Mark 8 – The Facts.
22-23 They arrived at Bethsaida. Some people brought a sightless man and begged Jesus to give him a healing touch. Taking him by the hand, he led him out of the village. He put spit in the man’s eyes, laid hands on him, and asked, “Do you see anything?”
24-26 He looked up. “I see men. They look like walking trees.” So Jesus laid hands on his eyes again. The man looked hard and realized that he had recovered perfect sight, saw everything in bright, twenty-twenty focus. Jesus sent him straight home, telling him, “Don’t enter the village.”
Think about it…as we figure out why this miracle is different….
–This miracle of Jesus is one of a kind. He did not just say the word and the man healed instantly as He had done for others.
–When has God taken time and phases to answer our prayers for help, healing or restoration? Is He building our faith a little at a time, in a way we could individually grow and never go back to the way we were? Sightless to Him and His ways?
–He could have cured him, as he did others, with a word speaking, but He seemed to assist his faith which was very weak, and to help him against his unbelief.
–Jesus had to touch him to heal him.
–“This spittle signified the eye-salve wherewith Christ anoints the eyes of those that are spiritually blind, Rev. 3:18. 2. That the cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in Christ’s miracles. He asked him if he saw aught, Mark 8:23.” – Matthew Henry Commentary.
–Christ never does his work halfway or quits until he can say, “it is finished”. He put his hands again on the newly sighted man’s eyes, to cleanse the remaining darkness, and then told him look up again, and he saw every man clearly. Faith has been built…on nothing less than Jesus Christ! He can now see Christ clearly. He sees and believes in the One and Only who gave him sight!
–Is Jesus asking us, “Do you see anything?” Yet?
–This one of kind miracle shows us that Jesus looks into our hearts. He does not teach a “method” but develops a relationship and gives what we need at the right time for each one of us.
–Jesus leads the man out of the village of Bethsaida. Did Bethsaida not deserve seeing this miracle occur because they were blind, too?
–“Go home” says Jesus to the now sighted man. “Don’t enter the village.” Bethsaida probably would have made excuses or explained this miracle away as magic or coincidence. Does our world do that today? Mm….
Dear Heavenly Father, You are still performing miracles in us and all around us. Help us to see You clearly, to see Your works and blessings, healing and restoration and be very grateful. Help us to live gratefully today, watching for You around every corner and in every detail. Thank you for loving me as an individual person, uniquely created by You. I need you every hour. Every hour I need you.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
And I’m singing…
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
