"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"
The Blind Man At Bethsaida (8:22-26)
INTRODUCTION
- Among the many people Jesus healed included the blind...
- As foretold by Isaiah - cf. Lk 4:18
- Offered as evidence to John the Baptist - cf. Lk 7:20-22
- The healing of a blind man in our text is unique in two ways...
- It is found only in Mark's gospel
- It is the only miracle by that occurs in two stages
[Opening our Bibles to our text (Mk 8:22-26), let's first examine...]
- THE NARRATIVE
- JESUS ARRIVES IN BETHSAIDA...
- Bethsaida Julias, near where the 5000 had been fed - Mk 8:22;
cf. Lk 9:10
- On the NE side of the Sea of Galilee, near the entrance of the
Jordan
- A BLIND MAN IS BROUGHT TO HIM...
- By those who begged Jesus to touch him - Mk 8:22
- By concerned friends, similar to those who brought the
paralytic - cf. Mk 2:3
- JESUS TAKES HIM OUT OF THE TOWN...
- Leading the blind man by the hand - Mk 8:23
- Similar to what He did with the deaf mute - cf. Mk 7:33
- JESUS HEALS HIM IN TWO STAGES...
- Stage one - Mk 8:23-24
- Jesus spat on his eyes and then touched him
- Similar to what He did with the deaf mute - cf. Mk 7:33
- Perhaps to convey to the blind man His intentions
- The spit - His intention was to heal, saliva was thought
to have medicinal properties
- The touch - "Something will be done for your eyes...and I
will do it."
- When asked if he saw anything, he looked up and said, "I see
men like trees, walking"
- Stage two - Mk 8:25
- Jesus put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up
- His sight was completely restored and saw everyone clearly
- JESUS SENDS HIM AWAY WITH AN ADMONITION...
- To his house, not into town, not to tell anyone - Mk 8:26
- Similar to earlier admonitions following His healings - cf. Mk
1:44; 5:43; 7:36
- Undue attention would hinder His ability to travel and do His
work
- Especially by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians - cf.
Mk 8:11
[With the account of this unusual miracle fresh on our minds, allow me
to share...]
- SOME OBSERVATIONS
- WE DO NOT KNOW WHY JESUS DID IT THIS WAY...
- Why take the blind man out of the town of Bethsaida?
- To avoid publicity?
- To establish a one-to-one relationship with the man?
- Because Bethsaida had been judged already? - cf. Mt 11:21-22
- Why didn't the man receive perfect sight immediately?
- Was it the spiritual condition of the man himself?
- Was it to illustrate the slow progress of the disciples'
faith? - cf. Mk 8:18
-- Any explanation is speculation at best
- THE LORD DOES NOT ALWAYS DO THINGS THE SAME WAY...
- Jesus healed at least eight blind men, using a variety of
approaches
- Two men were healed by a simple touch of their eyes - Mt
9:27-31
- A blind and mute man was simply healed - Mt 12:22
- Two more blind men were healed by a simple touch of the eyes
- Mt 20:30-34
- In our text, the blind man was healed with touch and
spittle, in two stages - Mk 8:22-26
- Blind Bartimaeus was healed with but a simple word - Mk
10:46-52
- A blind man was healed with the anointment of the eyes with
clay and spittle, followed by washing in the pool of Siloam
- Jn 9:1-7
- Similarly, prayer is not always answered the same way
- God may say "yes" and the prayer answer immediately
- God may say "yes, but wait awhile"
- God may say "yes, but not in the way you expect"
-- Faith is content to receive God's working, however He deems
proper
- SPIRITUAL GROWTH OCCURS IN STAGES...
- Similar to how this particular miracle occurred
- Such was the case with Jesus' disciples - cf. Mk 8:18
- So we should expect our spiritual growth to take time - cf. 1Co
3:1-2; 2Pe 3:18
-- Faith is patient, understanding that important things often
take time
CONCLUSION
- Many commentators have noted our similarity with "The Blind Man At
Bethsaida"...
- We are spiritually blinded by sin, in need of "healing" - Ro 3:23
- We need the special attention of Jesus to be "healed" - Mt
11:28-30; Mk 16:15-16; Col 2:11-13
- When Jesus "heals" us of spiritual blindness, it may take awhile
to see clearly - He 5:12-14
- Are you still in sin...?
- Blinded by sin, and alienated from the life of God? - cf. Ep
4:17-19
- Then you need Jesus to be renewed in righteousness and holiness
- cf. Ep 4:20-24
Begin by coming to Jesus through obedience to His gospel, and continue
by walking with Him, seeing more clearly day by day...!