The Blind Will See Series

The Blind Will See.

The Book of Mark

Mark 8:22-26

I. Introduction:

A. We have come to a major dividing point in the Book of Mark.

B. That makes the miracle recorded here significant in several ways.

1. This the second of the 2 miracles which were recorded only in Mark.

a) None of the other gospels mention it.

b) The miracles are similar in many aspects.

2. This is the last miracle performed in Galilee.

3. It also marks a change in the focus of Jesus work.

a) From the beginning to now the disciples have been taught the truth of God in many forms.

(1) Direct teaching.

(2) Observing Jesus discussing with others.

(3) Witnessing miracles.

b) His wide ranging public ministry ends here in Galilee although they make one more sweep through the area after going north for a time He doesn’t perform any more miracles nor does He teach crowds.

c) The next part of the book concerns itself with preparing the disciples for the passion of the Savior.

(1) It begins with the confession of Peter and ends at the resurrection of the Lord.

(2) From this point on He moves inexorably toward Jerusalem.

(3) His Public ministry here is ended.

(4) The crowds no longer throng to see and hear Him.

(5) The hostility toward Him increases more and more.

(6) The focus of His ministry now becomes His disciples.

C. Bethsaida.

1. Tragic place.

2. Located on the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee.

a) The name means house of fish.

b) Home of Peter, Andrew and Phillip who were all fishermen.

3. It is the village near where the feeding of the 5000 took place.

4. It is also an area where many healings took place.

5. The tragic part is that even with all the time Jesus spent there and all the amazing miracles that took place in that vicinity they were hardened to the Gospel Matthew 11: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

6. It is fitting therefore that Jesus would perform His final miracle in this place.

II. The Condition of the blind man.:

A. Unidentified.

1. He had friends who cared enough for him that they begged Jesus to heal him.

2. He could have been a friend of one of the disciples.

3. Some how they had found out that Jesus was there and brought him to Him.

B. Most people who had diseases were ostracized from their community.

1. There were no laws making it illegal to discriminate in those days.

a) If family members or close friends didn’t take care of them no one would.

b) Most people were too busy taking care of their own needs to have the time or resources to take care of someone they didn’t know.

2. Usually these people were relegated to begging for their sustenance.

3. They were no government agencies to help.

4. There was no hope for a cure.

a) If you contracted a disease or some debilitating injury you were consigned to that fate for the rest of your life.

b) It wasn’t until the 19th century that people started to treat illnesses with any real hope of curing someone.

5. This man would have been in this kind of situation.

a) The context of the story indicates that he had had his vision at one time in his life.

b) He may have lost it in an accident or to some disease.

C. They begged Him to touch him.

D. This appears to be the customary way that Jesus healed those who came to Him.

1. Mk.1:31,40-41 Peter’s mother in law, a leper.

2. Mk.3:10

3. Mk.6:56.

4. Mk.7:33 the deaf and dumb.

5. Luke 4:40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

6. The fact that He took the time to touch each person that He healed indicates a personal concern.

a) It indicates a deep love and compassion for each person He was confronted with.

b) What a wonderful demonstration of God’s unconditional love.

7. He didn’t just wave His hand over the crowd and pronounce them healed.

8. He took time with each person.

E. What is the significance of this to us?

1. Imagine being ostracized by other people because of something you have no control over.

2. Imagine how lonely you would be.