Matthew 20:29-34 / Mark 10:46-52 / Luke 18:35-43…
Seeing the point…
Sometimes we can become so focused on minutiae that we miss the meaning of something. We miss the forest for the tress; we choke on the hors d’oeuvres, as it were, and miss the main course. Instead of being enriched by the added details we are bogged down in the incidental. And sometimes we might think that we are going deeper when we are actually becoming shallower.
Here is a case in point. In the gospel of Luke, we see Jesus healing a blind man. Mark gives his name (Mark 10:46). Yet Matthew mentions two blind men (Matthew 20:30). Mark and Matthew refer to the old Jericho, while Luke is speaking of the new Jericho, a mile or so south of the old town. Luke says He was approaching Jericho. Matthew and Mark say He was leaving Jericho. It is possible because you could be approaching the new Jericho leaving the old Jericho. We could get all worked up over some supposed contradiction between the stories instead of seeing them as complimentary. The biblical writers simply focused on different details.
The big picture is that this is actually the last of Jesus’ public miracles before reaching Jerusalem and the time of His crucifixion. The first miraculous sign Jesus performed was in the north at Cana in Galilee (John 2:1-11), and here, the last is in the south of Judea. He had filled Israel with signs and wonders, testifying to His divinity and role as Messiah. The blind beggars called out to the Messiah (son of David) and were healed.
The crowd will try and crowd you out. But don’t let the religious crowd stop you from getting to Jesus. Using your intellect and being diligent to study are good and necessary things. However, the key to spiritual understanding is obedience and trust. Don’t be blind about how to understand spiritual truth. Get the big picture into your heart before you concern yourself with getting the details into your head.
Do you see the point?
2 comments:
Individual study and prayer are important. However, failing to "assemble together" in your local church where you fellowship with the body of believers cannot possibly be living in obedience and trust. If you don't think it matters if you go to church or not you are totally missing the point of the New Testament. If we only worship God when we feel like it how can we possibly believe we are obeying and trusting Him?
This is heavy on my heart today. Lord help us to serve one another the way you intend for your Glory. Amen.
Well put and well received.
I know several people that have stopped attending Church services over triviality, some bigger issues but have never returned because thats the only thing they can remember about Church. What appeared to be a contradiction was most likely a misunderstanding. In most instances anyways.
P.
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