I love movie trailers. No, seriously. I L-O-O-O-O-V-E movie trailers. I regularly check for the latest ones online. Few things get me going like the latest preview. It doesn’t matter if it’s for the next blockbuster franchise or a quaint little indie flick. I love’m all.
Do some trailers show the best parts of the movie? Sure. Do some give away the story? You betcha. I don’t care. For me, there’s nothing like a preview of coming attractions.
A Three-and-Half-Year Sneak Preview
There’s no greater trailer than the one Jesus projects during His earthly ministry. In so many ways, it was a three-and-a-half year sneak preview of God’s coming kingdom.
Hear me out. I’m not discounting the fact that Christ lived the perfect life that we failed to live, died the death we should have died, and rose to the new life we don’t deserve. That’s certainly the big idea of His incarnation. No question about it.
A Sneak Peak of Heaven on Earth
But a crucial element of Jesus dumpster diving into our sin-filled universe was to pull back the curtain and give us a sneak peek of what heaven on earth will look like. His miracles are His way of showing us what life will be like once God’s creation is fully redeemed and restored.
In many ways, His supernatural healing touch is a teaser of what’s to come. And Mark gives us one that we won’t find anywhere else in the documents we’ve assembled and call the Bible. So this one is not what you would call a broad release.
The Blind Man of Bethsaida
It’s the simple yet powerful story of Jesus restoring sight to a blind man near Bethsaida (Mk 8:22-26). There are no big voice announcers saying, “In a world…” Just our Savior and a visually impaired guy alone outside a village.
It’s been a crazy couple of weeks for Christ and His crew. His popularity is exploding in Galilee and big crowds assemble everywhere He goes. The radical Rabbi/Carpenter finds it almost impossible to get alone with His disciples (Mk 6:31).
A Little R and R
Our Savior eventually takes His team on a trip north across the border to Tyre and Sidon for a little R and R. But even there His rep precedes Him and a desperate mom pleads with Him to cast an evil spirit from her baby girl (Mk 7:24-30).
The Lord and the Twelve head back south to the eastern shore of Lake Galilee to the Ten Towns. Once the locals hear He’s in the area, they beg Him to heal their friend with severe hearing loss (Mk 7:31-37).
A Big Lunch and a Pop Quiz
Next thing you know, another huge crowd of gathers. After teaching them about God’s grace for three days, Jesus provides a practical demonstration of it by serving up His second all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, this time with just seven little loaves of bread and a few fish (Mk 8:1-9).
Then there’s a run-in with some religious big shots in Dalmanutha (Mk 8:10-12). That’s followed by a pop quiz for His closest followers on a boat ride out of town. The Son of God wants them to put the pieces together about who He is and what He’s come to do (Mk 8:14-21).
Who Is Jesus?
Jesus’ true identity is a mega-theme in the first chunk of Mark’s Gospel. He continues to tease folks with all sorts of miraculous clues. More and more, people wonder if He really could be Messiah, the long awaited Hero from heaven whom God’s promised to send to save them.
The House of Fish
Our Savior and His disciples drop their boat anchor at Bethsaida (v22). It’s a blue collar town on the banks of the big lake and home to a thriving fishing industry. The town’s name literally means “House of Fish.”
Bethsaida is home turf for five members of Jesus’ team. Pete, his brother Andy, Jim and his kid brother John are all commercial fishermen who worked the Sea of Galilee from here (Mk 1:16-20). And there’s a good chance that Phil was working angler as well (Jn 1:44).
There’s Someone We Want You to Meet
We pick up the story with the boys are fresh off the boat as folks begin to assemble. Mark tells us, “When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged Him to touch the man and heal him” (v22).
With so many connections in town, it should come as no shock that folks here in the village know all about about Jesus’ amazing ability to heal. The moment they realize He’s actually here in Bethsaida, there’s one person they want Him to meet.
Blind for Some Time
We don’t know the dude’s name. We don’t know his age. We don’t know anything about him except his disability. He’s blind. And he’s clearly been that way for quite some time.
To describe this visually impaired fellow, the author uses the Greek word τυφλος/tuphlos. It’s the inability to see, but it can mean someone who’s not just physically blind but mentally, emotionally, or spiritually as well.
