Seeing Clearly
Introduction
I grew up in Amarillo, Texas. And I remember as I entered my teenage years watching my parents navigate the wonderful world of vision changes. I remember when my mom first started holding the newspaper at arm's length, squinting like she was trying to read smoke signals. Then came the reading glasses. Those little drugstore specials that she'd lose approximately fourteen times a day. I'd find them on her head while she was frantically searching the kitchen counters, calling out, "Has anyone seen my glasses?" But the transformation wasn’t complete yet. Oh, no. Let's just say my mom has achieved what I like to call "Six-Eyes Status." Picture this: she'll wear her sunglasses through the drive-through and her readers at the same time. The only thing maybe more entertaining is seeing the drive-thru employee’s faces as she pulls up to the windows. Fashion icon? No comment. Practical? Absolutely.
But here's what I find fascinating: we accept that our physical eyes need different corrections for different situations. Reading glasses for close work, distance glasses for driving, some wear blue light glasses for screens. We get it, right? Our eyes need help to see clearly. So here's my question: If our physical eyes need corrective lenses, what about our spiritual vision? What happens when our souls need some divine correction to see Jesus as He truly is?
That's exactly what we're diving into today. We're looking at one of the most remarkable passages in Mark's Gospel, a section that Bible scholar Ray Stedman called "the Continental Divide" of Mark's narrative. Think about that for a second. The Continental Divide is this massive watershed moment where rivers either flow east toward the Atlantic or west toward the Pacific. One ridge, two completely different destinations.
Well, Mark 8:1-26 is like that for Jesus' ministry. It's the turning point where everything shifts: from public demonstrations of power to private conversations about purpose, from "Look what I can do" to "Here's why I came."
See, our journey to really seeing Jesus often happens in stages. It's not always a lightning-bolt moment. Sometimes we need that first divine touch, and then... we need a second one. And maybe a third, and fourth, and fifth. But these moments that bring clarity about who Jesus really is and why He came. So as we walk through these stories today, keep this question in mind: Do you see clearly? Not just physically, but spiritually. Because like everyone in our passage today (the disciples, the Pharisees, even a blind man in Bethsaida), we all need Jesus to open our eyes.
Context and Setting: The Ministry Landscape (Mark 7:31-37 Background)
To understand Mark 8:1-26, we need to talk about where Jesus has been hanging out lately. Because geography matters in the Gospels, and Jesus has been making some very intentional moves that would have absolutely shocked His disciples. Picture this: Jesus has just come from up in Tyre and Sidon (Gentile territory). That's where Gavin absolutely knocked it out of the park last week with one of the best explanations I've ever heard of that encounter with the Syrophoenician woman. If you missed that message, seriously, go back and listen to it. Because Gavin did an awesome job unpacking how that woman called Jesus "son of David" and "Lord," recognizing Him as the Jewish Messiah even though she was a Gentile.
But Jesus wasn't done with His "Ministry in Unexpected Places" tour. From Tyre and Sidon, He made His way to the Decapolis region. Now, the word "Decapolis" literally means "ten cities," and if you were a good Jewish boy or girl in the first century, this was basically the last place on earth you'd want to visit. Why? Because the Decapolis was everything observant Jews spent their whole lives avoiding. We're talking about ten Greek cities that were like ancient Las Vegas—but worse. Picture pagan temples on every corner, nude athletic competitions (which would have scandalized Jewish sensibilities), theatrical performances that would make a sailor blush, and gladiatorial contests where people killed each other for entertainment.
And the food? Well, let's just say they weren't keeping kosher. Archaeological evidence shows us pig farms everywhere. Pig farms! For Jews who wouldn't even pronounce the word "pig" without washing their mouths out afterward, this was like Jesus taking His disciples on a tour of everything forbidden.
