a treasure hunt...

So much for silence... here I am again.  But I really want to share something that completely altered my perspective of the Bible.  A few weeks ago, I attended a seminar by Ray VanderLaan in Holmes County.  I was blown away... awed at how incredible the Bible is.  Believe me, all the details in the Bible are important.  They're not only important... they are invaluable.  When you take time to study the details and the meanings of the minutest descriptions, you will find incredible parallels and allusions!  ...and it's for real. and any normal person can find them if you look hard enough.  RVL taught that the very first step is to simply ask questions.  Why did the author include this detail?  What importance does this detail have?  Then go back to earlier in the one-great-big-story called the Bible.  Look for parallels.  Search for reasons.

For example, take the passage of the blind man being healed in Mark 8:22-26:

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.  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 ought.  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.  After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.  And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

We all know this story and have heard it almost all our lives.  But did you ever think to ask why Jesus healed the man in "stages"?  If I ever asked the question, I probably came up with the reason that Jesus was just being creative... because He's that cool.  Ya... maybe.  Well, did anyone ever think to ask why Jesus led the man out of the city?  Why wouldn't He have done it in the city where everyone could watch Him do it?  I never asked that question.  But wow... am I ever grateful that some people do ask questions like this and take the time to explain it to those of us who don't!

RVL would say, "Look back earlier in the story."  This time, the answer lies just a few verses before in Mark 8:13-25:

And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.  Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.  And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.  And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?  Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?  When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.  And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.  And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

Jesus' reason for healing the blind man was primarily to teach his disciples a lesson.  Why else would He have taken the man outside of the city where no one else was watching then command him afterwards not to tell anyone else about it?  What Jesus was actually doing by healing the man in "stages" was showing the disciples how they "had eyes, yet could not see."  You see, the man had eyes and couldn't see.  Then he had eyes, and could see vague shapes, but he still didn't "get it."  Then Christ healed him completely... and he saw perfectly.  And when the disciples saw this all happen, it couldn't have been more obvious to them what Jesus meant.  They were Jews.  They thought in  pictures.  They realized that they were like that blind man... having eyes, but not seeing.  seeing, yet not comprehending.  I am completely intrigued at how Jesus intentionally played out a word-picture right in front of his disciples' eyes... knowing they would understand and remember.  Wow.

Okay, is this exciting or what?  This is just one story that RVL shared and completely altered in my thought-process... and there is so much more!!!  Since that seminar, I have viewed the Bible in a completely different light.  There are treasures everywhere that are just hidden from our Western mindsets... we just need to dig a little bit (or a lot).  But believe me, searching is so worth it!

Please join me on this treasure hunt.  I challenge you to read the Bible and notice the details.  Notice the details and ask questions about them.  Ask questions and search diligently for answers.  And when you find the exciting treasures, share them with me!!!  and with people all around you who may find the Bible to be dry and boring.

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Never settle for less!