Spit in the Eye

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." Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, "Do not even enter the village." - Mark 8:22-26 ESV

In this passage, we have the account of Jesus healing a blind man by spitting in his eyes and laying hands on him. Unlike many of the times when Jesus healed someone, the man’s sight wasn’t completely healed at first. Jesus laid His hands on the man’s eyes twice before he saw everything clearly.

What’s going on here? What’s up with the spitting and why did it take two touches from Jesus before the man’s sight was fully restored?

I think there are a couple things we can learn from this. We’ll look at the first of these today.

God often does things the world might call strange. Be honest; how many of you were thinking “eww, gross!” when you read about Jesus spitting in the man’s eyes? I know I made a face then. But God often does unexpected things, things the world would call foolish. He does this so people know that He is God.

Think about Peter and Paul for example. Peter was a fisherman, probably not very well educated, who regularly spoke without thinking and even denied knowing Jesus. Paul was a legalistic Pharisee, violently opposed to the gospel, hunting down those who followed Jesus. These are the last people the world would choose to start a movement. Yet God used these two men to spread the faith throughout the world.

I find comfort in knowing I can’t figure out all the details of why God does some things in the way He does. That reminds me that He is bigger than the challenges that I face in this life.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. - Psalm 139:17-18 ESV

Think About: How has God done unexpected things in your life?