But here's what makes this so fascinating: Jesus didn't just pass through this region like a tourist trying to get home quickly. He actively ministered there. He set up shop. He healed people. He taught. He demonstrated that His mission wasn't confined to the safe, predictable boundaries of traditional Jewish expectations. In fact, He'd just performed one of the most unusual healings recorded in the Gospels—healing a deaf-mute man by putting His fingers in the guy's ears and spitting on his tongue. I know, I know, it sounds weird to us too. But the result was extraordinary: Mark tells us the people were "astonished beyond measure." That phrase in Greek is
ὑπερπερισσῶς (hyperperissōs). It's like saying they were blown away, completely overwhelmed, absolutely flabbergasted. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. Their minds were officially blown.
But here's the question that's hanging in the air as we enter Mark 8: Can being amazed at Jesus' power automatically translate into genuine spiritual understanding? Can watching miracles turn into real faith? Can being impressed with what Jesus can do lead to truly understanding who Jesus is?
Spoiler alert: it's more complicated than we might think.
Because as we're about to see, there's a big difference between witnessing Jesus do incredible things and actually seeing Jesus for who He really is. There's a difference between being amazed by His power and understanding His purpose. There's a difference between recognizing that something supernatural is happening and recognizing that the Son of God is standing right in front of you.
Feeding of the Four Thousand: Divine Compassion in Gentile Territory (Mark 8:1-10)
The Scene Unfolds
“In those days, when again a great crowd had gathered, and they had nothing to eat, he called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And if I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way. And some of them have come from far away.’”
Mark begins this section with the phrase "In those days" (8:1), connecting this directly to Jesus' ministry in the Decapolis. And if you’re picturing this, there’s a vast crowd that has followed Jesus for three days in this predominantly Gentile region. Unlike the feeding of the 5,000, which occurred during a single day, these people have remained with Jesus for an extended period, demonstrating extraordinary hunger. Hunger not just for food, but for the spiritual truth He offered. Jesus' motivation reveals His heart: "I have compassion on the crowd" (8:2). The greek tells us that this is the kind of deep emotional response that moves one to action. This wasn't just being concerned; it was the compassion of God Himself seeing His creation in need. In this, Jesus specifically mentions their three-day journey and warns that if He sends them away hungry, "they will faint on the way."
The Disciples' Persistent Blindness
“And his disciples answered him, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?’”
To me, this is one of the most perplexing responses in all of the Bible. "How can one feed these people with bread here in this desolate place?" (8:4). Huh?! This question is stunning in its implications. These same disciples had witnessed the feeding of 5,000 people just chapters earlier. They had seen Jesus take five loaves and two fish and feed a multitude with twelve baskets left over. Yet when faced with a similar situation, they respond as if they had never seen such a miracle.
And it’s easy to sit here and just chalk it up to, “Oh those disciples, they’re so forgetful. Ha! Glad I’m not like that.”
Yeah, okay.
How often do we, like the disciples, forget God's past faithfulness when facing present challenges? How quickly we move from "God provided before" to "How will God provide now?" It’s more than forgetfulness, it's spiritual amnesia. And the disciples' response reveals a fundamental spiritual blindness: the inability to connect past demonstrations of God's power with present opportunities for faith.
The Miracle and Its Significance
Now watch what happens next, because every detail here is loaded with meaning:
“And he asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’”
Jesus starts with a simple question: "What do you have?" Seven loaves. Not much for 4,000 people, right? But notice what Jesus doesn't do: He doesn't panic, He doesn't send them away, He doesn't lecture the disciples about poor planning. He just asks what they have.
And this is how God works. He doesn't need our abundance; He uses our availability. Seven loaves in the hands of ordinary men is just lunch for a few people. Seven loaves in the hands of Jesus? Well, read with me in v.6:
“And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.”
Three things happen here that we can't miss:
1. Organization. Jesus has them sit down. This isn't chaos; this is order. God is a God of order, not confusion. Even miracles happen with divine structure.
