Tag Archives: healing

LOVE’S SECOND TOUCH

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

LOVE’S SECOND TOUCH

“He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. So, 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 on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town” (Mk 8:22-26).

Jesus did many miracles. Miracles are defined as supernatural acts of God. They generally manifest instantly. The healing of the blind man in Bethsaida is the only miracle done by Jesus that happened in two steps. We know that Jesus could do instant miracles. Why did He do this one gradually? We may not know all the answers, but we can study God’s Word to find some. The first thing we must say is that Jesus did not “fail” to do the miracle. Jesus always talks and does things with the full authority of the Son of God. There was another incident when the healing was delayed. Jesus commanded the demons to leave the possessed man, but they did not leave immediately. A discussion followed. They eventually left. The demons that left the man were able to drown 2000 pigs. Here we see the power of the devil. The victory of Jesus over such a great enemy shine even brighter (Mark 5:1-13).

Before Jesus healed him, He “took the man by the hand and led him out of the town”. This is important! The town is called Bethsaida. It was located on the north side of the Sea of Galilee. It was the hometown of Philip, Peter and Andrew. The name means “The house of fishing”. Most inhabitants were fishers. It was a prosperous area. Later, Jesus rebuked and cursed the town of Bethsaida because the people there were proud. They witnessed and benefited from the miracles of Jesus but still refused to repent of unbelief (Matt 11:20-22). Miracles were signposts to direct people to Jesus and to His glory. But these people rejected the Person of Jesus, as the Son of God and the only Savior of men. Jesus was rejected even in Nazareth, the town where He grew up. The people were offended at Him because of His supernatural wisdom and power. We are not told that Jesus could not do miracles, but that “He did not do mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matt13:58). In this case, some men brought a blind man to Jesus. They had faith that Jesus can heal their friend. Blindness was seen as a curse from God. They believed that Jesus was the Son of God and He can remove the curse from this man. Jesus spat on the blind eyes, and He lay His hand of him. The man’s sight was restored but his vision was not clear. Then Jesus lay His hands on the man’s eyes again. This second touch restored the man’s sight to perfect vision. Then Jesus told the man not to go back to the town of Bethsaida.

Lessons:

*Physical blindness is a symbol of spiritual blindness. Jesus can heal both. The healing can happen instantly or gradually.

*The people who brought the blind man to Jesus, had faith in Jesus. Intercession is powerful!

*Jesus takes you by your hand on a journey. This is personal intimate love. Let Jesus lead you on. Faith is a journey! Faith grows! The two-step miracle shows that spiritual understanding and faith can be gradual. Be patient with God’s timing and your growing faith.

*For Jesus to take the blind man away from this town of proud and stubborn people, it means that environment can affect our faith. Be careful with the people whom you call friends. If they are unbelievers, they can quench your faith. “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1Cor 15:33). Be careful with the influence you come under, even social media. Unbelief damages your faith in Jesus!

*Just as the blind man’s sight was restored in stages, our spiritual understanding grows gradually. Be patient! Trust in the process, even when you don’t fully understand. Jesus’ ways are perfect, and He knows the best way to reveal Himself to us. This is the first step in the miracle. He transitions from blindness to sight. What he sees is real but not clear yet. The healing required a second touch from Jesus. You need persistent faith! Don’t give up even when answers to prayer are not immediate.

*When you meet God, and He blesses you, be careful. Be grateful! Worship God! Acknowledge God as the author of your blessing. It is a terrible thing to harden your heart against the Holy Spirit. Unbelief and hardness of heart may make you lose your blessing.

*Jesus asked the man: do you see anything? You must confess and cooperate with the process of faith and confession of miracles.

*Then Jesus spat the man in his eyes. Jesus humiliated him before healing him. Spitting on someone is shameful. It is humiliating. Spitting is a symbol of the Cross. People spat on Jesus. “Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?” (Matt 26:67,68). There is shame at the Cross.

*True exaltation comes after humility and obedience. After the Cross, there is the Crown! “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). We need to exercise discipline. Look away from distractions and focus on Jesus, who is the best example of faithfulness and humility. Jesus is the Author, the initiator of Faith and the Finisher, the perfector of Faith in the believers. Every work Jesus starts in you, shall complete it to perfection (Phil 1:6). He brings mustard seed faith to maturity. Jesus endured the cross because of the Joy He saw ahead. He saw that His pain was not in vain. His sacrifice will save many. We too must have a vision of glory ahead so that we can successfully endure the trials on earth. The cross was not only painful. It was also shameful. Jesus despised the shame of the Cross. To despise means to look down upon, to disrespect. Jesus disrespected the worldly fame. He chose God’s approval over worldly honor. After His ascension, Jesus sat at the right hand of God, successfully completing the plan of salvation and has received all authority over creation.

