# 108 Jesus Restores Sight to a Blind Man.
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Jesus Restores Sight to a Blind Man.
Jesus Restores Sight to a Blind Man.
The Sermon Notebook: New Testament What Do You See? (Mark 8:23–26)
In his book “The Servant Who Rules”, Ray Steadman shares the following illustration. Jazz pianist George Shearing was blind from birth. The composer of more than three hundred pieces, including the jazz standard “Lullaby of Birdland,” Shearing toured continually throughout his long career. He could often be found in busy downtown areas, navigating crowded sidewalks with his dark glasses and white cane. On one occasion, he was at a busy intersection at rush hour, waiting for help in crossing the street. Finally someone tapped him on the shoulder. What Shearing heard next was not an offer for help but a request. “Excuse me, sir,” a stranger said to Shearing, “would you mind helping a blind man cross the street?”
Shearing was about to tell the other man that he too was blind. Then he thought, Why not give it a go? So Shearing said, “Certainly, my friend. Here, take my arm.” The two men set off across the street together, the blind leading the blind. Shearing heard many unnerving sounds as they crossed the street—tires squealing, horns blaring, the angry voices of cab drivers—but they made it safely to the far curb. Later Shearing recalled the incident and said, “I’ll never do it again, but I’m glad I did it once. It was the biggest thrill of my life!”
From Dr. Alan Carr.
250 events. Harmony of the Gospels.
Jesus had been traveling out of Galilee up to Tyre and Sidon. He came back down to Decapolis where He healed a deaf man with a speech impediment.
In the beginning of chapter 8, He fed fed 4000 people with only 7 loaves of bread. Then He was once again challenged by the religious leaders to give a sign to prove that He was the Messiah. Which Jesus refused. In the parallel account in Matthew 16:4. Jesus said except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. (which was given at the resurrection and they still did not believe). They were spiritually blinded. In verse 13, Jesus gets into a boat and departs. And then warns the disciples about the false teaching of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod.
Jesus has done many healings up to this point. He has healed leprosy, paralysis, bleeding, blindness several times, a withered hand, cast out demons, deafness, speech impediments, even healed death. So, why this miracle and why now?
Dr. Alan Carr called this a parable in action. Remember that Jesus used worldly or physical examples to teach Spiritual truth. That is what Jesus is doing in this event.
When we last saw Jesus and the disciples they were in a boat and now we discover where they were going. They were going to Bethsaida.
There are some similarities of this story with the deaf man with a speech impediment in event # 104, Mark 7:31-37.
In both cases, there were people that cared enough to take these people to Jesus. they could not get to him on their own, they needed help. Thank God for the people that were involved in leading us to Jesus.
22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
They ask Jesus to touch this man. Jesus has healed in many different ways, he heals with a touch or with jut a word spoken from a great distance. he told one man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. Theses methods are not arbitrary, they have meaning. In many cases, it is up to us to find the meaning.
Right now they are asking for a touch just like the others did in 7:32.
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.
Now why did Jesus lead this man out of town?
Could have been Jesus wanted to do this privately.
Could have been the curse pronounced on Bethsaida. Matthew 11:21-22
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.
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
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.
From what I can tell from reading the commentaries, nobody knows exactly what the spitting means. there has been a lot of speculation but most of it is not very convincing. We will stick with what we do know.
Then Jesus ask him what he could see.
Now, was Jesus asking because He did not know? or was he asking because he wanted to others to know?
24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
So the man could see a little but it was not clear.
Remember the Pharisees asking for a sign? They could not see at all.
Jesus said of the Pharisees:
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Remember Mark 8:18?
The disciples had seen a lot. But it was not clear. They were still a little blurry.
What people did the man see? Jesus had taken the man out of town. so the only people there were those that brought the man to Jesus and the disciples. I think the point of this miracle is for the disciples to see it.
They could not see clearly.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
A lot of times we can not see clearly either. Even after all that God has done, the prayers answered, the blessings given and we still live defeated lives drowning in doubts and fear.
There is also the picture of salvation. When we got saved we could not see everything. There were a lot of things we did not know.
Everyday that we live as a Christian we are learning and growing. Sometimes that growth comes from Bible study and preaching. Other times the learning comes suffering and heartache. God uses all of these things to be gradually opening our eyes to His magnificient glory.
We keep looking at the things in this life instead of looking at eternity.
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.
Jesus touched this man again and he could see clearly.
The light is very bright when you have been in the darkness.
Jesus said:
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
There are those like the Pharisees that do not want to see, they have hardened their hearts.
Jesus said;
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
We need the light. We should be singing this little light of mine, I am going to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Our light is little but it just a reflection of the light of Jesus.
26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
Then Jesus tells the man to go home and not tell anybody. I think the people that know this will be able to tell that he can now see.
When we are saved we are given Spiritual sight. would others be able to tell that you can now see?
This passage is also a fulfillment of Messianic prophecy.
The restoration of hearing and speech in Mark 7:31-37 and this miracle of the restoration of sight are fulfilled prophecy.
Both of these events demonstrate the spiritual condition of the disciples.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
The hardened hearts of the pharisees is also fulfilled prophecy:
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
There comes a time in persons life that Jesus touches them and lets them know they are lost and on their way to hell. This is a message that most do not want to see. people often do not get saved right away. But eventully they start seeing that they are on their way to hell. when they see it, they call on the name of the Lord and He opens their eyes so that they can see Him. God fills them with the Holy Spirit so that for the first time in their lives, they really start to see.
The disciples were seeing dimly but Jesus would one day open their eyes so they could see.
Application.
Do not harden your heart.
Do not look at things of this world.
Look to things above.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
We may not understand what God is doing at the time, but He will reveal it to us when he wants us to know.
Father please open our eyes to your will and your ways for our lives so that we can be faithful messengers of the gospel to a lost and dying world.
Father, please touch us and let us see.