2. Thanksgiving. The word Mark uses here is εὐχαριστήσας (eucharistēsas). Sound familiar? It's where we get "Eucharist." Jesus gives thanks before the miracle, not after. He's thanking God for what He's about to do, not what He's already done. That's faith in action.
3. Partnership. Notice Jesus doesn't personally deliver the food to each person. He uses the disciples. Even though they've been spiritually blind, even though they just questioned whether this was possible, Jesus still makes them part of the solution. God loves to use imperfect people to accomplish perfect purposes.
Plus, this foreshadows their future role in ways they can't even imagine yet. Despite their spiritual blindness, and despite the fact that they just questioned whether this was even possible, Jesus still makes them part of the solution. One day, these same disciples will take the gospel to all nations, often still not fully understanding what they're doing, but trusting Jesus to work through them anyway.
“And they had a few small fish. And having blessed them, he said that these also should be set before them.”
Don’t miss this detail: it’s not just bread. There are also fish. A few small fish. In In Hebrew culture, fish, like bread, were everyday staples. In the context of Jesus’ miracles, they became signs of God’s provision and care.
“And they ate and were satisfied.”
4. Divine Blessing. Everything Jesus touches, He blesses. The bread, the fish, even the broken pieces we're about to see. This is what happens when the Creator touches His creation: blessing multiplies.
The Greek word for "satisfied" here is ἐχορτάσθησαν (echortasthēsan), and it means to be completely filled, like cattle that have eaten their fill. Nobody went away hungry. Nobody had to ration their portion. Everyone, all 4,000 people, ate until they were satisfied. Talk about God's generosity on display. He doesn’t just give what’s barely enough. He provides in a way that satisfies. His provision may not always be abundant in material terms, but it’s always complete in what truly matters.
“And they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.”
Now here's where this gets really significant. Seven baskets left over. Not six, not eight - seven. And these aren't little lunch pails, these are large wicker baskets, the kind big enough to hide a person in. We know this because it's the same Greek word, σπυρίδας (spyridas), used to describe the basket they lowered Paul over the wall in Damascus.
The Number Seven
Also, notice the number of baskets left over - seven. The number seven carries theological weight in Hebrew thought. It often symbolizes completeness or fulfillment. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. There are references in Scripture to seven spirits before God's throne. Seven is frequently associated with God's completeness and work.
Now let’s look at it in relation to both of the miracles:
Feeding of the 5,000 (primarily a Jewish audience): 12 baskets left over.
Feeding of the 4,000 (likely a Gentile audience): 7 baskets left over.
The 12 baskets can be seen as representing the 12 tribes of Israel—God’s provision for His covenant people. The 7 baskets may point to the idea of completeness, possibly signaling God’s provision reaching beyond Israel to the nations. In these two miracles, Jesus appears to be making a broader statement: He is the provider not only for Israel but also for the Gentiles. His care isn’t confined by ethnic or religious boundaries.
Also, this miracle foreshadows the mission Jesus will give later: to make disciples of all nations. He’s preparing His disciples to see that the gospel isn't just for people who look like them, think like them, or share their background. It's for everyone.
“And there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.”
Four thousand people. Not counting women and children, which means this crowd was probably closer to 12,000 total. All fed. All satisfied. All sent away with full bellies and amazed hearts.
“And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.”
And then Jesus does what Jesus always does: He moves on to the next place, the next people, the next opportunity to reveal God's heart to a watching world. And the abundance in this miracle reveals God's genuine generosity—He truly cares about both our spiritual and physical needs. The leftovers demonstrate that when God provides, He does so completely.
This isn't just about lunch. It's about a God whose compassion extends beyond human boundaries and includes people that religious folks often write off. The question isn't whether God will make you wealthy, but whether you trust that the same Jesus who had compassion on this hungry crowd has compassion on you.