When Ego Blocks Our View
Interestingly, the term comes from a root word that means puffed up with pride. What a powerful reminder that our self-centeredness blinds us from seeing like we should. We can’t see past our own huge ego in the mirror. We’re so full of ourselves that it blocks us from a full view of anyone else.
Is that the case for this visually impaired guy? We don’t know. One thing for sure, his friends want him to see again and they believe Jesus is just the person for the job. They desire so much more for him than he has right now.
Bringing Our Friends
As Jesus’ popularity grows exponentially, we’re starting to notice another trend. People coming to Him and begging for help for their loved ones (Mk 2:3; 5:23; 6:55-56; 7:32).
When others can’t get to Christ on their own, we need to do everything possible to make that happen. When folks don’t have the faith to make the trip, let them use yours. When life punches them in the throat, we need to come alongside and believe for them when they can’t.
Sharing Burdens
In this case, they bring their friend to Jesus. Notice that he doesn’t even ask for help. They plead on his behalf. It’s an amazing example of literally bringing the needs of others to our Savior.
They do for him what he can’t do for himself. Their heart clearly breaks for their neighbor. I think that’s what Paul’s talking about when he tells the Galatians to “share each other’s burdens” (Gal 6:2).
Going One-on-One
What starts with a big crowd suddenly becomes incredibly intimate. “Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village” (v23). Kind of like in basketball where teammates get out of the way so a great player has the room to go one-on-one.
We don’t know what the Lord says to him but we do see a touching moment of non-verbal communication. Christ reaches out and takes his hand. This encounter just got personal.
Getting Alone with the Son of God
The Son of God guides the guy out of town so they can be alone. The blind man may not fully understand who Jesus is or what
is about to happen. But he’s willing to take the next step. He’s willing to follow. He’s willing to let the Lord lead the way.
Put yourself in his sandals. Imagine what he hears, what he feels, and what he smells. The buzz of the big crowd begins to fade off into the distance. The crunch of the dirt under your feet on the road as He leads you out of the village.
Building a Relationship
Do they chat? Does Jesus ask his name? Does He find out about his family, his hopes, and his dreams? You gotta figure the the Savior does what He can to build a relationship while they walk together.
Just like the Great Physician leads His patient outside of town, He loves to get each of us alone. We see it over and over and over. In the OT, He does it with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and a bunch guys known as the prophets.
God Loves Personal Encounters
We see God’s heart for personal encounters in a great scene in the book of Hosea. God describes how He sees Israel as His unfaithful wife and how He plans to take her on a romantic retreat in order to win her heart again (Hos 2:14).
In the NT, God goes one-on-one with a teenage girl named Mary, her boyfriend Joe, and when it’s all said and done, the Apostle John who’s been sentence to solitary confinement on the island of Patmos.
Have We Missed Our Chance?
Just because our Savior has gone home to heaven doesn’t mean we’ve missed our chance. He’s speaks to us today through His written Word. Want to spend time with Him alone? Open up your Bible and let Him speak to you. Read through the Gospels and hang out with Him.
A preacher named Jonathan Edwards puts it this way. A couple of hundred years ago, he described how someone who loves the Lord has a gnawing ache to get alone with Him. In his words, a follower of Jesus “delights at times to retire from all mankind, to converse with God in solitary places.”
Away from the Spotlight
I suspect there’s yet one more reason why Christ moves the man away from the crowd. If you’ve been reading along in Mark’s bio of Jesus, remember how the Pharisees wanted to see something spectacular to prove who He was (Mk 8:11-12)?
Here He does just the opposite. The Lord does some of His best work on the edges, away from the spotlight, far from the madding crowd. That’s the opposite of the Pharisees. These religious phonies love to putting on a show for anybody who’s watching (Mt 6:5; Mt 23:5-7, 13-15, 23-29).
Isn’t it interesting that the only One truly deserving of the spotlight doesn’t seek it? And Christ calls His followers to also be careful not make a big production of their faith in Him (Mt 6:1-3).
Goober from the Son of God
Somewhere outside of Bethsaida, the two are alone together. It’s just Jesus and His new friend. That’s when Jesus does something you may not expect. “Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, He laid His hands on him” (v23).
Whoa! What the WHAT?!? Did I read that right?!? Did the Son of God actually goober in the blind guy’s eyes?!? Does the original language really say the Lord hocks a loogie?!?
