Mark 8:22-26

I think this miracle suggests that God's work in our lives is not always instantaneous, but is sometimes progressive. Even now, spiritually, "we see through a glass darkly", but later we will see "face to face".

 

This seems like a reasonable explanation to me. I would also say that maybe it was the man's lack of faith that caused him to not see correctly the first time.

 

I think the context helps explain why Jesus touched the man twice.

In Chapter 8 verses 14-21, the disciples of Jesus do not understand what He is saying concerning the leaven of the Pharisees or the meaning of the feeding of the 4000 and the baskets left over. Jesus asked them in verse 17 "Do you not yet see or understand?" In verse 21, He asked again, "do you not yet understand?"

Then comes the encounter with the blind man. After Jesus touches Him once, he can see but not yet clearly. When Jesus touches Him again, He sees clearly.

Immediately following this encounter, Peter makes his profession that Jesus is the Christ. Peter can "see" that, but he doesn't fully understand. This is demonstrated when Jesus begins to tell them that He will suffer and die, "stating the matter plainly". Peter takes Jesus aside to rebuke Him for such talk. The rest chapter 8 is a rebuke of Peter's words, and the call for Christians to stand firm in the coming persecution.

So, the reason Jesus didn't heal the blind man immediately was to give His disciples a symbolic example of their own blindness and misunderstanding of who He was and what He must do. They could "see" Him, and Peter understood Him to be the Christ. But their vision was blurred by their own idea of what He was going to do and accomplish (man's interests instead of God's interests, v.33)

IMHO

peace to youraying:

 

canadyjd, that is a good explanation that comes right from the context. I like it.

 

:godisgood:

peace to youraying:

 

The disciples were fairly confused, asking questions and missing the meaning of things that were happening right before their eyes. This may be a picture of the disciples, yes, but also of the whole nation of Israel. They saw what went on; they even participated, but they see it all wrong--they think men are trees and vice versa. When Christ returns the second time, the Jews' eyes will be opened, and they will see what they did to Christ clearly.

Again, even Christians participate in the ministry of the gospel, but we miss things completely or misunderstand them completely w/o the extra touch of the HS on our lives?

Maybe Christ's treatment of him had to do with his background? Cities known for doubt and rejection?