(Mark 8:22-26 NIV) They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. {23} He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” {24} He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” {25} Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. {26} Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t go into the village.”
Jesus led the blind man out of Bethsaida because He was unwilling to do any more miracles in that place because of the obstinacy and unbelief of the inhabitants of this place, who were not worthy to be witnesses of such a cure.
(Mat 11:21 NIV) “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
If God has done miracles in our life but we continue to doubt Him, He may withhold further miracles because we don’t deserve to have more. Learn to not only count your blessings but also count the miracles that God has done in your life.
Why did Jesus touch the man a second time before he could see? This miracle was not too difficult for Jesus, but he chose to do it in stages, possibly to show the disciples that some healing would be gradual rather than instantaneous.
When we are expecting a miracle from God, we often expect things to happen in an instant. Of course, God could do that. But other miracles may be more gradual but a miracle nonetheless.
The reason for healing the blind man in two stages could also be to demonstrate that spiritual truth is not always perceived clearly at first. Thus Christ would show how, and in what method, those are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually blind; at first, their knowledge is confused, they see men as trees walking; but, later see all things clearly.
The sinner is first convinced of the evil of his actions, and then of the sinfulness of his nature; he first sees the ability and suitableness of Christ as a Saviour, and after that his willingness, and his interest in him as such; and all this is commonly before he is so well acquainted with the dignity and infiniteness of his person, as the Son of God: and it is some time before he has his spiritual senses exercised to discern between good and evil, between truth and error; or arrives to a clear and distinct knowledge of Gospel truths.
When we look at the lives of Jesus’ disciples, we see that they did not arrive at a “right” knowledge of Him instantly. Jesus had to continually reveal Himself to His disciples. Likewise we should not expect all our loved ones, who do not know Jesus, to know Him instantly. This could be a process for some people.