Supernatural Slobber
Believe it or not, that’s EXACTLY what it says. Mark uses a Greek verb (Gr. πτυω/ptuo) which is one of those words that sounds exactly like what it describes. Where do you think we get our rather juicy expression “puh-tooie?”
Once again, imagine you’re on the receiving end of this supernatural slobber. Is that what I thought just heard? Is that what I think I feel? Here you are outside of town, alone with some traveling Rabbi who’s rubbing His spit in your blind eyes. Can’t say you saw that coming when you woke up this morning.
He’s Done It Before
Jesus’ disciples remember how He did this once before. It was just a few days back when He used His spit to miraculously restore another man’s hearing near the Ten Towns (Mk 7:33). He’ll do the same for yet one more guy who’s blind from birth (Jn 9:6-7).
Like Walking Trees
The Lord asks His patient for an update. “Can you see anything now?” (v23). Any change? He rubs his eyes. The man blinks once. He blinks again. He slowly lifts his lids. Mark tell us, “The man looked around” (v23).
The anticipation builds in the story. Are you as excited to hear his answer as I am? The man tells Jesus, “Yes…I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around” (v24).
When the Bible Is Messy
There’s a lot of progress but the treatment doesn’t fully take the first time. Why? I’ll be honest, we’re not really sure. Mark just doesn’t say.
One thing for sure is that it proves once again that the story of the Bible is messy. If they put me in charge of publication, I would have edited and cleaned up this story. But all throughout Scripture we see life as it is. Kinda chaotic. More than a little confusing.
A Glimmer of Hope
Did you catch the guy’s description of what he did see? It’s a clue that he could see at some point in his life. He knows what people look like. He knows what trees look like.
Some very smart folks who’ve been studying the God’s Word a lot longer than me tie this fellow’s faith to his vision. After years of visual darkness, it would be easy to give up and lose hope.
That’s why the wisest person who ever walked the planet writes, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life” (Prov 13:12). Wait a minute. Could those walking trees he sees be the first glimmer of hope he’s had in long, long time?
One or Two? Two or Three?
I have to wonder if this is a lot like one of those visits to the eye doctor. You know how you look through that contraption and he asks, “Which is better? One or two? Two or three?” Could Jesus be trying to not just focus the man’s eyes but his faith as well?
It makes sense when you think about it. Christ is constantly growing our faith. My trust in Him is far from perfect. And it won’t be until I see Him face to face. The good news is that He’s constantly preaching the Good News to the unbelieving regions of my soul.
A Fuzzy Faith
Maybe you’ve heard the story about the dad who sought our Savior’s help for his demon-possessed son. He asks Jesus for supernatural assistance when it comes to trusting God. “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24).
As we grow in our faith, we see things we don’t really understand. They’re fuzzy and out of focus. Events occur and they’re not clear. We can’t figure them out. Why do things happen this way? It just doesn’t make sense.
A Teaser before the Trailer
In the meantime, we might as well be looking at walking trees. There’s no question it can be frustrating. But hang in there. God’s not done with you and your faith. Which is better? One or two? Two or three?
The man’s blurry vision may also be sort of a teaser. That’s one of those movie previews that comes out WAY before the first trailer. They can be a little confusing and kind of hard to understand. But they stoke the excitement and build the anticipation.
That’s exactly Paul tells the Christ followers in Corinth. “We don’t see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly as He knows us!” (1Cor 13:12 The Message).
Moving at Our Speed
Whatever the case, Christ goes back to work. “Then Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes again” (v25). You’re reading of the only time Jesus uses a two-step healing in the entire Bible. What’s THAT all about?
Alexander MacLaren is one of those who connects the Lord’s healing of the guy’s sight to the healing of his faith. He believes Jesus is “accommodating the pace of His power to the slowness of the man’s faith…He healed slowly because he believed slowly.”
In other words, our Savior doesn’t go too fast. He meets us where we are and moves at our speed. He doesn’t want us experiencing spiritual whiplash. Whether it’s simply restoring our sight or our faith, Jesus won’t walk away before the job is done (Phil 1:6).
Focus and Concentration
I think there’s something else going on here. When the NLT translates the phrase “his eyes were opened,” it skips right over something cool in the original text. You see something in other versions that you don’t see here. Jesus has the man look “intently” (v25 NASB, NRS, RSV).
