The Bruised Reed & The Smoking Flax Mark 8:22-26

Text: “A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench; He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.”

Isaiah 42:3.

Good morning, Christian beacon!  Praise God for your constant Spiritual glow.  You have been an encouragement and a challenge to many in the church; a winner of sinner’s souls as well.  May the Lord God continue to use you so mightily in His service.  Amen. 

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he/she that winneth (wins, and continues to win) souls is wise.”  (Proverbs 11:30)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”  (Matthew 5:16)

However, remember, in all your Spiritual victory, to spare a thought and a prayer for the many who come the way of “the bruised reed”.  Be patient to pour Spiritual ‘oil’ upon those merely smouldering in their God-given faith. Quench not the weary spirits of weaker saints. 

“Brethren, if a man/woman be overtaken in a fault, ye which are Spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering they self, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-3)

This morning’s Bible passage finds Christ giving sight to the blind - an act of Supernatural power and healing towards the plight of a mere natural man.  What Godly compassion!  What grace indeed!

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”  (Luke 4:18-19)

This Supernatural act of God the Son can be fitly compared to the Supernatural act of regeneration: God’s gift of a new nature within; a dead spirit quickened to life; what we call the new birth.  “Ye must be born again!”.  (John 3:3-8) (Ezekiel 37:1-10)

As we are well aware, it is by God’s grace and power we are SAVED; it is by that same Sovereign grace and Almighty power we are Eternally KEPT.  Christ Jesus gives Spiritual sight to the sinfully blind, then keeps, forever, those whom He has made to see. Hallelujah! Amen.  We have God’s Word on the matter. (1 Peter 1:3-5) (John 10:27-30)

Spiritual Progression: However, our selected study for this morning portrays a PROGRESSION of Christ’s Supernatural work of grace in the life of the blind sinner.  He did a miraculous thing to the man’s eyes; examined the result; then made a few miraculous adjustments to the work He had initially done in the man.  (Vs.23-25)

At first the blind man could merely see “...men as trees walking...”.  Yet, it was certainly a miracle that the once blind man could see at all!  Sight WAS given to him by the Lord God!

Similarly, when God the Holy Spirit regenerates us, in the Spiritual sense, this causes us to ‘see’.  It causes us to see: our sins; Christ’s absolute righteous standard for admission into Heaven; and the Eternal judgment which must, as a result, come upon all unrighteousness.  (John 16:8-11)

We are saved, but we must progress in Spiritual sight, and practice Christlikeness (to the very best of our limited abilities); growing “…in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 3:18)

Until the day Christ comes for us, or Death escorts us into His Holy Presence, we are thus, saved to serve the Lord God.  There can be no turning back.  “No man/woman having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”  (Luke 9:62)

Consider now the ‘...bruised reeds...’; those who resemble ‘...the smoking flax...’; within Christ’s church.  These believers are defined thus because they are most definitely saved, yet seem to be experiencing great difficulties in Christian growth, and what we theologians call ‘Progressive Sanctification’- basically, becoming more like Jesus, day by day. 

Too often the church at large expects perfection and maturity instantly; and if it is not promptly evidenced, the ‘bruised reeds’ are carelessly broken off; the ‘smoking flax’ is quickly quenched.  What presumptuous impatience!  What utter self-righteousness!  “Pride cometh before a fall!” Sin’s effects have bruised us all since Adam’s Fall from grace in Eden. “There is none righteous, no not one.”   (Romans 3:10) (Psalm 14:1-3)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“Finally, let us see in the gradual cure of this blind man, a striking picture of the present position of Christ’s believing people in the world, compared with that which is to come. We see in part and know in part in the present dispensation. We are like those that travel by night. We know not the meaning of much that is passing around us. In the providential dealings of God with His children, and in the conduct of many of God’s saints, we see much that we cannot understand, —and cannot alter. In short, we are like him that saw “men as trees walking.” (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

Christ’s grace ALONE has lightened our Eternal darkness; cleansed us from our total depravity and sin.  So, as we seek to glow, and stand like straight and mighty oaks in Christ’s service - let’s always spare time and show compassion, love, and encouragement to those of slower, less obvious, progress in the Christian faith.  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Thought:  Spiritual lamps are not lit with waters of cold, self-righteous contempt - show a little love to some fellow Christian brother/sister today.