Mark 8:11-26 ~ The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.

Mark 8:11-26

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod^[Herodians].” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”


Power came to call on Jesus. He sighed. We all sigh from time to time.

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

It seems superfluous to add, yet where Jesus did dwell in understanding is in this beautiful passage:


1 Peter 3:4
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus progressed, as His Son, in Grace.

Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.


You have to love the confusion of the disciples, Jesus was doing things so quickly, with so much impossibility, they were having to confer among themselves to understand the many miracles Jesus was continually doing. Jesus trusted the disciples to come to the same page after saying, "Really?"

Jesus continues the lesson, the patient repetition with His work. The blind individual is healed in a way understandable to that unique - to God - person. This is one of my favorite healings of Jesus, my brother was so excited to read about the blind man who required further brain adjustment in the healing. He said there is no way 2,000 years ago it would be known this would require two healings. Making this passage alive and vibrant to him. Me? I think Jesus could have done fine with one healing, HE left us to discover this healing with wonder. And awe.

This is so like Jesus. Letting us discover something fresh in this miracle.

Jeremiah 23:29
"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

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