijah, Don’t reject my provisions, even when they come to you in strange and unexpected ways,

It is all about trust always. So trust me and all will be well.