Christ as Servant: A Study in MarkNäide

What does it say?

Jesus fed four thousand men and healed a blind man - partially, then fully.

What does it mean?

Mark is the only Gospel to record the two-stage healing of the blind man of Bethsaida. The first time that Jesus spit on his eyes, the man could see partially, but not clearly. Then Jesus touched his eyes again, and immediately the man could see everything perfectly, his eyesight fully restored. This does not mean that Jesus’ power was weaker or that the man’s blindness was too severe to be healed immediately. It is possible, though, that the partial healing gave the man more faith to know that Jesus could restore his eyesight completely, providing total healing.

How should I respond?

Do you wonder why some people recover quickly from a disease or an addiction while others struggle for a long time? God deals with us as individuals, and while it is amazing to experience or witness instantaneous healing, it is no less of a miracle when recovery takes place over time. How have you seen God grow your faith through a long, difficult struggle? Instant relief or immediate healing might have resulted in shallow faith – for you and the people watching God work in your life. God’s strength is made known in weakness. He works just as effectively in growing our faith and patience in stages as He does in the instant miracle.