top of page

March 9 – Mark 8:22-26

He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village… ~ Mark 8:23 (NIV)

Not all Jesus’ miracles were private, but this one was. Jesus was intentional about taking the blind man of Bethsaida away from the people who brought him to be healed. This may have had something to do with the fact that the crowd was more interested in seeing a miracle than in the blind man’s welfare. It may also have been because Jesus was done doing miracles in a town where people refused to believe in Him even after hearing His teaching and witnessing His miracles (see Matthew 11:21 and Luke 10:13). However, there is also something intimate and compassionate in taking the blind man’s hand and removing him from the crowd. Jesus purposefully shifted the man from the object of the crowd’s curiosity to the subject of a one-on-one relational encounter with Him.


Once they were outside the town, Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and laid hands on him. Jesus sometimes used saliva in healing (see Mark 7:31-37 and John 9:1-7), and He may have occasionally done this to encourage the person’s faith because the people of that time believed saliva had healing properties. The warmth of the saliva and Jesus’ touch would have been soothing and encouraging to the blind man. This may have been the first time in his life that he had ever received this kind of loving personal attention, but that is the way Jesus is—relational and loving.


What is highly unusual about this miracle is its duration. This is the only miracle that Jesus performs in stages. All the other miracles are immediate. Of course, everything Jesus does has a purpose. He doesn’t always heal in the same way because He wants the world to know that He isn’t limited in His powers; He can heal in whatever way He sees fit. For some reason, a progressive healing was desirable here. Some scholars have suggested that it was for the man’s benefit—that the man’s faith needed strengthening slowly. But it is interesting that this miracle comes on the heels of Jesus’ question to the disciples following the feeding of the four thousand—“Do you still not understand?” (v. 21) If the disciples followed Jesus and the blind man outside the town, perhaps this slow, progressive opening of the man’s eyes was meant to illustrate the slow, progressive opening of the disciples’ understanding.


In any case, this miracle has much to say about God’s personal treatment of each of His children and about His timing, which is always perfect, even when it seems slow. God is at work in each of our hearts. He is conforming us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:27) in very personal, intimate ways. His work in you is not the same as His work in me, though He is after wholeness and Christlikeness in both of us. It is our job to be obedient, attentive, and responsive to His touch on our hearts and lives.


Let Jesus take you by the hand and lead you “outside the village” today. Get away with Him and allow Him to do some tender work in your heart. Share any hurt, pain, or burden you are carrying with Him. Allow Him to touch those wounds and troubles. Treasure His Presence and His touch, remembering that His love for you is greater than you can possibly know.

19 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Author

My name is Melissa Anderson. I'm a spiritual director and ordained pastor who loves God, people, and words. You can read more about me by clicking the button below.

Searches & Certainties

Posts Archive

Let's seek God together.

Thanks for subscribing!

© 2021 by Melissa Anderson. Proudly created with Wix.com

bottom of page