A Two-Part Miracle
“And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 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. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.” Mark 8.22-25
Working upon the assumption that our Lord never did anything half way, we come across this miracle that seems to be less than perfect. Of course, we also understand that when there seems to be a contradiction in God’s Word, the problem does not lie within the Scriptures but rather within our ability to understand.
Moving forward upon that assumption, we must realize that the reason for this two-part miracle could not possibly be an issue with Jesus’ ability to bring about an instant cure. The issue must lie somewhere else since we also know that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. (II Timothy 3.16) Yes, even something as minute as a blind man receiving a part of his vision by the direct act of God has significance.
Jesus and His disciples had crossed Galilee several times and were exhausted. In each crossing, Jesus had performed miracles including a couple of feedings of tremendously large crowds of people. The disciples had been drawn into the work by collecting the leftovers and ministering to the hungry people. Many had been healed and blessed by this entourage. Thousands had followed them as they crisscrossed the water. The disciples saw these miracles and believed Jesus was the One responsible.
When Jesus and His group arrived at Bethsaida, a blind man was brought forward. This man represented more in the spiritual realm than in the physical. While the disciples had witnessed many miracles (even participating personally), their faith was still lacking. Their faith was incomplete. While they were followed by experts in the Law, the Pharisees, this group, who believed deeply that they were doing things right according to the Law, lacked fulfillment and completion. Their faith was inefficient.
Jesus was not at all surprised by the coming of this blind man. This encounter had been orchestrated in the annals of eternity past in order to meet the needs of these two groups of people. Jesus’ partial healing of this blind man illustrated for the disciples that their faith in Jesus’ miracles was only a part of the real story. Jesus did come with healing as a part of His mission (Malachi 4.2); however, His primary mission was to save the lost. (Luke 19.10) Even though the Pharisees meticulously adhered to the Law, they needed to know that the Law could save no one. Salvation is obtained only through the Kinsman Redeemer – the Savior sent into the world. The Pharisees lacked completion.
Each of these groups was blind in their own way – seeing only a part of the big picture. They had an amount of faith, but their faith was inefficient. It left them with partial vision, but not perfect vision. Only as their sincerity was finished by trusting completely in Jesus Christ, the Savior, could their faith be turned into sight and offer deliverance. Saving faith comes when an individual trusts in Christ without variance or wavering. Partial faith is, essentially, no faith at all.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4.12
Moving forward upon that assumption, we must realize that the reason for this two-part miracle could not possibly be an issue with Jesus’ ability to bring about an instant cure. The issue must lie somewhere else since we also know that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. (II Timothy 3.16) Yes, even something as minute as a blind man receiving a part of his vision by the direct act of God has significance.
Jesus and His disciples had crossed Galilee several times and were exhausted. In each crossing, Jesus had performed miracles including a couple of feedings of tremendously large crowds of people. The disciples had been drawn into the work by collecting the leftovers and ministering to the hungry people. Many had been healed and blessed by this entourage. Thousands had followed them as they crisscrossed the water. The disciples saw these miracles and believed Jesus was the One responsible.
When Jesus and His group arrived at Bethsaida, a blind man was brought forward. This man represented more in the spiritual realm than in the physical. While the disciples had witnessed many miracles (even participating personally), their faith was still lacking. Their faith was incomplete. While they were followed by experts in the Law, the Pharisees, this group, who believed deeply that they were doing things right according to the Law, lacked fulfillment and completion. Their faith was inefficient.
Jesus was not at all surprised by the coming of this blind man. This encounter had been orchestrated in the annals of eternity past in order to meet the needs of these two groups of people. Jesus’ partial healing of this blind man illustrated for the disciples that their faith in Jesus’ miracles was only a part of the real story. Jesus did come with healing as a part of His mission (Malachi 4.2); however, His primary mission was to save the lost. (Luke 19.10) Even though the Pharisees meticulously adhered to the Law, they needed to know that the Law could save no one. Salvation is obtained only through the Kinsman Redeemer – the Savior sent into the world. The Pharisees lacked completion.
Each of these groups was blind in their own way – seeing only a part of the big picture. They had an amount of faith, but their faith was inefficient. It left them with partial vision, but not perfect vision. Only as their sincerity was finished by trusting completely in Jesus Christ, the Savior, could their faith be turned into sight and offer deliverance. Saving faith comes when an individual trusts in Christ without variance or wavering. Partial faith is, essentially, no faith at all.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4.12
Copyright © 2023 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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