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THE BLIND MAN AT BETHSAIDA HEALED

Mark 8:22-26

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     No man had ever been healed of blindness prior to the coming of Jesus Christ that we read of in the Bible.

 

B.      During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed several who were blind.

1.        There are either 5 or 6 specific instances that are recorded for us.

2.       There are also two other passages that tell us that Jesus healed many, some of which were blind (Matt. 15:29-31; 21:14).

 

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.

 

C.     One of the miracles Jesus did when healing a blind man is somewhat unique.  It involves a blind man healed at the town of Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26).  Let’s look at this miracle in this lesson.

 

I.             THE PLACE (Mark 8:22a)

 

And he cometh to Bethsaida…

 

A.     Bethsaida is located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

 

Bible Map: Bethsaida

 

B.      The meaning of the word “Bethsaida” is “the house of fisherman.”

 

C.     Four major things surround this town.

1.        It is the home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1:44).

2.       Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men, plus women and children in the vicinity (Luke 9:10-11).

3.        Jesus pronounced a woe on the city (Matt. 11:21).

4.       Jesus healed a blind man (Mark 8:22-26).

 

II.           THE PROBLEM (Mark 8:26b)

 

…and they bring a blind man unto him…

 

A.     A man was brought to Jesus who could not see.

1.        We are not told how he became blind.

2.       We are not told how long he was blind.

 

B.      Blindness is an awful affliction.

1.        One is not able to perform simple tasks.

2.       The individual is not able to enjoy the beauty of the world.

3.        The individual is dependent upon others.

 

C.     Research on blindness:

1.        Stats:

a.       Ages 16-75:  7.7 million             Ages 4-20:  706,400

b.       Florida:  544,700

2.       What do blind people see?

a.       Those who were born blind see nothingness.

b.       Those who were able to see then became blind:

1)       Some see complete darkness.

2)      Others see sparks, shapes, colors, flashes of light, and vivid visual hallucinations.

 

III.         THE PETITION (Mark 8:22c)

 

…and besought him to touch him.

 

A.     NOTE:  We are not told “who” brought the blind man to Jesus.  Family?  Friends? 

 

B.      Besought:

1.        Strong (3870):  to call near, invite, invoke, implore

2.       Thayer:  to call to one’s side, to beg, entreat, beseech

3.        Vine:  to call to one’s aid, any type of calling where one desires an effect

 

C.     These individuals wanted Jesus to touch the man.  They knew Jesus’ touch could heal.

1.        They may have seen Jesus heal others.

2.       They may have had others tell them about Jesus’ ability to heal.

3.        They manifested faith in Jesus’s miraculous power.

4.       They believed it could be done with just a touch.

5.        Poem:  A Touch of the Master’s Hand

 

D.     NOTE:  The text never mentions the faith of the blind man. 

1.        Thus, faith on the part of the one being healed was not always essential in the healing process.

2.       So-called “faith-healers” today will blame the individual being healed with a lack of faith if they cannot heal the person. 

3.        Faith on the part of the person being healed was not always required.

 

IV.         THE PERFORMANCE (Mark 8:23-25)

 

A.     The Privacy (Mark 8:23a)

 

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town…

 

1.        The Scriptures offer no explanation as to why Jesus did this.

2.       Two thoughts:

a.       Barnes:  “To escape the designs of the Pharisees who were trying to take Jesus’ life, and chiefly on a charge of sedition and exciting the people” (e-sword).

b.       Clarke:  “Thus showing the inhabitants that he considered them unworthy of having another miracle wrought among them.  He had already deeply deplored their ingratitude and abstinancy” (e-sword).  See Matt. 11:21

 

Woe unto thee Chorazin, woe unto thee, Bethsaida:  for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

 

B.      The Process (Mark 8:23b-25)

1.        Step One (Mark 8:23b-24)

a.       The Remedy (Mark 8:23b)

 

…and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hand upon him he asked if he saw aught.

 

1)       The unusual:  “…and when he had spit on his eyes…”

a)      Spit is nasty.  Why would Jesus do such a thing?

b)      Often the eyes of the blind were matted together.  When the man’s eyes were healed, Jesus wanted him to be able to open his eyelids.  Thus, he moistened the man’s eyelids with His spit.

c)      NOTE:  There was no healing power in the spit placed upon the man’s eyes.

2)      The usual: 

a)      Touch:  “…and put his hand upon him…”

-          Jesus may have touched him to rub the spit in his eyes.

-          He may have touched him to comfort and reassure him.

b)      Talk:  “…he asked if he saw aught.”

-          Physically little had been done.

-          A very brief period of time had transpired.

b.       The Result (Mark 8:24)

 

And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

 

1)       The man’s sight had been partially restored, but he did not see clearly.

2)      Here is the unique aspect of this miracle.  We ask the question:  “Why wasn’t this man’s sight fully restored immediately?” 

a)      Since the Scriptures do not reveal the answer, all answers are speculative.

b)      Several theories:

-          Jesus followed a process of healing that was a reversal of how the man lost his sight.

-          Jesus was seeking to teach a spiritual lesson that complete spiritual sight might take more than “one touch.”

-          Jesus wanted to establish the man’s faith in the fact that it was definitely Jesus who cured him.

-          To show all men that He (Jesus) is sovereign over His own graces.  He bestows them to whom and how He delights.

2.       Step Two (Mark 8:25)

a.       The Repetition:  “After that he put his hands again on his eyes, and made him look up…”

b.       The Restoration:  “…and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.”

1)       This is the end that most of us recognize.  His healing was full and complete.  He saw “clearly.”

a)      Strong (5081):  in a far shining manner, plainly

b)      Thayer:  at a distance and clearly

c)      Vine:  the combination of two words:  “radiance” and “afar”  clearly

2)      This was an undeniable miracle.

a)      A supernatural event

b)      An event that supersedes or suspends natural law and time.

c)      There was no surgery, no implants, no medications that were used.

3)       Again, it is interesting that up to this time in history, no man had ever healed a blind individual. 

 

V.           THE PROHIBITION (Mark 8:26)

 

And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

 

A.     It appears this man was not from the town of Bethsaida.  Those who brought him to Jesus had heard that Jesus was there.

 

B.      He was prohibited from declaring this wonderful miracle in the town of Bethsaida.

1.        Those who reject the works of Christ are no longer worthy of seeing them.

2.       There comes a point when God removes His grace and truth from individuals. 

3.        Apparently, Bethsaida had reached that point of no return.  Jesus no longer felt that this town was worthy of His blessings.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     The lost are spiritually blind. 

1.        They cannot see the truth.

2.       They cannot see salvation.

 

B.      They stand in need of one to heal them.  Listen to Jesus’ words in John 9:31.

 

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see…

 

C.     It is through the glorious light of the gospel that Jesus enables men to see (2 Cor. 4:4).

 

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

D.     Sometimes the healing process is immediate.  Individuals have the truth revealed to them and immediately they trust and obey.  Others are much like the blind man at Bethsaida.  They must hear the gospel more than once, but slowly the light of truth comes to dwell in them and they see clearly.

 

E.      My friend, are you blind?  Will you allow Jesus to heal you?  There is no greater blessing than being able to see, that is, to see clearly and to see far off into the eternal realms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Touch of the Master's Hand

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
      Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
      But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
    "Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar. Then two! Only two?
      Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"

"Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
      Going for three…" But no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
      Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
      And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
      As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
      With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"
      And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
      Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
    And going and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
    "We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?" Swift came the reply:
    "The touch of the Master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
      And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
      Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
    A game — and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and "going" twice,
    He's "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
    Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
    By the touch of the Master's hand.