*After the second touch, the man saw everything clearly. In Greek the word means to see details and at a distance. Spiritually, this is a transition from seeing in the flesh, from confusion, to having spiritual insight, revelation of God’s Word.

*Jesus tells the man to go to his own house. This shows that healing is to be shared with family and friends. Jesus tells the man not to go back to Bethsaida, an environment of pride and unbelief, that can make a man lose his blessings!

Jesus did not heal the same way twice. We cannot tell Jesus how to heal. We cannot predict Jesus! But one thing is clear, you need faith to receive a miracle. Often, to grant you the miracle, Jesus will separate you from family, friends, and from the crowd. Miracles are not for public entertainment. Be ready to be alone with Jesus to be blessed by Jesus. In the case of Jairus daughter Jesus sent away the mourners before He did the miracle (Mk 5:35-43). In another case, Jesus spat on a man’s tongue and separated him from the multitude (Mk7:31-35).

Faith in Christ crucified and resurrected is necessary to save and to heal. If you take your Cross daily, you will be healed. The power of God is the same but not everyone is healed in the same way. Sometimes we need emotional healing before physical healing. Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He prepares you to receive your miracles. There are gradual healings and there are gradual conversions. God may grant healing to you in strange ways. If you want a miracle, you need to humble yourself. You can’t understand all the ways of God. You must trust Jesus, even when you don’t understand Him. Miracles are signs that show the glory of Jesus (Jn 2:11).

Before Jesus healed the blind man, He had a discussion with His disciples. Even after witnessing the miracles, they were still doubting Jesus. They were still thinking and acting in the flesh. “But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?” (Mark 8:17,18). Jesus never did anything without a good purpose. His miracles are signs of His glory and power and used to teach His disciples the ways of God. When the blind man was healed initially, he saw things, but it was not clear. He was a symbol of the disciples who had eyes but did not see. Jesus was telling the disciples that He will suffer, die and on the third day, He will rise from the grave. He was telling them that there is a price to pay if they want to follow Him. Apparently, they did not understand the Person and the mission of Jesus. They did not understand their part to play in following the Master. They do not see the need for Jesus to die for them. They were spiritually near-sighted. They needed a second touch from Jesus, to see His glory as Savior and Lord. Lesson: The process of spiritual or physical healing may come immediately or gradually. We must trust Jesus always!

The quote “Focus on the step in front of you, and not on the whole staircase” (Martin Luther King Jr.) reminds us to break down large, intimidating goals into smaller, manageable actions. It encourages us to stay present, embrace the process, and make steady progress rather than becoming overwhelmed by the big picture. Focusing on the next step allows us to build momentum, overcome fear, and cultivate endurance, ultimately making it easier to reach our larger goals. By taking life one step at a time, we avoid unnecessary stress and increase our chances of success, all the while, enjoying the journey itself.

Sometimes, when I am faced with a challenge, I can’t go directly to solve the problem. I need to pray for wisdom (James 1:5). That is the first step. I go to the Bible. God gives me wisdom about the problem. As I apply wisdom, the healing happens. This is also a two-step miracle. Other times God uses circumstances or brethren to speak to me. As I take their counsel as the first step of faith, not knowing the whole story, light comes and leads the way to the miracle ahead. This is my advice: pray for wisdom! Pray that God opens your eyes to see the next step! Pray for the faith to take the next step! Pray for a second touch from Jesus! Let us join the healed blind man saying: “Wow! I see!!! I see clearly! I see afar!” Worship the Lord!

May be an image of 2 people and text that says 'FATHER' HOUSE DIBLE DIDLECHURC HURCH'

TEN LEPERS CLEANSED

by Silvia Lia Leigh, MD

(Lk 17:11-19)

This event happened as our Lord was going on His last pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where He will die on the Cross. The Jews discriminated the Samaritans and do not pass thru Samaria. But Jesus does not care about these petty issues. As He entered a village, Jesus met ten men who were lepers. Nine were Jews and one was a Samaritan. Leprosy was a terrible incurable disease, a symbol of sin. The sick man does not feel pain. His voice is getting faint. There is a white patch growing on his body. Parts of his body like his fingers, toes, lips or the nose fall off, leaving the man disfigured for life. This was God’s Law: “Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Lev 13:45, 46). The leprous must live outside the village.

