Mark 8:22-26English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he 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?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
Accompanying John MacArthur sermon: Jesus' Power Over BlindnessAccompanying David Legge sermon: Blindness by Degrees
Accompanying Robert Rayburn sermon: Slowly But Surely
This miracle, like all of Jesus' miracles, is evidence of His deity. It is an anticipation of His coming Kingdom, when every sickness will be healed. It is a confirmation of judgment, as Jesus does not allow this man to go back into Bethsaida - they had seen all the miracles and did not believe. And it's the turning point, where Jesus begins to teach the disciples about His coming death and resurrection (though they seemed to have stopped listening at death, and didn't take heed to any teaching about His resurrection).
MacArthur makes another interesting point about this healing (Legge makes the same point as well). This is the only healing that Jesus performs in two stages. It's possible this was an illustration of spiritual sight. The disciples saw some things clearly, but not everything. Eventually, after the resurrection, they see clearly. Our spiritual sight grows in stages. This man's healing from no sight, to partial sight, to perfect sight, came at the direct touch of Jesus - just as He works on us through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who changes us.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Mark 8:27-33
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