A WORD IN SEASON TO THE WEARY
November 29🌷🌷
“I counsel thee to… anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev.3:18).
In Mark chapter 8 the Lord speaks of spiritual blindness. He asked His disciples, “Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?” (verse 18).
The first kind of blindness, which the Lord pointed out is in Mark 8:11,12. The Pharisees had seen many miracles performed by the Lord Jesus. Yet they were not willing to believe Him. The multitudes recognized Him, for He taught as One having authority (Matthew 7:29, Mark 1:22, Luke 4:32). They knew He was performing miracles in a way no prophet had ever done before. Yet these Pharisees were demanding a sign from Him. In spite of all that they had seen and heard they were unable to believe the Lord Jesus. They were utterly blind. This same condition can be found among people even today. In many cases miracles have been performed in their very homes and they have seen their prayers being answered; yet they are not willing to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
In John 6, we read that a great multitude followed the Lord Jesus Christ because of the miracles which He did on them that were diseased (verse 2). But when the Lord told them they must eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to obtain eternal life, they went back and would not walk with Him any more (verse 66). In the same way there are many people today who want to be healed of their sicknesses and pray to God to get the perishing things of this world, but have no interest at all in spiritual health or spiritual wealth.
The second kind of blindness referred to in Mark 8 is found in verses 14 to 21. Here we see that the Lord Jesus is warning His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. He pointed out to His disciples that just as a little leaven leavens the whole lump, one small doubt could bring much blindness into their lives. The leaven of the Pharisees then, was unbelief and doubt. Doubting God’s Word, and God’s love and grace will bring blindness and darkness into our lives also. In this way many believers have lost their joy and peace and faith. Some begin to doubt God when their prayers are not answered in the way they want. In their foolishness they stop attending the church meetings, Bible reading and prayer, their tithing and their private devotions. Thus they allow one act of unbelief to bring darkness and blindness into their lives. That is why the Lord Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.
