“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.” Mark 8.22-25
Scripture is so full of meaning. In this passage, we see a blind man healed, although not instantly, and we begin to question whether Jesus missed the mark or perhaps healing comes in stages. One commentator suggests that perhaps the blind mans faith limited the power of God to work in his life (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jesus-heal-blind-man-two-stages-mark-8/).
It’s important to note that the blind man was brought to Jesus — he didn’t approach on his own. So, perhaps he was anticipating or even believing that he could be healed. Maybe those who brought the man to Jesus were true believers, or perhaps they just wanted to see what Jesus could do. It’s also interesting that Jesus takes the blind man and leads him out of the village. Imagine that, holding hands with the Messiah as he guides you blindly from one destination to another. Could this have been a part of the blind man’s spiritual journey? How many people have physically held the hand of Jesus?
And when they arrive outside the village, Jesus spits on the man’s eyes (What???) and then places his hands on the man for the second time. This man was touched twice by Jesus. The man received only a part of his healing back — it was better but out of focus — “the people look like trees walking around.” Jesus now touches the man a third time, and after doing so, the man could see clearly. Jesus then sent him home by saying, “Do not even go into the village.”
Why does Jesus do some of the things he does? Touching the man three times, two touches to heal the man completely? And then having him return home by another route? It’s truly mysterious.
Maybe the man needs that many touches by Jesus — multiple moments of the Son of God laying hands upon him. And perhaps his blindness was not just physical but spiritual. It could be that the man’s lack of faith limited Jesus’ once-for-all healing, or that in our own lives, healing is a process. We require multiple encounters with the Living God in order to receive healing and wholeness.
I don’t have the answers to these questions. What I do know is that Jesus touched the man and he healed. And Jesus wants us to bring healing into our lives as well. Sometimes it requires spittle in our eyes, other times it requires being led by the hand by God, and still other times the laying on of hands. But the end result of the good news — God brings healing to the broken and the blind.
Soon I will be headed to another youth retreat. It’s the ninth in a row at this particular location (Camp Eagle) and entering my 25th year of leading youth and adults in retreats. And to tell you the truth, I still need a healing touch from the Master. I can never get enough encounters with Jesus. And truth be told, he is not finished with me yet. I still have much work to do in my life so that I might walk in obedience and seek the sanctification that only Christ can bring.
Are you in need of the Master’s touch? Do you need healing? Come to him now, call upon his name, and see his face with faith and love.
“O Lord God, you are good. Come to us, Holy Spirit, fall upon your people. Help us know the power of your life and the gift of your grace. I love you Lord and praise your name. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen