Mark 8:22-26 - The Healing of the Blind Man of Bethsaida

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

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

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

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

      The Lord Jesus and the disciples land their boat in Bethsaida.  No doubt people knew that the Lord was a Healer for they brought to him a blind man.  What is interesting about this miracle (which is the second of its kind only to be found exclusively in Mark’s Gospel, the other miracle exclusive to Mark was the one recorded in 7:31-37) is that the Lord Jesus leads the blind man out of the town to heal him privately.  The Lord’s healing was done in two stages.  Certainly, a word from the Master would have sufficed, even perhaps a gentle touch.  But our Lord seems to be teaching this blind man some particular lessons that he needed to learn, and in doing so, we too, learn some things about God and ourselves.  First, God doesn’t always deliver us from our trials and testing immediately or urgently.  Sometimes He deals with us about certain things over and over again.  If we learn to participate with His work in our lives, then there is spiritual progress.  How thankful are we that God takes the time to instruct us and to do it effectively in His own good time?  Second, sometimes God uses things or tools that we would not choose.  What an unorthodox method of restoring one’s sight!  Yet, we are not called to reason but we are called to faith.  Do we trust the Lord and His Word when at times the situation or circumstances contradict His Word?  How is it that we know more than Him?  We don’t but sometimes we certainly think so.  This man’s sight was finally restored, but I am sure he gained more than physical vision, and so should we.  Let us learn, ever the more, to trust in Him.  Let us also be reminded that God has His good and perfect timing upon our lives.  He knows our needs and He knows exactly what He wishes to use to help and instruct us along the way.