Mark 8:22-26
Key Verse: “He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.” Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.” (Mark 8:23-25 CSB)
According to research conducted by a journal in ophthalmology, close to 5 billion people or almost half of the world’s population will require glasses by 2050. This is primarily due to the amount of time people spend looking at computer or smartphone screens. We just aren’t seeing clearly.
As Jesus arrived in Bethsaida with His disciples, a man was brought to Him who wasn’t seeing clearly either. Actually, he wasn’t seeing anything at all. So those who were with him brought this blind man to Jesus begging Him to touch him so he could be healed.
In His compassion, Jesus took the man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then Jesus put spit on the man’s eyes and laid His hands on him, asking him if he could see anything. The man responded, “I see people – they look like trees walking” (v.24). So again, Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes, and this time, the man’s “sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly” (v.25).
Why did it take two attempts for Jesus to heal this blind man? Surely this miracle was in the realm of Jesus’ amazing power. Was He having an off day? Was He distracted? Not at all! Jesus could heal this man in an instant. He had already proven His power to heal the sick, control nature, and even raise the dead.
Instead, Jesus was trying to make a point to His disciples. Earlier, after the miraculous feeding of four thousand people with just seven loaves of bread and a few small fish, the disciples still didn’t get it. They failed to fully understand and comprehend who Jesus was and what He could do. Jesus had asked them, “Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear?” (v.18). The problem for the disciples was, like this man, they weren’t seeing clearly. Their spiritual sight had not yet been fully realized.
How are you seeing Jesus today? There is no spiritual sight apart from the work of God’s Spirit in our lives. The gospel is veiled to unbelievers because the god of this world has blinded them from seeing who Jesus truly is (2 Corinthians 4:4). We all need God’s Spirit to shine the light of Jesus into our hearts and to open our eyes more fully so we can see Him more clearly. Ultimately, it is only when He comes again that we will be able to fully see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).
In Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul prayed for the people that, “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:17-18).
Invite the Spirit of God to do the same in you today. Ask Him to remove any layers of spiritual blindness that remain, and to open your eyes more fully to the beauty and glory of Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Glorious Father, thank you for opening my eyes to Jesus through the work of your Holy Spirit. Jesus, enlighten the eyes of my heart so that I can see you more clearly, and stand in awe and wonder of all that you are. Amen.
