Introduction: Mark 8:22-26 [22] And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. [23] 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. [24] And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. [25] After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. [26] And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
See All... gives the only Biblical record of the healing of the blind man of Bethsaida. It is also the only miracle in the life of Christ that is not immediate, for it takes two attempts in order to bring the man perfect sight. What can be the meaning of this? We know that Christ cannot fail for He does all things well.

For an answer, we can look to the context. Just before they meet this blind man, the disciples had misunderstood a reference by Christ to the leaven of the Pharisees. They thought that Jesus was referring to their lack of bread. Jesus, however, was speaking of spiritual truths and He scolded the disciples for their lack of spiritual understanding. Why "having ears, hear ye not" (verse 18)?

The blind man becomes an object lesson for the disciples. His healing was not for the multitudes because Jesus performed the miracle away from the view of the crowds and sent the man directly home. Jesus demonstrated how the initial healing of salvation does not always mean perfect vision. This comes from further growth and further touches of God.

1. The Plea for Healing (Mark 8:22And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
   See All...)
1. It was Initiated by Others; "they brought him
2. They Brought Him to Jesus - the right place
3. They Besought Jesus to Touch Him - the right faith
2. The Partial Healing (Mark 8:23-24 [23] 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. [24] And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
   See All...)
1. Jesus Took Him by the Hand (Psalm 32:8I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
   See All...)
2. Jesus Led Him Out of Town - away from the crowds and the world (Mark 6:45-47 [45] And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. [46] And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. [47] And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
   See All...)
3. Jesus Spit On His Eyes
1. A shame causing action (Numbers 12:14And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
   See All...; Isaiah 50:6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
   See All...)
2. A subjection of pride (Naaman - 2 Kings 5:10-12 [10] And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. [11] But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. [12] Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
   See All...)
4. Jesus Put His Hands on Him (cp. Mark 10:16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
   See All...)
5. Jesus Asked Him What He Saw
3. The Perfect Healing (Mark 8:25-26 [25] After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. [26] And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
   See All...)
1. Jesus Put His Hands on Him - Again
2. Jesus Made Him Look Up (Luke 21:28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 4:18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
   See All...)
3. Jesus Sent Him to His House

Conclusion: We see in this passage 1) the blindness of the lost; 2) the partial, but improving, sight of the saved; 3) the perfect sight of the saints in glory. What is God doing in your life? Do you know Jesus Christ as Saviour? Is He trying to make you look up?