Tag Archives: Healing of a Blind Man in Bethsaida

Stay or Walk Away

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“Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?” Mark 8:17b-18 ESV1

Read Matthew 16:1-12 & Mark 8:11-26

Jesus spent most of His time during His earthly ministry near the Sea of Galilee. “The sea’s location makes it subject to sudden and violent storms as the wind comes over the eastern mountains and drops suddenly onto the sea. Storms are especially likely when an east wind blows cool air over the warm air that covers the sea. The cold air (being heavier) drops as the warm air rises. This sudden change can produce surprisingly furious storms in a short time.”2  In this next account, an “east wind” was blowing, and a storm was brewing, but not in the physical sense.

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According to Your Faith

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When He entered the house, the blind men came to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”      Matthew 9:28-29 ESV1

Read Matthew 9: 9-13 & 27-31; Mark 2:13-17; and Luke 5:27-32 

Matthew, also known by his Hebrew name, Levi the son of Alphaeus, is the writer of the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew wrote his Gospel with a Jewish audience in mind. Matthew knew the Jewish Scriptures “very well. His Gospel quotes the Old Testament ninety-nine times. That is more times than Mark, Luke, and John combined.”2 Matthew was also a man of great faith. “When Jesus showed up and called him to follow Him, [Matthew] had enough faith to drop everything and follow; [he] instantly and without hesitation ‘arose and followed Him’ … He left … his … profession forever. The decision was irreversible as soon as he made it”2 Matthew was also concerned about others. “Matthew’s first impulse after following Jesus was to bring his closest friends and introduce them to the Savior.”2 One would think Matthew was always a righteous and well-liked guy, but that is not his story.

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