http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 1 Blind Man Near Bethsaida is Healed Mark 8:22-26
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 2 Text: Mark 8:22-26, Healing of a Blind Man 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 aught. 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. Commentary: I. In Bethsaida Julius, located on the east bank of the Jordan River just north of its entrance into the Sea of Galilee, some people brought to Jesus a blind man and asked that Jesus touch him, bless him, heal him. A. Jesus took the blind man by the hand showing compassion on the helpless and led him outside the village. 1. Why did Jesus take the blind man out of the village? 2. We also need to be alone with Jesus. 3. To have performed a public healing would have produced another multitude with many seeking healing.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 3 B. Jesus spat on the man s eyes, put his hands on him, and asked, Do you see anything? 1. Jesus power healed the blind man. 2. Why was saliva involved here? Mark 8:23, 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 aught. 3. Since Jesus knew everything why did he ask this question? 4. The man said he saw people that looked like trees walking around. His vision was not yet 20/20. C. Jesus again put his hands on the man s eyes at which time the man s eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. This was a progressive healing. D. Jesus then sent the man whose sight had been miraculously provided home directing him, Don t go and tell anyone in the village. All would have become aware that a great miracle had been performed and would have thronged Jesus. E. Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would give sight to the blind, physically and spiritually. 1. Isaiah 29:18, 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. 2. Mark 10:46-52, And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 4 number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. 3. Matthew 9:27-31, And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 4. Matthew 15:29-31, And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 5 were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus feet; and he healed them: Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. 5. John 9:1-7, And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 6 Healing of a Blind Man Questions 1. A man came to Jesus in asking for healing. 2. Jesus took the man by the and led him out of. 3. Jesus on his, and put his upon him, he asked him if he saw. 4. The man looked up, and said, I see as,. 5. Jesus again put his upon his, and made him up: and he was, and saw every man. 6. Was this a two stage healing? If so, what other multiple stage healing can you recall? 7. Jesus sent the man to his, telling him, Neither go into town, nor tell it to any in the.
http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 7 8. Why did Jesus lead this man out of town before healing him? 9. Since Jesus knew everything, why did he ask the man how well he saw after stage one of the healing process? 10. had foretold that the would give to the, and.