"I See Men AsTrees, Walking..."

Mark 8:22-26 (King James Version)

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

 ²³And 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.

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

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

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

Healing In stages

     This miracle of Jesus was unusual in that it was done in stages, rather than instantaneously. The miracles have both a practical and a spiritual application, so look at a few facts.

 

     Bethsaida was a town under judgment. Christ had pronounced woe upon it because it refused to receive the truth after hearing it.

     The blind man, in the first stage of healing, had fuzzy vision ... he cannot distinguish between men and trees ... he is not fully healed. He requires the further touch of the Saviour.

     After the complete healing, Jesus admonished him: Don't go into the town, and don't tell anyone in the town. Jesus didn't want men following him just for signs and wonders; the town had refused to accept the truth already. Jesus said that always seeking proof, 'signs and wonders,' are indicative of an evil generation. If we have proof, there is no need for faith. It is faith that the Lord prizes in His followers.

Spiritual Meaning: Look at the context

    All miracles were/are designed to teach. There was a distinct purpose to them, and that was to teach lessons. Just as Jesus chose to heal this man in stages, this is illustrative of the path of Christian growth .  We come to knowledge and wisdom through growing in grace, through maturity.

     Look back at verse 17: "Why do you reason because you have no bread?" Jesus is asking why the disciples still don't understand? Having eyes, they do not see. They lack spiritual enlightenment. Again, in verse 21, he asks: "How is it you do not understand?"

    Looking at the context after the miracle, we see in verse 31 that Jesus began to teach them that He would suffer many things - the passion, the cross, the resurrection. Just as we lack understanding about why certain things happen to us, so did Peter. Christ rebuked Peter for his lack of understanding and that of the disciples. Their spiritual vision is blurry. The miracle itself dramatizes the Lord's very words, to explain the meaning of the miracle.

Practical application

The necessary steps to obtain 20/20 spiritual vision include these:

  * Let the Lord lead. There is no such thing as  instant maturity. It is a slow, painful, life-long process.

  * He took the man by the hand and led him out of the town before healing him. The LORD led. The town was under judgment, and the Lord led him out of the town (just as God led Lot out of his town).

  * Separation from the world. Christ took him out of Bethsaida, on which judgment had been announced. The Christian is called to be separate - set apart = distinct from the values and attitudes of the world system, and yet having the necessary contact with the world to spread the good news of the gospel.

 * Humility. The man submitted to the Lord's method (spittle) and timing (gradual) ...and leading (out). Clear spiritual growth and maturity require humbling by God. Human beings are proud by nature. A follower of Christ must rid himself of that pride, "die to self," which always runs counter to worldly aims. ⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  I Peter 5:6-7 

 * As the man continually submitted to the Lord's hand, he was healed and came out of the place he was, and into the place where the Lord wanted to place him.

One of my favorite hymns is:

Open my eyes that I may see, glimpses of truth Thou hast for me; 

Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free. 

Silently now, I wait for Thee, Ready, my God, Thy will to see,

Open my eyes, illumine me ... Spirit Divine!

A Child of The King