These ten men stood afar off according to the Law. They were supposed to shout ‘Unclean, unclean!’ so that healthy people avoid them. But when Jesus passed by, they had faith for the healing of their bodies. Leprosy affects the vocal cords. We fainted voices, the ten of them shouted “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” They recognized the Lordship of Jesus. They asked Him for mercy. At the root of sickness is sin. They asked for mercy so that they could be healed. Jesus commanded them saying: “Go! Show yourselves to the priests”. The priests could not heal any sick person, but they could confirm the healing. They were like health inspectors. Jesus wanted them to exercise their faith. To walk as they were already healed. They did that! They obeyed instantly. Oh, the grace in this sentence: “so it was that as they went…”

Jesus did not touch them. He did not speak a word of healing to them. The command ‘go!’ meant healing. They needed to pass the test of faith. As they were going together towards the village priest, they found that they were healed. Imagine the joy! First one, then another, then another one, discovered that the sickness disappeared from their bodies. They were healed! Immediately, the nine Jews ran towards the house of the priest to confirm the healing. From now on, they could live a normal life. They never looked back!

Sickness brought these men together. Now, as they were healed, it is possible that the old discrimination manifested. They Jews went on their way together to the priest. But the Samaritan went back to Jesus, the Great High Priest! With the eyes of faith, He saw Jesus as His great High Priest! He did not need any other priest! He fell at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him with a loud voice. Leprosy has quenched his voice. Now that he is healed, he did want to waste his shout on empty things. He came to Jesus to shout His name! He obeyed God’s Word: “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises” (Ps 98:4). Praise is a sacrifice. This Samaritan offered the first fruits of his healthy body and recovered voice to Jesus. After years of silence and sadness, he gave Jesus the first feeling of joy. He did not want only healing of the body. He wanted healing of the soul. Jesus confirms the miracle. He says “Arise, go your way! Your faith has made you well!” He was healed not only in his body, but his soul was saved. Lesson: our response to God after we receive a blessing is extremely important.  

These ten men were suffering and dying. For many years, people told them that there was no hope for them. When Jesus commanded them to ‘Go, to the priest..’ they gladly obeyed. This is the first time in many years that someone addressed them as living beings. The very command Go! Meant hope and healing! They passed the test of obedience. They got healed. Sickness and suffering kept these men together. God’s blessing separated them, physically and eternally. Men can join in prayer for needs. The same men can separate during worship. Many pray to God! Few Paise God! What is the reason why the nine did not come back? Possibly, it was fear. It was also pride. They were afraid that Jesus will make demands on them, telling them what to do. They wanted healing but they also wanted freedom from Jesus. They did not want a relationship with Jesus. Ingratitude is worse than leprosy! Selah!

Observe that the Samaritan humbled himself before Jesus. It was not the sickness that humbled him. It was the mercy of God revealed to him. He knew that he did not deserve to be healed, to be given a second chance in life. He knew that he was unworthy of such a gift. That is why he came back. The Samaritan truly appreciated the Mercy and Grace of God! There are four steps in the walk of grace towards salvation: Return to Jesus! Fall at the feet of Jesus! Glorify God! Thank God with a loud voice! Lesson: Gratitude to God is not enough! Passionate Gratitude is necessary! Everything we are and we have, is a gift from God. It belongs to God. We should always return to Jesus! At the feet of King Jesus the sick sinner becomes a saint! The healed sinner becomes holy! Once you have tested that God is good, do not go back to be an ordinary person again! Go to Jesus! Stay with Jesus!

We generally limit the act of thanksgiving to being grateful AFTER you receive a gift. From this story we see that thanksgiving is an act of faith. It is offered forward. It becomes an open door to salvation and other blessings.   

There are steps on the way of healing. The first is forgiveness. A stronghold of unforgiveness always blocks prayer of healing. By forgiving others, and even yourself, you open the door to a miracle of healing. You must choose between the desire for revenge and your healing! The second step is thanksgiving. We must thank God always, for everything. Third, is to praise God with a loud voice like this Samarian. He still had problems. He has been leprous for a long time. He had no wife, children or friends. He had no job and no money. He could face rejection from people even as he was healed. But he decided to forget these problems and go to Jesus. He decided that praising Jesus is more important than solving his problems. With a loud voice he declared that God is greater than his problems.

Lessons: It is possible to have an encounter with Jesus, to be healed by Jesus and still not be saved. The nine were dreaming of being healed to go back to a normal life in the community. The tenth one was praying and hoping to be healed and know the Healer. Each received what they wanted. The sin of ingratitude is a terribly ugly dark sin. May God have mercy on us too! Learn to praise God in the midst of your problems. That is the key to find favor with God. That is the path that leads to salvation. Coming to church faithfully, is an act of gratitude. The nine were healed but only this one was made well. He got saved! Forgiveness is necessary for survival. But thanking God and praising God in the middle of unsolved problems releases the power of salvation and eternal life! Worship the Lord!