The Pharisees Demand a Sign: Religious Blindness at Its Worst (Mark 8:11-13)
The Confrontation
No sooner has Jesus demonstrated His compassionate provision than now in Dalmanutha the Pharisees arrive, seeking to "argue with Him" (8:11).
“The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.”
The Greek word Mark uses here for “argue” is συζητεῖν (syzetein from syzēteō) basically means they came looking for a fight. These religious leaders haven't come seeking truth, they've come looking for trouble.
And their demand tells us everything we need to know about what's really going on in their hearts. They want "a sign from heaven." Now, this isn't just any old miracle they're asking for. They want something big, something dramatic, something undeniably supernatural. Think fire falling from heaven like Elijah called down, or the sun standing still like when Joshua prayed. But what's absolutely mind-blowing about this: Jesus has literally just fed 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread. Just happened. The crowds are probably still picking crumbs out of their teeth. And these guys show up and say, "We need a sign."
I mean, seriously? What exactly would qualify as a sign for these people? They've witnessed healing after healing, miracle after miracle, and now they've got front-row seats to supernatural catering, and they're like, "Yeah, but could you do something actually impressive?"
This reveals something crucial about human nature: there's a massive difference between evidence-seeking and fault-finding. If you genuinely want to know the truth about Jesus, you'll find plenty of evidence in what He's already done. But if you've already made up your mind to reject Him? Will any amount of evidence will ever be enough? You could watch Him feed thousands, heal the sick, and raise the dead, and you'd still find a reason to demand one more sign.
Jesus' Response: Divine Grief
“And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.”
Now, the word Mark uses here isn't describing someone who's mildly annoyed or slightly frustrated. This is deep, soul-level grief. Picture someone who's just watched a loved one make a terrible decision for the hundredth time, and they're standing there thinking, "How did we get here again?" This isn't casual disappointment, either. This is the heartbreak of God watching people He loves choose blindness over sight, hardness over humility. You can almost hear that sigh, can't you? It's the sound of patience being pushed to its absolute limit by human stubbornness.
And Jesus' response? It's as final as it gets: "No sign will be given to this generation" (8:12).
No negotiation. No explanation. No "Well, how about this instead?" Just a flat-out no. Jesus doesn't try to convince them, doesn't offer a compromise, doesn't give them a smaller sign to start with. He simply says no and "left them" (8:13).
And here's where we need to be honest about ourselves: How many people today sound exactly like these Pharisees? "If God would just give me one clear sign, then I'd believe." But here's the truth: signs don't create faith. They reveal faith that already exists or confirm the absence of faith in hardened hearts. If you're genuinely seeking God, you'll find plenty of evidence. If you're determined not to believe, no amount of proof will ever be enough. Let that sink in for a minute. This is the same Jesus who chased down tax collectors, who ate with prostitutes, who welcomed children, who healed lepers that everyone else avoided. This is the Jesus who would later pray for the very people who were nailing Him to a cross, spitting on Him, and mocking Him. And yet here, He looks at these religious experts and says, "No." and walks away.
Why? Because sometimes the most loving thing you can do is refuse to enable someone's spiritual blindness.
And here's what makes this moment so tragic: These Pharisees had every possible advantage.
They possessed extensive biblical knowledge: they could quote Scripture backwards and forwards.
They had religious authority: they were the respected teachers and leaders everyone looked up to.
They had moral reputations: they were known for their strict adherence to religious law.
They even had direct access to Jesus: they could approach Him whenever they wanted.
At the end of the day, they had religion without relationship and knowledge without love. They demonstrate that it's possible to be religiously correct yet spiritually blind. You can know all the right answers, attend all the right services, follow all the right rules, and still completely miss Jesus standing right in front of you. And so despite having all these advantages, they remained spiritually blind. These Pharisees didn't need more evidence, they needed softer hearts. They didn't need bigger miracles, they needed humility. Jesus knew that giving them the sign they were demanding would only give them more ammunition to reject Him with, more reasons to justify their unbelief.
