Our attention has been drawn to the Master's sighs; here, however, was another characteristic act. He spat on the eyes of the blind man, perhaps to excite his expectation and faith. Repulsive as ophthalmia is in the East, it did not repel Him nor staunch the flow of His pity.
We do not at once see everything clearly, but step by step we come unto perfect vision. Here we see through a glass darkly, there face to face. There was a great price to be paid; it was only through suffering and death that Jesus could do His greatest work, in redeeming and cleansing the children of men. He might have been the miracle-worker apart from Calvary; but to be the Savior, He must not spare Himself but be willing to pour out His soul even unto death. It was hard for the Apostles to learn this lesson; they wanted the Master to spare Himself. Peter, especially, sought to dissuade Him; but the Lord knew better the desperate need of men and how it must be met. There are three conditions to be fulfilled by those who have resolved to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. 1. We must deny self; 2. Each must take up his cross; 3. We must think more of others than of ourselves. If these are realized, the soul is following Christ and making progress, even though it deems itself stagnant or drifting back. [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 8
1Jesus feeds the people miraculously; 10refuses to give a sign to the Pharisees; 14admonishes his disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod; 22gives a blind man his sight; 27acknowledges that he is the Jesus who should suffer and rise again; 34and exhorts to patience in persecution for the profession of the gospel
Greek Commentary for Mark 8:24
I see men, for I behold them as trees walking [λεπω τους αντρωπους οτι ως δενδρα ορω περιπατουντας] A vivid description of dawning sight. His vision was incomplete though he could tell that they were men because they were walking. This is the single case of a gradual cure in the healings wrought by Jesus. The reason for this method in this case is not given. [source]
I see men as trees walking [following the reading, Βλέπω τοὺς ἀνθρώπρους ὡς δένδρα περιπατοῦντας] The Rev. reads, following the amended text, I see men, for ( ὅτι )I behold ( ὁρῶ )them as trees, walking. He saw them dimly. They looked like trees, large and misshapen; but he knew they were men, for they were walking about. [source]
What do the individual words in Mark 8:24 mean?
Andhaving looked uphe was sayingI seethemenforastreesI see [them]walking
Greek Commentary for Mark 8:24
A vivid description of dawning sight. His vision was incomplete though he could tell that they were men because they were walking. This is the single case of a gradual cure in the healings wrought by Jesus. The reason for this method in this case is not given. [source]
The Rev. reads, following the amended text, I see men, for ( ὅτι )I behold ( ὁρῶ )them as trees, walking. He saw them dimly. They looked like trees, large and misshapen; but he knew they were men, for they were walking about. [source]