Out of the Curse and Into Life

“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.”

Mark 8:23

Jesus brought the blind man out of the city and opened up his blinded eyes. Afterward he told him not to enter back into the city or tell anyone in the city about the miracle. Why did Jesus tell him this? Why didn’t he allow him to go back into the city? Why did he not want the people to know about what God had done for this blind man? In fact why didn’t Jesus heal him in the city? Why was it done outside? We have many questions but they all invoke the same answer. Jesus brought this blind man out of a curse and did not want him to remain in it!

Bethsaida had been previously curse by Jesus because of their unbelief. (Matthew 11:20,21) He could not do any great works or miracles due to the people rejecting his claims as messiah. Not even God himself will override the free will of man and force himself upon man to make him believe and follow. This goes against the idea of love. So Bethsaida and Chorazin were both cursed and remain that way being a hoard of demons and affliction. But to the one who’s heart is tender towards God there is hope. Because of the curse Jesus could not go in but the blind man could come out! Once outside of the cursed city God could do this great miracle of opening his eyes. It took a couple of touches but nevertheless the patience of Jesus and the honesty of the blind man brings forth some great spiritual lessons for us.

First, just as Jesus brought the man out of the curse of the city, Jesus brings man out of the curse of sin! Paul wrote in Colossians 1:12-14“who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Peter described it this way in 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” The lesson here is that a Jesus delivers us from the curse and penalty of sin and instructs us to follow him that we may not go back into the curse therefore delivering us from the power of sin.

Secondly, Jesus had to give this man a second touch for him to see clearly. In this we see the patience of Jesus and the honesty of the blind man. We are not sure as to why the first touch was not instantaneous like the other miracles Jesus performed. The problem surely wasn’t with Jesus. Maybe this man believed but needed help in his unbelief. Maybe Jesus allowed it to teach a spiritual lesson that Gods work is gradual but yet always progressing. We can’t say for sure and both examples here could apply, but what we do know is that Jesus was patient in his work and the blind man was honest in his profession. This blind man was not just satisfied with seeing. He wanted to see clearly. As Christians honesty is an absolute must in our relationship with God because without it we can never becomes what God wants us to be in Jesus.

God just doesn’t want to bring us out of the curse of sin but he wants to follow him so that he can make something beautiful out of our lives. His patience and our honesty are two great attributes that make us God’s “workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Ephesians 2:10

For Further study read Ephesians 2:1:10

Pastor Robby