They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” (Mark 8:22-26 NIV)
This one of Jesus’ strangest miracles.
This interesting healing has several strange twists: Jesus leads the blind man outside the village before praying for him; Jesus spits on the man’s eyes to heal him; and the man seemingly isn’t healed until Jesus prays a second time; Jesus instructs the man to not enter his village again.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus took the man outside this village?
Perhaps Jesus had something to give this man that couldn’t be received in his village.
Perhaps Jesus knew that the man was distracted by the overstimulation of the impressions, expectations, noises, conversations and conversationalists of his community.
Perhaps Jesus didn’t feel like competing with the clammer of this man’s mind.
Perhaps Jesus had to heal the man’s distractions before he could heal the man’s eyes.
Jesus did both.
Week #1 Fast Focus is the media fast
Purpose: The power of distraction is its unnoticeableness! It creeps up on us and overwhelms us without our perceiving it. Therefore, believers need to be strategic in uncovering this stealth enemy. Our distraction is actually the loss of focus upon our God. The loss of the focus upon our God can be compared to a scuba diver being disconnected from their air supply. Distraction is not only harmful because of the lack of the focus it causes; it is harmful because it makes God jealous of what we focus on. Let’s use this fast to identify and avoid subtle things that distract us from hearing, seeing and discerning God’s will for our lives and our community. Use this extra time wisely to hear God in fresh new ways. Allow Jesus to touch you a second time this week. Allow Jesus to heal your distractions and allow you to experience him in new ways.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel! ”Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Sam 3.10)
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