Slices
Bible passage
Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida
22 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 spat 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.’
Explore
As I’ve written these notes, I have noticed how the Gospel-writer finds links between incidents and the words of Jesus. For example, he traces the theme of rejection and unbelief with opportunities for Gentiles to hear Jesus’ message and not just Jews. He includes two contrasting feeding miracles. This sight‑restoring story relates to the blindness of faith in the previous discussion and also Wednesday’s hearing restoration story (7:31–37). These two healing miracles are the only ones in Mark that don’t also appear in Matthew and Luke. What similarities are there between the two?
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus lays his hands on or touches someone more than in any other Gospel. In all but one case it’s in the context of healing. Here, rather beautifully, he privately takes the man by the hand. Then he touches his eyes in two stages, initially applying his spit. (Saliva was recognised as having healing properties.) Unlike in 7:34, he doesn’t command the man to see. Unusually, he asks a question in the style of those in 8:17–21, as though probing the man’s experience and understanding.
Is Mark presenting Jesus’ question here (v 23) as one he might ask of anyone, Jew or Gentile? ‘Do you see anything?’ Partial vision can turn into faith-filled clarity.
Respond
This is the last reflection on these chapters of Mark’s Gospel. If Jesus were to ask you, ‘Have you seen anything?’, what would you say?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Nehemiah 9,10; Psalm 78:38–72
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Eddie Nock, SU’s Senior Communications and Marketing Manager. He asks for creativity, inspiration and focus as he develops communications aimed at introducing new people to Scripture Union’s work.
