Q: In Mark 8:22-26 Jesus heals a blind man by spitting on his eyes and touching them. However, the man could not see clearly and said the men looked like trees. Jesus then touched his eyes again and he could see clearly. Why didn't he just heal him completely the first time. Also, why did he spit on his eyes? Was spitting significant for that time period. Did it represent something?
A: Thank you for your question. The blind man was a citizen of Bethsaida (Mark 8:22). From what we know of this town, it was a sinful place that was an enemy of the Gospel. Of Bethsaida, Jesus said, "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes (Matthew 11:21)." Jesus may have not wanted to perform this miracle inside Bethsaida because it citizens were so unbelieving that one more public miracle would not have made any difference in healing their "spiritual" blindness. Therefore, Jesus leads the blind man out of the village (Mark 8:23) and then prohibits him from entering the village after he is healed (Mark 8:26). This also shows the compassion Jesus had for the individual. A sort of foreshadowing of the personal relationship He has with believers and desires to have with everybody.
This may have also played a role in Jesus spitting on the blind man to heal him. Spitting on someone, by all accounts, is an offensive act. However, there are times when it is done to assist in things like cleansing and, if you will, healing. A mother may spit on her child to help clean a wound if nothing else is present. And it is plain to see that the intent was not offensive, but loving in nature. And it is often done in private, or in a less public environment, in order to support the loving aspect of the act rather than subject someone to what might be conceived as public humiliation. Jesus never publicly humiliated anyone and the times He used spit always accompanied a healing (Mark 7:33; John 9:6). It is also possible that the spitting had a practical application in that it may have prevented the blind man from opening his eyes too quickly and being overwhelmed by any light that he would have encountered. Again, that could be perceived as loving as well.
When the blind man said that people he did not see clearly looked like "trees walking around (Mark 8:24)," it makes me believe he was not blind his entire life. Otherwise, how would he have known what trees look like? A possible spiritual application to his inability to see clearly can be applied to those under the Mosaic Law. Earlier in this chapter Jesus became frustrated with the Pharisees asking Him to perform a sign, despite all that He had done up to that point (Mark 8:12). Later in the chapter, just before Jesus heals the blind man, He asks the disciples, "Do you still not understand (Mark 8:21)?" after they failed to comprehend His teaching about the "yeast" of the Pharisees; teachers of the law. The Apostle Paul said, "But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away (2 Corinthians 3:14)." You cannot see clearly if a veil covers your face. Those under the law, including the disciples, could not clearly comprehend the meaning of the miracles Jesus performed or His teachings.
If we continue reading in that same passage from 2 Corinthians, we may have the answer to why Jesus touched the blind man twice to completely return his sight to him. "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (2 Corinthians 3:16)." The entire purpose of the ministry of Jesus Christ was to get people to realize their need for the grace and mercy of God. We have read where those under the law cannot see clearly because of the "veil" covering their spiritual eyes. However, once a person comes to faith in Christ, they are no longer under the law, thus that veil is removed. They are now able to clearly "see," discern if you will, all that Jesus was truly communicating during His earthly ministry. Therefore, it would stand to reason that Jesus was trying to show the difference between law and grace by touching the blind man twice in order to completely heal him. Those under the law cannot see clearly the things of God and how to discern His truths. Those in Christ, spiritually indwelt by God and free from the law, are now able to clearly discern God's truths because He lives in a believer and teaches them Himself. "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17)."
My prayer is that this answer has shed some light on this difficult section of scripture for you. May God continue to reveal to you the blessings you already have in Christ Jesus.
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