THE HEALING OF A BLIND MAN

Passage: Mark 8:22-26

Key verse: 25

NIV

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 They came to Bethsaida,(A) and some people brought a blind man(B) 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(C) on the man’s eyes and put his hands on(D) 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[a] the village.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 8:26 Some manuscripts go and tell anyone in
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

22 And they came (A)to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And (B)he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when (C)he had (D)spit on his eyes and (E)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[a] 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, (F)“Do not even enter the village.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 8:25 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The blind man of Bethsaida (22-24)

The people of Bethsaida brought a blind man to Jesus. Bethsaida was in Galilee. It was the hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip. This event follows Jesus' words to his disciples, 'Do you still not understand?' (21) They were still spiritually blind. Jesus took the man outside the village, spit on his eyes and put his hands on him. The healing began, but when Jesus asked, 'Do you see anything?' the man confessed, 'I see people, but they look like walking trees!' He was like the disciples who loved and followed Jesus, but who didn't fully realize who he was or believe his power.

2. Once more... (25-26)

Jesus is not satisfied with partial sight--or partial faith. Once more he put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened and he could see everything clearly. Jesus did not give up on his disciples either. In the next event, Peter's spiritual eyes opened and he made a life-changing confession of faith.

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see you and other people clearly.

One Word: Jesus opens blind eyes