Mark 8:22-26

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 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?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 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. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Bethsaida

There are miracles only registered in the gospel of Mark. This is one of these unique miracles recorded in detail.

This is the only progressive miracle Jesus performed in the New Testament

Bethsaida was a village located near the mouth of the upper Jordan River on the east bank of the Sea of Galilee. This village is no longer inhabited

It is recorded in this account that “some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.”

The people

The people could have been bringing the blind man to Jesus because he was a part of their village and they cared for his well-being.

They could also have simply a desire to see the miracles of Jesus for themselves;

First touch

Verse 23, “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?”

Jesus did not choose to do the healing with everyone around, but instead He took the man alone with Him outside of the busy village.

Some of the greatest and most faith-growing times in our life will happen when we are completely alone with God.

Jesus’ process was to (1) taking them outside the village, (2) spit on his eyes, and (3) then touch Him.

Second touch

Verse 24, “ He looked up and said, ‘they look like trees walking around. I see people; they look like trees walking around.’”

There was a need for Jesus to do this miracle partially with the first touch and then completely with a second.

Verse 25, “once again Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”

Hebrews 12:3

Jesus was truly the “author and perfector of faith” for this man

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