Healing of the Blind Man
Healing of the Blind Man is the story from Mark 8 where Jesus went into enemy territory & healed the man in 2 steps. Jesus wants us to see Him Clearly. These are the sermon notes from Elder Paul Ybarra when he preached this sermon at Riverside Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church on Sabbath 26 January 2019.
Mark 8:22-26 New King James Version (NKJV)
A Blind Man Healed at Bethsaida
22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.”
25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”
Jesus Used Two Steps to Heal the Blind Man
Jesus had gone to Bethsaida. In the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John, Jesus had cursed Bethsaida. Jesus had gone into enemy territory. The Religious Elite were scheming to trap Jesus. Jesus went there because HE knew that the blind man had the faith of a mustard seed.
When you study the Gospels, you see that most people had heard of Jesus. News of the Rabbi and the healing miracles HE accomplished traveled fast in the early first century without the internet. In the passage in Mark 8 verse 23, Jesus led the blind man by hand out of town and healed him.
Jesus spat on the blind man’s eyes. Spitting then and even today is an insult. In Mark 7:31-37, Jesus spat on a deaf man’s ears.
Turning back to Mark 8, in verse 24 Jesus asks the blind man what he sees after having spat on his eyes. The blind man replied that he saw men like trees walking around.
Jesus then put His Hands on the blind man’s eyes again and made him look up. Suddenly the blind man was restored and saw everyone clearly.
Jesus sent the healed blind man away and told him not to tell anyone. It is hard for a human being that has witnessed an incredible healing to keep their mouth shut. Our nature is to share good news.
Deeper Meaning to Healing the Blind Man
Besides the physical healing of the blind man’s eyes, there is a much deeper lesson Jesus is teaching here. Jesus wants us to see Him clearly. Jesus wants us to understand who HE is. Jesus went to the Cross to die the death that we deserve because of our sins. HE did that so that we do not have to die a second time. HE wants to be our Savior. Jesus is the bridge back to God the Creator. The most famous verse in the Bible reveals that in John 3:16:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
In Mark 1 verse 44, Jesus had healed a leper. Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Jesus healed people’s physical problems more than HE preached. God wants us to be healthy. When a person’s physical needs are met, then they are ready to better understand spiritual teachings.
Takeaway from Mark 8 Healing of the Blind Man
- Read Your Bible
- Ask God to Reveal the Deep Meaning of the Scriptures to You
- Ask God to Guide You Daily
Hope you have enjoyed reading my Healing of the Blind Man post. You can find more posts in my Spiritual Category.