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Mark 8

In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

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 ought.

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.

And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

What does Mark 8:25 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 8:25 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible describes the second part of a healing miracle performed by Jesus Christ.

In the previous verse, Jesus had already laid his hands on the eyes of a blind man and asked if he saw anything.

The man responded that he saw men, but they looked like trees walking.

Recognizing that the man's sight was not fully restored, Jesus puts his hands upon the man's eyes once more.

After this second laying on of hands, the man's sight is fully restored, and he could see everything clearly.

The literal meaning of the verse indicates a physical healing from blindness.

However, the deeper meaning may suggest a spiritual awakening or enlightenment, with the blind man's progression from darkness to partial sight to clear vision symbolizing the journey from spiritual ignorance to awareness and understanding through the intervention of Christ.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament.

Traditionally, it is believed to have been written by John Mark, a follower of Peter, one of Jesus' apostles, around 70 AD.

This period was a time of great turmoil for early Christians, including the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.

The healing stories in Mark often reflect the reality of this period, providing hope and a sign of divine compassion for those who were suffering or marginalized.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints can be taken on this verse:

Traditional Christian View: Many Christians see this healing as a demonstration of Jesus’ divine power and compassion. It also can represent the idea that faith and the power of Christ can lead to complete healing, both physically and spiritually.
Reformist Perspective: A reformist might focus on the symbolic aspect of spiritual blindness and the belief that Jesus is the one who opens the eyes of the spiritually blind.
Critical Scholarship: Some scholars might explore the two-stage healing as unique, offering insights into the nature of miracles in Mark's Gospel or discussing why this healing did not take place instantly.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse can be applied in various ways:

Persistence in Faith: Just as Jesus did not give up on the blind man after the first attempt, individuals are encouraged to remain persistent in their faith despite not seeing immediate results.
Acknowledging Progress: The progression from blindness to partial sight to full vision can serve as an encouragement to acknowledge and be grateful for progress in one's spiritual journey, even when it's not complete.
Seeking Clarity: The act of Jesus allowing the man to see clearly can be seen figuratively, urging believers to seek clarity in their understanding of faith and scripture.

Cross-References

John 9:1-7: "And when he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,"
2 Kings 6:17: "And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.

And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Mark 8:25 are:

"Anablepsas" (made him look up): Derived from "anablepo," which means to look up or recover sight.
"Apokatestathe" (was restored): From "apokathistemi," meaning to restore to a former state.
**"Diablen" (clearly): Comes from "diablyo," which means to see distinctly or clearly.

These terms emphasize the stages of healing and the complete restoration of sight.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, the healing of a blind man has parallels in other ancient cultures and religions.

For instance, in ancient Egyptian culture, the god Horus was said to have had his eyes restored, symbolizing health and wholeness.

In Greek mythology, Tiresias was a blind prophet with insights into the divine will.

The theme of gaining sight, both physically and spiritually, is a recurring one in many religious narratives.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, modern medicine understands blindness and vision restoration very differently from ancient times. Today, sight restoration might involve sophisticated procedures like cataract surgery or retinal implants.

However, such a sudden healing as depicted in Mark 8:25 lacks a scientific explanation and is considered a supernatural event according to Christian beliefs.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have offered different interpretations of Mark 8:25:

John Calvin: Calvin saw the two-part healing as a demonstration that miracles happen according to God's will and in His timing, not ours.
William Lane (New International Commentary on the New Testament): Lane suggests the gradual healing could symbolize the gradual revelation of Jesus’ messianic identity to his disciples.
R. T. France (The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text): France discusses the uniqueness of the two-stage miracle in Mark's Gospel and suggests it may reflect an eyewitness account of an event that happened exactly as Mark describes.

Mark 8

Mark 8

What does Mark 8:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 8:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?