And here's the most dangerous part: Their religious achievements had actually become barriers to recognizing Jesus. Sometimes what we know can prevent us from learning what we need to know. Sometimes our spiritual pride blinds us to spiritual truth. The very things that should have prepared them to recognize the Messiah became the reasons they rejected Him.
The Leaven of False Teaching (Mark 8:14-21)
The Setting and Warning
“Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.’”
So they're heading back across the Sea of Galilee, and that's when somebody realizes they've got a problem. They've forgotten to pack lunch. All they have is "one loaf" in the boat (8:14).
Now, you might think this is just a minor detail Mark throws in, but nothing in the Gospels is incidental. This little oversight is about to become a major teaching moment. Isn't it interesting how our basic anxieties—like "What are we going to eat?"—often blind us to the spiritual lessons God wants to teach us? And Jesus, being Jesus, doesn't waste the opportunity. Right there in the boat, He issues one of the most important warnings in all of Scripture: "Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." (8:15).
Now, here's something fascinating about that word "beware." In Greek, it's βλέπετε (blepete), which literally means "see clearly." Are you catching the theme here? Jesus is essentially saying, "Open your eyes! See clearly! There are spiritual dangers around you that you need to recognize." They've just left the Pharisees who demanded a sign. They've just witnessed Jesus' frustration with religious blindness. And now He's telling His disciples, "Don't let what happened to them happen to you. Don't let their spiritual blindness infect you."
The Leaven of the Pharisees and Herod
But what's this "leaven" He's talking about? In those days, leaven was a piece of fermented dough that bakers would save from their previous batch to start the fermentation process in new dough. Here's the key: just a tiny amount would work its way through an entire batch, transforming everything it touched. Jesus is using this everyday process as a picture of how corrupting influences work—they start small, but they spread until they change everything. So when Jesus warns about "the leaven of the Pharisees," He's talking about their whole approach to faith that the disciples just witnessed: the hypocrisy of looking righteous on the outside while being corrupt on the inside, the legalism of adding human rules to God's requirements, the unbelief that rejects clear evidence of God's work, and the spiritual pride that thinks it knows better than God.
Think about what just happened! The Pharisees had seen miracle after miracle, yet they demanded more proof. That's spiritual pride and unbelief working like leaven—spreading through their thinking until they couldn't see what was right in front of them.
And "the leaven of Herod" is the worldly mindset that prioritizes political power over spiritual truth, that compromises godly principles for personal advantage, that values what you can gain in this life over what matters for eternity. Herod was all about maintaining his position, his wealth, his influence—even if it meant moral compromise. Jesus is saying, "Don't let either of those mindsets infect your thinking. Don't become like the Pharisees who can't see truth because of their pride, and don't become like Herod who can't choose truth because of his love for this world."
The Disciples' Misunderstanding
“And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?’”
Jesus just warned them about spiritual corruption, about the dangerous influences that can slowly poison their faith, and they're over there whispering, "Uh oh, do you think He's mad that we forgot to pack sandwiches?" It's like if your doctor said, "We need to talk about this concerning spot on your X-ray," and you responded with, "Yeah, sorry about the coffee stain on my shirt."
Jesus, knowing exactly what they're thinking, cuts right to the heart of the matter:
"Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?" (8:17)
Ouch. You can hear the frustration in His voice, can't you? He's essentially saying, "Guys, I'm trying to teach you something crucial about spiritual dangers, and you're worried about lunch? Really?"
And how different are we? How often do we get so caught up in our immediate concerns: bills, schedules, problems, that we miss what God is trying to teach us through those very circumstances? And this is one of the trillion things that I love about Jesus: He doesn't get exasperated and give up. Instead, He turns their misunderstanding into a teaching opportunity.
Sometimes our biggest misconceptions become the doorway to our deepest learning. Sometimes God uses our confusion to create clarity we never would have gained otherwise.