What we miss is Mark’s use of the word διαβλεπω/diablepo. It means to look keenly and observe with great focus and concentration. After the second treatment, Christ may well be telling His patient to look closer. Let your eyes adjust. Take time to focus. Concentrate. Now, what do you see?
“His eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly” (v25). We read about the miracle not once, not twice, but three times! Eyes opened? Check. Sight restored? Check. See everything? Check.
Back to Full Strength
Once again, we see that the man used to see. His vision is now “completely restored” (Gr. αποκαθιστανω/apokathistano). We find the same word when Jesus heals an atrophied hand of a man at a worship service and brings it back to full strength (Mt 12:9; Mk 3:5; Lk 6:10).
The Lord specializes in bringing things back to the way they are supposed to be. That includes sight and hearing, but so much more. Prisoners will be released. Oppression will end. It’s all part of His messianic job description (Is 61:1-2; Lk 4:18-19).
A Sneak Preview of the Kingdom
In doing so, Christ provides a sneak preview of the coming kingdom. When He makes His glorious encore, He’ll make it all right. Satan gets the ultimate smackdown. Death is defeated. War is no more.
Sickness, disease, disabilities, mental illness and the tears that go with them? The Son of God kicks them all to the celestial curb. No crime. Perfect weather. Jesus will literally bring heaven to earth in a way we can hardly imagine.
If you want to read something that will rev your engine for what’s ahead, I highly recommend John Burke’s book “Imagine Heaven.” He examines 100+ people who’ve had near death experiences. It will take your breath away.
Keeping It on the Down Low
Meanwhile back in Bethsaida, this miracle ends with Jesus wrapping things up by telling the guy, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home” (v26). What’s up with that? Doesn’t the Lord want him to tell everybody what just went down?
If you’ve been following along in Mark’s bio of Jesus, you’ve seen this move before (Mk 1:44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36). Doug Bookman believes this is all about the Lord’s desire to keep it on the down low and not draw the attention of Roman rulers.
No Time to Waste
There’s a lot to do in just three-and-a-half years. Disciples to train. People to teach. Gospel to spread. Healings to perform. He can’t waste time goofing around with the authorities before it’s time.
So Jesus tells the subject of His latest miracle to bypass Bethsaida on the way home. Avoid the media. Don’t post any pictures on social media. Keep it quiet for the time being.
One part of our Savior’s strategy could well be to allow He and His team to get a clean getaway to Caesarea Philippi (Mk 8:27). Time to get while the gettin’s good!
The Boat Ride to Bethsaida
This miracle also appears to be a not-so-subtle way in which Jesus reveals exactly who is and why He’s come to the Twelve. Back during the boat ride to Bethsaida when they argue about who forgot to bring lunch, it becomes obvious they’re missing the point.
The Lord asks the boys, “You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?” (Mk 8:18). Their view of Him was still very fuzzy. It’s critical that they eventually see Him clearly as the Christ.
The Bread and the Sandwich
So get this. While the boys are worried about bread, Jesus sandwiches His questions to them by healing both deafness (Mk 7:35) and blindness (v25) right in front of them. And both times He uses drool as a tool.
As a result, His identity will begin coming into focus for the disciples (Mk 8:29). They’ll hear clearly who He is and and what He’s come to do (Mk 8:31-33; 9:2-8).
Who Is Jesus to You?
How do you see Jesus? Is He really nothing more than a great teacher and rabbi? Or a miracle worker? Or an amazing philosopher? Or do you simply see Him as a character in an ancient fairy tale?
According to His closest first century followers, He’s the sinless Son of God who came to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. He came to make His Dad visible (Col 1:15-20). He serves us by dying for us (Phil 2:6-11). He trades His perfection for our rebellion (2Cor 5:21).
God’s Feature Presentation
They didn’t put all the pieces together until Jesus came strolling out of the cemetery on Resurrection Sunday. Before then, He gave them sneak previews of the coming kingdom through by healing the sick and disabled and driving out demons.
His entire earthly mission was in many ways is a trailer of the ultimate coming attraction. But this time the coolest parts aren’t in the preview. You can bet that the best is yet to come! I can’t wait for God’s feature presentation…HIMSELF!!!
©2018
Jay Jennings
