Anchor My Faith

A Two Stage Healing

Scripture: Mark 8:22-26

As we come to the end of another major section of travel along the gospel path with Jesus, we have a short section covering the healing of a blind man. Jesus had just fed the crowd of four thousand plus women and children, and then traveled across the Sea of Galilee. On their way across the disciples realized they forgot to bring along more bread, which resulted in a discussion about the leaven of bread and its relationship to the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.

Jesus and the disciples traveled along in their boat ^{Mk 8:22} “And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.” Traveling east across the Sea of Galilee, they arrive at Bethsaida where they are met by some people who brought with them a blind man. They begged Jesus to touch him to restore his sight.

^{Mk 8:23} “[Jesus] took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”’ Taking the blind man by the hand, Jesus led him out of the village, perhaps to be away from elements of unbelief and hostility, and spit on his eyes and laid his hands of him.

So far, this healing is similar to the healing of the man who was deaf and had a speech impediment in Mark 7:31 – 37. Here in this case, Jesus asks the blind man if he could see anything. Why should Jesus have any doubt that he had healed him?

In answer to the question if he could see, ^{Mk 8:24} “the blind man looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”’ The blind man’s vision was not completely restored. Why would Jesus not completely heal him? Reading again the verses from Mark 7:31 to 8:26 we find a lack of understanding, especially among the disciples. The blind man’s limited sight may be analogous to their limited comprehension of Jesus.

^{Mk 8:25} “Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” It appears that Jesus healed this blind man in two stages to emphasize the lack of understanding on the part of his disciples. As it took time to heal the blind man, it will take time for their understanding to take place. The disciples will soon understand that Jesus is the Messiah, but it will take some time before they will understand that Jesus is to be a suffering Messiah.

After healing the blind man, ^{Mk 8:26} “[Jesus] sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”’ Jesus did not want the restored blind man to go back into the village and share his experience, but to go home and enjoy his restored sight.

Conclusion

What is your level of understanding of who Jesus is? How does your walk with Jesus demonstrate that level of understanding? As the healing of the blind man came in stages, at what stage are you in your likeness of Jesus?