Thoughts on Mark 8:22-25

Mark 8 (22) And He [YAHshua] cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto Him, and besought Him to touch him. (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 ought. (24) And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. (25) After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

Why did YAHshua spit on the eyes of the blind man at Bethsaida when He healed his eyes? Why did YAHshua  touch his eyes a second time. Concerning the spiting, consider the following from page 197 of the book Gospel Light, Revised addition by George M. Lamsa B. A., Copyright 1936 by Nina Shabaz and renewed 1964 by Nina Shabaz.

‘In the East, spitting is an insult. Only holy men could spit on a wound. The Pharisees would have resented Jesus’ [YAHshua'] act because he was not accepted as a prophet. Spitting on a wound is practiced as a rebuke to diseases and evil which caused them. It is a repudiation of the power of evil. Jesus [YAHshua] followed these practices because they were common among the people and some of the sufferers would not believe unless the outward form was used. Today in Kurdistan and neighboring countries, recognized healers spit on the face or other diseased part of the body as means of cure. They would not hesitate to do this even to a nobleman’

Concerning the touching of the eyes more than once, maybe YAHshua was teaching us a spiritual lesson by showing us that opening our spiritual eyes to the truth is more than a one time event. As we grow, our spiritual eyes must be touched again and again. (Contrary to popular beliefs and teachings, we must continue to grow spiritually!)

I Peter 2 (2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

II Peter 3 (17) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (18) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Sovereign and Saviour YAHshua Messiah. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Eph. (19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of YAHWEH; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, YAHshua Messiah Himself being the Chief Corner Stone; (21) In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Sovereign: (22) In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of YAHWEH through the Spirit.

Ephesians 4 (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Messiah:

YAHWEH surely touches our spiritual eyes through HIS *Holy Spirit.

I John 2 (27) But the anointing [endowment of the Holy Spirit] which ye have received of Him [YAHWEH] abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.

John 14 (26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, which the FATHER will send in My name, it shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Since YAHWEH gives HIS Holy Spirit to those who obey HIM and YAHshua is the author of salvation to them who obey Him, it would make common sense that the more we obey both YAHWEH and YAHshua the more of HIS Holy Spirit HE would give to us.

Acts 5 (32) And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, which YAHWEH hath given to them that obey HIM.

Heb. 5 (9) And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;

*YAHWEH'S Holy Spirit is is HIS divine characteristics, attributes, or HIS very essence. {YAHWEH'S essence is the intrinsic (essential nature) or indispensable properties that serve to characterize or identify HIM. HIS essence (characteristics or attributes) is surely sevenfold.} Those basic seven (YAHWEH'S number denoting completeness) characteristics or attributes are: HIS Wisdom, HIS Understanding, HIS Counsel, HIS Might, HIS Knowledge, HIS Reverence, and HIS Righteousness.