'When they arrived at Bethsaida, they brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Putting spittle on his eyes he laid his hands on him and asked, “Do you see anything?” Looking up he replied, “I see people looking like trees and walking.” Then he laid hands on his eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. Then he sent him home and said, “Do not even go into the village (Mk. 8:22-26).”'
Jesus used symbolism to heal the blind man and the healing was different from most of the other healings of Jesus which were instantaneous. The blind man asked Jesus to lay hands on him, but Jesus took him outside the village, put spittle on his eyes and then laid hands on him. Jesus used spittle when healing someone on three occasions - Mk. 7:33; Mk. 8:23; Jn. 9:6. The healing took place in two stages; first partially then completely. Jesus will cure our blindness gradually, if we let him, until we can see clearly. Jesus sent the man home and warned him not to tell anyone in the village,
Almighty God, giver of all good gifts, send down your holy Spirit upon us and give us the gift of light so that we may see clearly for we see no better than the blind man. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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