Seeing in Stages: What a Strange Healing Tells Us About Jesus

A Curious Encounter in Mark 8

For my money, one of the strangest stories in the New Testament is found in Mark 8. It's a story where Jesus heals a blind man—but not in the way you might expect. He takes the man away from town, spits on his eyes, and heals him partially. Then, after a second touch, the healing is complete.

What is going on here? Why the saliva? And what might this moment be trying to tell us?

Taking the Man Away

First, it’s worth noting that Jesus takes the man away from the crowd. He leads him outside the town, away from prying eyes—pun fully intended. Only his disciples are there to witness what happens.

This isn’t a public spectacle. It's intimate. And that context matters.

Throughout the Gospel of Mark, we see a theme sometimes called the "Messianic secret." Jesus frequently tells people not to spread news of his miracles. But here, he goes even further. He creates a private space for healing, perhaps because this moment is deeply personal. Not just for the man, but for those closest to Jesus.

Maybe there's a lesson in that. Some of our most transformative moments aren’t meant for Instagram. They’re meant for us—and maybe a few trusted friends. And that’s okay.

Spit and Sight: What's That About?

The second odd detail is the spit. Why on earth does Jesus spit on this man?

As strange as it might sound today, spit had healing associations in the ancient world. In fact, there’s a remarkable passage in the Book of Revelation where the Spirit addresses the church in Laodicea. That city was known for three things: banking, a unique black wool, and a famous eye salve made from a local Phrygian powder.

So when the Spirit says, "Buy gold from me refined by fire... wear white robes instead of black wool... and use my salve to see," it’s a deeply contextual message. It speaks their language. And in that ancient context, healing the eyes was more than physical—it symbolized clarity, perception, even spiritual insight.

There are other examples too. The Roman historian Suetonius tells of the Emperor Vespasian healing a blind man with spit. An older magical text from before Jesus’ time describes a ritual eye salve meant not just to heal, but to open spiritual vision.

Jesus might not be endorsing these methods, but he does seem to work within this cultural framework. He meets the man’s expectations. He enters into his imaginative world—and then gently expands it.

Seeing Clearly, Eventually

After the first touch, the man can see partially. "I see people; they look like trees walking around," he says. Then Jesus touches him again. This time, his sight is restored fully.

Why the two stages?

In part, it mirrors the disciples’ own journey. They see Jesus, but not clearly. They follow him, but they don’t yet understand him. Their vision is blurry. But over time, with continued encounters, their understanding grows.

This story isn’t just about a blind man. It’s about how all of us come to see.

Healing with Kindness

Jesus doesn't need spit to heal. He's not borrowing from the Great Magical Papyrus of Paris, even if the name is delightful. He’s not trying to be enigmatic for its own sake.

He is doing what the man expects.

He is meeting him in his world, using familiar patterns, and guiding him gently toward healing—physical and perhaps spiritual too.

That in itself is a kindness. And maybe that’s the whole point.

We all see in stages. Jesus meets us where we are, honors our frameworks, and helps us move toward the clarity and wholeness we long for. One touch at a time.