Jesus' Penetrating Questions
And then Jesus does what Jesus does best, He asks questions that cut straight to the heart.
“And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ And he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’”
"Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread?" Translation: "You're worried about the wrong thing."
"Do you not yet perceive or understand?" Translation: "After everything you've seen, you're still not getting it?"
"Are your hearts hardened?" Now He's going for the jugular. This isn't about their minds anymore—this is about their hearts. He's essentially asking, "Have you become like the Pharisees I just warned you about?"
"Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?" This is actually a quote from Isaiah 6, where God describes people who are spiritually unresponsive. Jesus is basically saying, "You're acting like the spiritually blind people the prophets warned about."
"Do you not remember?" And here's where it gets really uncomfortable, because now Jesus is going to test their memory:
"When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" "Twelve," they answer.
"And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?"
"Seven."
They remember the numbers perfectly. Twelve baskets. Seven baskets. They can recall the exact details, but they've completely missed the spiritual significance. They have perfect factual recall but zero spiritual comprehension.
And this exposes something we all struggle with: spiritual amnesia. We can experience God's provision repeatedly yet still worry about His ability to provide in new circumstances. These guys had literally just helped distribute miraculous food to thousands of people, and somehow concluded... "Man, we should really make sure that we pack lunch next time." Past faithfulness should inform present faith, but somehow we keep forgetting.
And then Jesus' final question hits like a sledgehammer: "Do you not yet understand?" (8:21) The Greek Πῶς οὐ συνίετε (pōs ou syniete) suggests frustrated amazement - like Jesus is genuinely baffled. After everything they've witnessed, after participating in miracles that fed thousands, after seeing God's power displayed again and again, “We should remember lunch.”
This is why Jesus' warning about leaven was so crucial. Like yeast in dough, corrupting influences start small but gradually permeate our entire spiritual perspective. And we see this here. The disciples were showing signs of the very spiritual blindness Jesus had just warned them about. So we must actively guard against these influences, because apparently even being physically present with Jesus didn’t make the disciples completely immune to spiritual amnesia.
Healing of the Blind Man at Bethsaida: A Parable in Action (Mark 8:22-26)
The Unique Miracle
We now come to the pinnacle of our text today, the only healing miracle in all four Gospels that occurs in two stages. This alone, the uniqueness of this miracle demands our attention. When the Gospel writers, guided by the Holy Spirit, record something that happens only once, we must ask: What is God teaching us that can only be communicated through this particular miracle?
The setting is Bethsaida, a town that holds special significance. This was the hometown of apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1:44), yet it was also a city Jesus had cursed for its unbelief despite witnessing His mighty works (Matthew 11:21). The irony is pretty huge here: in a town condemned for spiritual blindness, Jesus performs a miracle that illustrates the very process of gaining spiritual sight.
The Healing Process
Now watch how this miracle unfolds, because every detail matters:
“And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’ And he looked up and said, ‘I see people, but they look like trees, walking.’”
"They brought to him a blind man" (8:22). Right off the bat, notice that this man doesn't come on his own, his friends bring him. Sometimes we need others to guide us to Jesus when we can't find our way alone. There's something beautiful about people who care enough to literally lead someone to the feet of Jesus.
But then Jesus does something unexpected: "He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village" (8:23).
Okay, why?
Why leave? Why not heal him right there in front of everyone? Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus healing people publicly, creating spectacles that draw crowds. But not this time. This time, He wants privacy. He takes this man away from the distractions, away from the expectations, away from the pressure of performing for an audience. And there’s a lesson here: spiritual transformation often requires one-on-one encounters with Jesus. Sometimes the most important work happens when it's just you and Him, away from everyone else's opinions and expectations.
Then Jesus does something that would seem really strange to us: "He spit on his eyes and put His hands on him" (8:23).
