Mark 8:23-25

DISCOURSE: 1431
THE BLIND MAN HEALED

Mark 8:23. And 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 aught. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

THIS miracle has many circumstances common to others. On other occasions our Lord manifested similar condescension and compassion: on other occasions also he both shewed his abhorrence of ostentation, and his displeasure at the obstinate unbelief of men, by performing his miracles in private, and forbidding the persons who were cured to make them known. But the gradual manuer in which he effected this cure is peculiar to this single miracle; we shall therefore fix our attention more particularly on that, and deduce from it some profitable observations.

I. Persons may be under the hand of Christ, and yet have but very imperfect views of spiritual things—]

[This man had experienced somewhat of the power and grace of Christ. Yet he could not distinguish men from trees, except by their motion. Thus are many, of whom there is reason to hope well, extremely dark and indistinct in their views. They know very little of their own depravity, or of Christ’s excellency, or of the nature of the spiritual warfare. Thus the Apostles themselves saw not the necessity of Christ’s death [Note: Matthew 16:22.], or the spiritual nature of his kingdom [Note: Luke 9:54.]. Even after Christ’s resurrection they could not conceive for what ends he was risen [Note: Acts 1:6.]. Nor, for several years after the day of Pentecost, did they understand their entire freedom from the Mosaic law, or the purpose of God to make the Gentiles partakers of his salvation [Note: Peter needed repeated visions to overcome his prejudices; nor did any thing but a conviction of God’s particular interposition prevent the whole college of Apostles from censuring Peter for preaching to Cornelius and his friends: Acts 10:28 and Acts 11:17.]. We may well expect therefore to find some amongst ourselves, who, notwithstanding they are dear to Christ, still have “the veil in some measure upon their heart.”]

Nor should this at all appear strange unto us. For,

II.

Though our Lord could heal our blindness in an instant, yet he chooses rather to do it by the repeated use of the same means—

[Our Lord, if it had pleased him, could have healed the man without touching him at all; or have cured him instantly by the first touch. He needed not, like Elisha, to repeat the use of the same means, because he had not power in himself to render the first use of them effectual [Note: 2 Kings 4:33.]. But he saw fit to repeat the imposition of his hand in order to exercise the faith and patience of the blind man. Thus could he instantaneously enlighten our minds. He who commanded light to shine out of darkness, could with the same ease shine into our hearts with meridian splendour [Note: 2 Corinthians 4:6.]. But this is not his usual mode of proceeding in any part of his works. He perfected not the creation but in six successive days of labour. The vegetable, the animal, and the rational creation rise to maturity by degrees. Thus in the new creation of the soul he gradually informs and renews it. He makes use of his preached Gospel to open the eyes of the blind. Inadequate as these means are (even as the mere touch of a finger) he has appointed them for this end. He orders also the means to be continually used, as long as there remains the smallest imperfection in our sight. And he is pleased to render them conducive to the end proposed. He “leads us gradually into all truth [Note: John 16:13.],” and enables us at last to comprehend the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of his unsearchable love [Note: Ephesians 3:18.]

However imperfect his work in us now is, it must afford us consolation to consider,

III.

Wherever he has begun the good work, there is reason to hope that he will carry it on to perfection—

[Never did our Lord leave one of his miracles imperfectly wrought. In the instance before us he presently perfected the cure he had begun. Thus may we hope he will do with respect to the illumination of our minds. If indeed, like Balaam, we be only illuminated, and not really sanctified by the truth, we may justly expect to perish with a more aggravated condemnation [Note: Numbers 24:3.Hebrews 6:4.]: but if we walk according to the light we have, that light shall surely be increased, and all saving blessings be communicated with it [Note: 1 John 1:7]. Hence the Christian’s path is compared to the sun rising to its meridian height [Note: Proverbs 4:18.]. We have none of us reason to doubt, but that Christ will thus perfect that which concerneth us. He has promised to do so [Note: Psalms 138:8.]. On this ground St. Paul expresses his confidence, that he will complete the good work wherever he has begun it [Note: Philippians 1:6.].We too may be confident, provided our faith be tempered with a holy fear [Note: Romans 11:20.]. We may well argue with Manoah’s wife, that he would not have revealed such things unto us, if he had intended to destroy us [Note: Judges 13:23.]. We may regard his smaller gifts as an earnest and pledge of greater; and may be assured, that he who has been the Author of our faith will also be the Finisher of it [Note: Hebrews 12:2.]

Surely this subject may well teach us,
1.

Candour in respect to others—

[If a person have not very distinct views of divine truth, we are apt to undervalue him, as though the “root of the matter were not in him.” But God honoured young Abijah because there was some good thing in him towards the Lord his God.” And if God does “not despise the day of small things,” should we? Is our brother “a babe? let us feed him with milk.” Is he “a lamb? let us carry him in our bosom.” Many “a babe and suckling” in divine knowledge stands higher in God’s estimation than those who value them selves as wise and prudent.]

2. Jealousy in reference to ourselves—

[If we have ever come to Christ aright, he has so far opened our eyes, that we are made to possess some spiritual discernment. Let us ask ourselves therefore, ‘What do I see, which flesh and blood could never have revealed unto me? — — — And am I desirous that my knowledge of my own heart may be more deep, my views of Christ be more enlarged, and my experience of the divine life in all its diversified operations be more manifested by its transforming efficacy upon my soul?’ Dear brethren, we must “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:” and if, “when for the time that we have been in the school of Christ we ought to be teachers of others, we need ourselves to be taught what are the first principles of the oracles of God,” we have reason to fear, that “the scales have never truly fallen from our eyes,” but that a veil of darkness is yet upon our heart]

3. Thankfulness to God, if he have given us the smallest insight into divine truth—

[I would not disparage worldly knowledge: but the Apostle Paul, who had made attainments in it beyond most, yet “counted it all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.” Yes indeed, a single ray of spiritual discernment is preferable to the meridian splendour of human science; since that will transform the soul, which earthly knowledge never can; and will save the soul, when the wise of this world shall be found to have prosecuted a mere phantom, and to have wasted their lives in a sad fruitless course of laborious folly. As to human sciences, they are not within the reach of all: but spiritual knowledge is: for God can open the eyes of the poor as well as of the rich; yea rather, “the things which he has hid from the wise and prudent, he reveals to babes,” that his power may be the more seen, and his name be the more glorified. If then the day have begun to dawn on any of you, rejoice: and beg of God that “your path may shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.”]