Mark 8:25-26
Golf
is a game of strategy. Of course the goal is to get the ball into the cup with
the least number of strokes. Sometimes you don’t drive directly toward the pin.
Sometimes you drive to a better position rather than to shortest yardage. You
use your drive to set up your second shot, making it easier to get to the pin,
although not the shortest route.
Strategy
gets used in many sports, and in many areas of life. We butter up a colleague
with cookies and complements in order to help with future requests. You save
your fastest player until the fourth quarter when their speed with overwhelm
your opponents. You train carrying an extra ten pounds of weight, so that when
the race comes, and the weight is removed, it is much easier to run.
Jesus,
like all teachers, has some students who seem to be missing main points of the
lesson being taught. Every teacher plans their lessons with the main points in
focus. If the students can master these essential skills, then they will have a
sufficient grip on the material and will be able to move on to the next, more
complex tasks. If they don’t get the concept, they won’t be able to move to the
next task.
Jesus’
disciples have missed an essential warning that Jesus gave. They were too busy
focused on their next meal. They got the message it hanging out with Jesus is
important. Now they need to begin to really listen to what He is saying.
Mark
in constructing the order of his recording of Jesus life and ministry did so
with purpose in mind. I think that is why he includes this story of two-touch
healing. The first touch restored sight, but the man was unable to accurately distinguish
objects. He thought people looked like trees walking. I suppose he could have
continued in life like that. It certainly would have been better than staying
blind, but Jesus had more for him.
Today
some people want to hang out with Jesus without listening to what He said. They
gloss over the difficult message of holiness and self-sacrifice. Instead, they
only hear that God loves them “just the way they are.” He does love us just the
way we are, but He loves us enough to not leave us in our selfishness and
rebellion. He loves us enough to want us to change.
Some
people feel that part of Jesus’ message is enough. But without full
understanding, they are stumbling around in life struggling to identify the
most basic elements of the life Jesus demands from us.
One
final note: Jesus tells the man not to go back into town. If he did, he would
be disobeying Jesus. The Christian walk is about freedom, freedom to obey God,
not freedom to do whatever we want. Life gets lived within the confines of God’s
character, holiness. There are some things that are never acceptable to Him.
Many things are specifically listed, like the Ten Commandments. Some are
cultural and time-limited, like many of the specific ritual laws of the Old
Testament.
Maybe
we need to go straight home and not enter the village.