Now, before you get grossed out, remember that in ancient times, saliva was commonly believed to have healing properties. Jesus often works through means that people understand, even while accomplishing what only He can do. Sometimes He speaks and people are healed. Sometimes He touches them. Sometimes He uses mud, sometimes He heals from a distance. Here, He uses spit and touch. There's no formula with Jesus; He meets people where they are and uses methods they can relate to.
But here's where this miracle becomes absolutely unique in all of Scripture. Jesus asks, "Do you see anything?" (8:24).
And the man's response is fascinating: "I see men like trees, walking."
This is the only partial healing in all four Gospels. The man can see, but not clearly. He knows the shapes moving around are people because they're walking, but they look like trees to him. The Greek text here is incredible—the man uses three different forms of the word "see," showing his progression from blindness to partial sight:
ἀναβλέπω (anablepō)—which means "to look up" or "to recover sight." This is that tentative way blind people lift their heads and try to focus when they're attempting to see something.
βλέπω (blepō)—which means basic sight, the ability to detect shapes and movement.
ὁράω (horaō)—which means to see with perception and understanding, not just detecting light and shapes but actually comprehending what you're looking at.
So when the man says "I see men like trees, walking," he's essentially saying, "I'm looking up, ἀναβλέπω (anablepō), I can detect shapes, βλέπω (blepō), and I'm starting to understand, ὁράω (horaō), that these moving objects are people, not trees." It's a beautiful progression captured in the Greek that shows him moving from complete blindness through partial sight toward full understanding. He knows they're people because they're walking, but his vision isn't clear enough yet to see them as anything other than tree-shaped figures.
Think about what this represents: it's better than blindness, but it's not yet complete vision. It's that in-between stage where you know something significant is happening, but you don't have full clarity yet.
“Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”
And then comes the second touch: "Jesus put His hands on his eyes again" (8:25).
The second touch brings complete healing. The man "was restored and saw everyone clearly." It's like going from standard definition to 4K ultra-high definition in an instant. And this isn't just a medical miracle: it's a like a parable that’s occurring in real time, illustrating exactly how most of us come to truly see Jesus.
The Theological Symbolism
Just as the blind man progressed from complete blindness to partial sight to perfect vision, so spiritual understanding often develops gradually:
Stage 1: Complete Spiritual Blindness. Before we encounter Jesus, we're completely unable to see spiritual truth. We're like the Pharisees who could witness miracle after miracle and still demand more proof. We're like the disciples who could participate in feeding thousands and then panic about lunch. We're blind to God's work happening all around us, even when it's obvious to everyone else.
Stage 2: Partial Spiritual Sight. Then something happens—maybe through a friend, a crisis, a sermon, a book—and we start to see that Jesus is someone special. We recognize He's not just another religious teacher or historical figure. We sense His divine nature. We might even confess Him as Lord. But our understanding is still incomplete, like seeing "people like trees walking." We know something significant is happening, but we don't have complete clarity about what we're seeing.
Actually, we're going to see this exact thing happen in just a few verses when Peter declares, "You are the Christ," and then immediately misunderstands Jesus' mission so badly that Jesus calls him Satan. Peter had partial sight—he got Jesus' identity right but completely missed His purpose.
Stage 3: Clear Spiritual Vision. Complete spiritual sight involves more than just knowing who Jesus is—it's understanding why He came. It means grasping that He didn't come to establish an earthly kingdom or meet our personal expectations, but to die for our sins and call us to take up our cross and follow Him. It means understanding both His identity as the Christ and His mission as the suffering servant. It means seeing Him with tēlaugōs—that crystal-clear, shining-from-afar clarity that leaves no doubt about who He is and what following Him will cost.
The Command to Silence
“And he sent him to his home, saying, ‘Do not even enter the village.’”
Jesus tells the healed man, "Do not even enter the village" (8:26). This continues Mark's theme of the "Messianic secret"—Jesus' consistent command for people not to publicize His identity prematurely. This wasn't false modesty; it was wisdom. Public proclamation before proper understanding could lead to misinterpretation of His messianic mission.
