Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. [Mark 8:25 NIV]
[Photo by Alireza Zarafshani on Unsplash.]
There are some interesting features of the story of the blind man from Bethsaida. This unnamed man was introduced to Jesus by others. They were so anxious for Jesus to touch his eyes that they approached Jesus and begged him to help this blind man. It is good when we bring others to Jesus. Some people from the village were obviously convinced that only Jesus could restore his sight. When did we last introduce someone to the Saviour? Jesus led the blind man out of the village and this may have been to take him away from those who might have been a hindrance to his healing. Jesus wanted to ensure that he was healed away from the other people in the village who might have been sceptical or opposed to Jesus healing.
Jesus performs a miracle of healing and he acts as the Creator. It seems strange that Jesus spat in this man's eyes. There was healing in the saliva as well as the hands of the Son of God. It reminds us of the original creation of humans when God breathed into the first man's nostrils and he became a living soul.
This miracle is somewhat unusual. Jesus does not heal him immediately. The miracle of healing is in two parts. Mark usually emphasises the speed of the transformation. I have commented on Mark's use of the Greek word eutheos translated as 'immediately ' or some other word denoting hurry. In stage one, the man was able to see but his vision was incomplete. Mark records that he saw men as trees walking. And so Jesus intervenes again and this time his sight was completely restored and he saw clearly.
I am perfectly sure that Jesus deliberately staged this healing in two parts. It may have been to involve the man in the healing process. He was able to appreciate the reality of what was happening to him because it came in two instalments. The English Standard Version has another suggestion about this incident. The scholars point out that there are nine terms related to seeing in the short passage in Mark's Gospel chapter 8 verses 22 to 26 [I have provided the passage at the end of the blog with the references highlighted in red]. As well as healing the blind man, Jesus is taking the opportunity to teach the disciples a lesson. They had misunderstood the reference to the yeast or leaven (see verse 15). And Jesus rebukes them for their lack of understanding.
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? [Mark 8: 17 - 18]
Jesus goes on to remind them of the two occasions when he fed the multitude with loaves and fishes. However, notice that he speaks about them still not seeing. He explicitly reminds them that they have eyes but their eyesight is not functioning.
He goes on to demonstrate this point with the blind man. He restores his sight but he still cannot see clearly. Jesus is teaching an important lesson which goes beyond our physical eyesight and hearing. We may have eyes but lack spiritual discernment and so we do not perceive what God is saying to us and we have ears but our hearing is defective and we fail to hear God speaking to us.
Here is the passage from Mark's Gospel chapter 8. I have highlighted the words relating to seeing.
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” [Mark 8:22 - 26 NIV]
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