Walking in Darkness
“So, He (Jesus) took the blind man by the hand
and led him out of the town.”
Mark 8:23a
Have you ever been in darkness so thick that you weren’t able to see your hand in front of your face? If so, you know that’s not a fun place to be. When I first started traveling, I had one of those experiences. I was in revival at a church that had formerly been a masonic lodge. I’m not exactly sure how it worked out that way . . . But, the church had converted the lodge into a place of worship. There were few windows and I was roomed in a quarter in the basement of the old lodge, new church.
If you’ve ever stayed overnight or been alone in a church, you know how freaky it can be. (Don’t get me wrong. I want the Holy Ghost. I just don’t want to meet Him in the dark!) After service one night a storm blew in. It was fierce! So fierce that the whole area lost power. And, you can guess how that went for me. I was in the basement of an old masonic lodge, new church with no windows, no electricity, and no flashlight. It was dark. Let me reiterate: IT. WAS. DARK. This is the stuff of which horror movies are made. You can imagine all the noises that invaded my space as the hours dragged on.
Life can be like this.
Let’s be completely honest:
Life isn’t easy.
It isn’t even always fun.
We can find ourselves in dark places. Many times, it happens because of our own choices. But, then there are other times that a storm seems to blow in and we end up powerless.
I’d like to use this week’s post to encourage those who are currently in a dark place.
You’ll remember the scene from Mark 8 . A blind man was being brought out of a blind city. He was being led by men who were concerned about his physical eyesight. This is obvious. There is the temptation to spiritualize this moment, but these men weren’t concerned about his heart. They simply wanted Jesus to meet his physical need. The news of this Miracle Worker had been spreading. Jesus had been revealing Himself to the people of Bethsaida (out of which these men were coming) and they had rejected the message of the Kingdom. So, really you could say this is an illustration of the blind leading the blind.
We looked last week at an overlooked aspect of the story: Jesus led him out of the environment of darkness that he had been dwelling in so that He could do a deeper work in his life. The exclamation point was added when Jesus commanded him, after fully sighted, to not go back to the city.
Think about this:
Jesus took the man by the hand.
Jesus led him out of the town.
If you know me, you know that I am analytical. There are many times that vague statements can drive me nuts. This is one of those statements which I wish I had a little more detail:
How far did they walk?
Was it a few blocks?
Or, maybe a mile?
What was the conversation?
Or, did they even talk at all?
I really would love to know the answers to those questions.
Why?
There was no physical healing that occurred up to this point in his life.
He was still completely blind.
He was being led through the darkness.
Jesus had him by the hand.
And, he simply went where Jesus was leading.
Can you see the beauty in this?
Jesus had him by the hand.
The blind man simply went to where Jesus was leading, trusting His leadership.
Jesus was taking him to a place where He would do a deeper work.
Perhaps, I’m making too much of this. But, I can’t get away from that image today.
You’re on my mind.
I’ve come to realize over the last few years that I really don’t know the people to which I’m blessed to sing and preach. I may know some on a surface level. Maybe a few on a deeper level. But, I really don’t know you.
Maybe you find yourself in a dark place. Perhaps, you don’t understand what’s going on or even how it’s going to work out. Can I encourage you in this . . .? Don’t let go of Jesus’ hand. He’s leading you to a place where He is about to do a deeper work in your life. Oh, it may not turn out exactly how you think, but He will move/is moving.
Trust Him.
Hold on to His hand.
He will never let go of you.
He’s leading you into the full light of His Kingdom!
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