When faith is blurry
Have you ever needed more than one try to truly “see” what God was doing? You’re in good company. The story of the blind man in Mark 8:22-26 is one of the most fascinating, and strange miracles in the Bible.
Jesus is in Bethsaida, and a group of people bring a blind man to Him, begging for healing. What’s striking about this story is how Jesus heals the man.
First Jesus leads him out of the village, away from the crowd. After spitting on the mans eyes and laying hands on him, He asks, “Do you see anything?”
The man replies, “I see people; they look like trees, walking around.” He sees, but it’s fuzzy. Then Jesus touches him again, and suddenly he can see clearly! It’s one miracle in two stages, which is unique in the gospels. Jesus, who usually healed people with a simple word or touch, seemed unusually slow. But as always, something deeper was happening…
The Scripture
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
Mark 8:22-25
Verse Breakdown
“Led him out of the village…”
Jesus leads the blind man away from the crowd, away from noise, expectations, even distractions.
“Spit on the man’s eyes…”
To us it sounds odd. But in that time, saliva was sometimes believed medicinal. Jesus meets him where he is, using a culturally familiar method even though he only really needed to speak a word to heal the man.
“Do you see anything?”
Rather than instantly healing the man, Jesus talks to him. It’s interactive. He wants dialogue, awareness, and participation, symbolizing spiritual awakening happening in stages.
“They look like trees walking around.”
The man sees something, but it’s blurry. That’s exactly where many of us start with blurry understanding.
“Again He placed His hands…”
Jesus is patient and He doesn’t rush. Instead He gently brings him to full clarity.
“His sight was completely restored.”
A moment of joy and breakthrough. Full vision and everything is clear.
Symbolically, we can see that spiritual insight sometimes comes in phases, not all at once.
Faith in Action: Growing Gradually In Faith
This miracle tells us that growth – spiritual, emotional, relational – can happen slowly, and that’s okay.
Reflection Questions & Journaling Prompts
Affirmation for Today
Jesus meets me where I am, and even though I might not always see clearly, that’s okay.
Prayer for the Day
Lord Jesus,
Thank You that You don’t demand instant perfection. Thank You that You walk with me through foggy, blurry seasons, leading me gently out of my village of distractions. When I only see trees moving, remind me that growth takes time. Heal me with Your hands again and again, until my sight is clear, my heart steady, and my faith full. Help me be honest about what I can and can’t see today, and to trust You to finish Your work in me.
Amen.
