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“The methodology behind the miracles of Jesus isn’t the point. The point is His power.”

A thought by Mark Batterson (2014-09-02) from his book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible (p. 228). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

The miracle that Mark is dealing with here in this section is the healing of the man who was born blind.  The method that Jesus used was a gross one.  He spit on the ground and made mud, He put the mud on the man’s eyes and then sent him off to the Pool of Saloam to wash it off.  After the man found the Pool He washed the mud off and then he could see.  Our tendency would be to start having the method for healing to have mud involved but the key was obedience.  The man obeyed and was healed.

I like how Mark puts it.  He says, “I’m not entirely sure why Jesus had this blind man go and wash, but I’m guessing that he had lived a relatively helpless life. He depended upon everybody for everything! So Jesus didn’t just heal his blind eyes. He restored his dignity by rebuking helplessness. Scripture is explicit when it comes to the sequence of this miracle. It says he ‘came back seeing.’ (John 9:7 ESV) If he hadn’t taken this step of faith and gone to the Pool of Siloam, I don’t think the miracle would have happened! And that’s one secret to experiencing the miraculous: most miracles require an act of blind obedience. You cannot manufacture miracles, but you can wash in the Pool of Siloam. One step of obedience can open your eyes. One step of obedience can reverse the curse. One step of obedience can begin a new chapter in your life!” 

The key is not the method but the obedience.  I think the reason why we uplift the method is because it is easier than the obedience and it too many times lifts us up than it lifts God up.  And as Mark says, “The point is His power.”  He is the key not us.

So what is He asking you to do?

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