The School of God
Devotions for Growing Christians
The School of God
Mark 8:23-25 - And He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when He had spit on his eyes, and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, "I see men as trees, walking." After that He put His hands upon his eyes again, and made him look up; and he was restored, and saw every man clearly."
Read all of Mark 8:21-38.
When Christmas and the holidays are over we head back to school and back to work! We love those special days - but the regular days? Not so much! The ordinary days are the necessary "grind." But any old-timer will tell you that it is the regular day-to-day attendance at the "school of hard knocks" that builds character and gives understanding and wisdom.
There’s a parallel here to the Christian life. In His grace and kindness, the Lord gives us the special "mountaintop experiences" along the way, but it’s in the day-to-day attendance at the School of God that we develop and grow to become solid Christians. It’s only by faithful attendance at God’s school that we learn the His ways. Just as no student has it all together on the first day of class, a clear understanding of God’s ways is not instantaneous. There is no short-cut to graduation in the School of God.
Mark 8:22-26 records a miracle that is unique: the Lord healed a blind man in progressive stages! Why stages? Jesus could certainly have healed him by simply speaking a word, as He did on other occasions. But there are spiritual lessons for us to learn in all the miracles of our Lord. Attendance at the School of God is one of the lessons included in this miracle.
Until we met Jesus, we were like the blind man, groping in darkness. Jesus gave us the Light of Life. We were brought "out of darkness into God's marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). But in many ways we are still baby Christians. Our eyes are just beginning to focus on ultimate realities. We can "see," but we don't see clearly. Many times we must confess, "I see, but I see men like trees, walking" (v24). Like the disciples, we lack clear spiritual understanding (v21). Like Peter, we find it hard to see that suffering must precede glory (vs31-33). Our understanding of God's words and works and ways increases and becomes far more clear as we allow the Lord to continually “put His hands on our eyes” (v25).
We attend classes in the School of God every day of our lives. In fact, the apostle Paul says that graduation day does not come until we see the Lord face to face. "We can see and understand only a little about God now, but someday we are going to see Him in His completeness, face to face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now" (1 Corinthians 13:12 Living Bible). Until graduation, let’s try to pass every course with the best grade possible.
Some of the courses in God's school are outlined in this miracle.
Learning to Follow
There is the course in Learning to follow. "He took the blind man by the hand and led him..." (v23). Have we learned the lesson of letting the Lord take us by the hand and lead us - or are we still trying to live life “our way"? There's quite a difference between doing our own thing with the Lord's reluctant consent, and following the Lord completely!
Following out of the Town
There is the course in Going Out of the Town. "...He led him out of the town" (v23). In many ways the town of Bethsaida was similar to the world of today. Matthew 11:20-24 says that Bethsaida refused to repent and recognize the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The world of today continues to reject Jesus Christ. And so the Lord calls us to follow Him "out of the town."
The "town" is where most of the people live, and life "in the town" is more self-centered and luxurious. Christ calls us to follow Him "out of the town," away from the influence of the majority (Matthew 7:13-14) to a demanding life (Mark 8:34). We are urged to "go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (Hebrews 13:13). You may experience what it means to bear His reproach "outside the town" just by letting it be known in your office, school, or neighborhood that you're a follower of Jesus.
Humility
in God's School, a course in Humility is basic. "And when He had spit on his eyes..." (v23). Why? Isn't this rather an uncouth way of doing things? Actually, the saliva of a rabbi was highly esteemed by the Jews in Jesus' day - but the lesson for us is, “How do I see myself in relation to a holy and righteous God? Do I think of myself as too good to allow the humiliating "spit" of God?” It is only when we come to the realization that we are nothing but blind sinners before God that healing can come. And our spiritual vision clears only when we continually realize that we are merely sinners saved by God's grace.
Looking Up
Finally there is the course in Looking Up. "And he looked up..." (v24). In what direction are we looking for help, wisdom, and understanding in life? When we need answers to our questions and problems, so often we turn to a counselor or a professor, or to self-improvement books written by human "experts.” No wonder our vision and understanding of important issues is blurred, and we can't seem to get our lives into focus! Although God can use human means, we must always look up to the Lord for clear vision! He really does have all the answers and the solutions. He is the Source of all strength and wisdom. Sometimes our Lord forces us to look up. "He...made him look up..." (v25). God may permit a crisis or tragedy or sickness to knock us down so that we must look up!
In the school of God, our Teacher knows how we learn best, and He provides our lessons with patience with love. The Lord stayed with the blind man and kept His loving hands on him until his vision was clear and complete.
The School of God is still open - and it’s and operating on the same principles today!
- Dave Reid