Do You See Clearly?
So given everything we’ve talked about today, I’ll ask you that question that I asked at the beginning of our time together. Do you see clearly? Do you see Jesus as He truly is? Not just His power, but His purpose? Not just His ability to do miracles, but His mission to die for your sins?
Maybe you're sitting here today and you're in that "people like trees walking" stage—you know Jesus is real, you sense His presence, but you're not quite sure what you're supposed to do next. That's not a problem to be solved; that's a season to be embraced. Don't rush it. Don't fake clarity you don't have yet. Be honest about where you are, because Jesus isn't looking for people who have it all figured out—He's looking for people who are willing to keep trusting Him for the next touch. And if you're further along in your faith, remember what it was like when your vision was still developing. Be patient with the people around you who are asking questions you settled years ago. Maybe God wants to use you to be the friend who brings someone to Jesus, or maybe you're supposed to sit with someone in their confusion and say, "It's okay that you don't see everything clearly yet. Neither did I."
The good news is that Jesus specializes in opening blind eyes. You don't need to see everything clearly before coming to Him. You don't need all your questions answered or all your doubts resolved. The blind man couldn't see Jesus before Jesus healed him, but he let himself be led by the hand. You can do the same. The process might be gradual. You might need that second touch. But what matters isn't the speed of your progress, it's your willingness to keep trusting Jesus for each next step.
Remember my mom back in Amarillo, losing her reading glasses fourteen times a day? She'd be frantically searching kitchen counters, calling out "Has anyone seen my glasses?" while they were sitting right on top of her head. That's exactly what spiritual blindness looks like. We search everywhere for meaning, for purpose, for clarity about life's big questions, when the answer, Jesus, is right there, closer than we think, and more accessible than we realize. We spend our lives searching for fulfillment, happiness, joy, you name it, and then panic about not being able to see clearly when the One who can restore our sight is standing right in front of us.
Do you see Jesus not just as a good teacher or historical figure, but as your Savior, and as your Lord? Do you see that He didn't come just to do amazing things, but to die for your sins and offer you eternal life?
Maybe today is the day you stop searching everywhere else and realize that what you've been looking for has been there all along. Maybe today you're ready to say, "Jesus, I can't see clearly on my own. I need You to open my eyes. I need You to forgive my sins. I want You to be my Lord and Savior."
If that's you, don't wait. Don't keep squinting at spiritual truth from a distance.
Because as comedian Brian Regan says about getting glasses: "How can instantly improved vision not be at the top of your to-do list?" And when it comes to seeing Jesus clearly, that's not just a good question—it's the most important question you'll ever answer.
Let Jesus give you the sight you need. And if you’ve decided that today is the day that you’re accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, please come talk to me or one of our pastors after the service. Myself, Harry, Gavin, any of the deacons or elders. We'd love to help you take that next step from spiritual blindness to the clear vision that only comes through knowing Jesus.
Communion
If you're a believer in Jesus Christ, I want to invite you to make your way to the tables in the back and get your communion elements.
For those of you participating, let me remind you what we're doing here. Communion isn't just a religious ritual—when we take the bread, we remember that Jesus' body was broken for us. When we drink the cup, we remember that His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. This is seeing Jesus clearly—not just as a miracle worker or teacher, but as the sacrifice for our sins. Not just as someone who can heal physical blindness, but as the one who opens our spiritual eyes and gives us eternal life.
Let’s pray together, and then we’ll take the elements.
“Father, as we come to Your table this morning, help us see clearly. Help us see Jesus not just as He was 2,000 years ago, but as He is right now—our living Savior, our Lord, our hope. Thank You for His body that was broken for us. Thank You for His blood that was shed for our sins. As we take these elements, renew our hearts, strengthen our faith, and help us live as people who truly see You clearly. In Jesus' name, Amen.”
