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The blind man at Bethsaida

Mark 8:22–26 · Later ministry in Galilee

Scripture

Mark 8:22–26

nd he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. 23And 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. 24And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

King James Version · public domain

Marku 8:22–26

asandaj vjen në Vithsaidha; edhe i bjenë një të-verbërë, edhe i lutenë t’a preknjë. 23Edhe si e preku prej dore të-vërbërinë, e nxori jashtë fshatit; edhe si pshtyti ndër syt t’ati, vuri duartë mbi atë, edhe e pyeste, ndë sheh gjë. 24Edhe ay si hapi sytë, tha, Shoh njerëzitë se ecëjnë posi drurë. 25Pasandaj përsëri vuri duartë mbi syt’ t’ati, edhe e bëri atë të hapnjë sytë, edhe ushërua, edhe shihte kthjellëtë të-gjitha. 26Edhe e dërgoj ndë shtëpit t’ati, dyke thënë, As ndë fshatt të hyjsh, as t’j’a thuash këtë njeriu ndë fshatt.

Kristoforidhi, Dhiata e Re Toskërisht 1879 · zotërim publik

In their own words

Again, whoever is weighed down by a blindness of such long continuance, that he is unable to distinguish between good and evil, sees as it were men like trees walking, because he sees the deeds of the multitude without the light of discretion.

St. Bede the Venerable, As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark 8 (Catena Aurea)

The Blind Man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22–26)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark 8, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.viii.html

On the power of the Lord's touch:

Knowing that the touch of the Lord could give sight to a blind man as well as cleanse a leper.

On what the man saw at the first stage:

Seeing indeed the shapes of bodies amongst the shadows, but unable to distinguish the outlines of the limbs, from the continued darkness of his sight; just as trees standing thick together are wont to appear to men who see them from afar, or by the dim light of the night, so that it cannot easily be known whether they be trees or men.

On why Christ healed him by degrees rather than all at once:

But though by one word He could cure the man wholly and all at once, still He cures him by degrees, that He may shew the greatness of the blindness of man, which can hardly, and only as it were step by step, be restored to light; and He exhibits to us His grace, by which He furthers each step towards perfection.

On the spiritual blindness this pictures:

Again, whoever is weighed down by a blindness of such long continuance, that he is unable to distinguish between good and evil, sees as it were men like trees walking, because he sees the deeds of the multitude without the light of discretion.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark 8, trans. J. H. Newman, 1841. Public domain.

On why He led the man out of the village:

For Bethsaida appears to have been infected with much infidelity, wherefore the Lord reproaches it, "Woe to thee, Bethsaida..." He then takes out of the town the blind man, who had been brought to Him, for the faith of those who brought him was not true faith.

On why he did not see perfectly at once:

But the reason why he did not see at once perfectly, but in part, was, that he had not perfect faith; for healing is bestowed in proportion to faith.

On where Christ finally sends him:

Or else, after He has healed him, He sends him to his home; for the home of every one of us is heaven, and the mansions which are there.

Patristic sources