UBF Daily Bread

JESUS GIVES SIGHT TO THE BLIND

Passage: Mark 8:14~26

Key verse: 25

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod

¹⁴The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ¹⁵“Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast^(A) of the Pharisees^(B) and that of Herod.”^(C)

¹⁶They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

¹⁷Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?^(D) ¹⁸Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? ¹⁹When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,”^(E) they replied.

²⁰“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”^(F)

²¹He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”^(G)

Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

²²They came to Bethsaida,^(H) and some people brought a blind man^(I) and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit^(J) on the man’s eyes and put his hands on^(K) him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into^[a] the village.”

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Footnotes

Mark 8:26 Some manuscripts go and tell anyone in

Jesus asked his disciples, “Do you still not see or understand?” How many times has Jesus through his Spirit asked us the same question? Our spiritual eyes, ears, and memory are often not what they should be. Jesus warned his disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the worldliness of the Herodians were dangerous to the souls of the people. Their unbelief and evil teachings could affect the whole nation. The disciples, on the other hand, thought Jesus was talking about their lack of bread on the boat. Their preoccupation with physical bread was almost beyond belief. Didn’t they see the Lord feed the crowds of 5,000 and 4,000 with plenty to spare? Didn’t they know that he was able to provide whatever they needed? Jesus reminded them of the meaning of these miracles.

When they arrived in Bethsaida, a blind man was brought to Jesus. Jesus took the man by the hand and guided him out of the town. He spat on the man’s eyes and placed his hands on him and asked him if he saw anything. The man reported that he saw people, but they were blurry and looked like trees. Jesus then placed his hands on the man’s eyes and his sight was completely restored. Often, this is the way it is with our spiritual sight. Only Jesus can open our eyes to spiritual truth and sometimes it happens gradually over time.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, open our spiritual eyes to see.

One Word: Jesus asks, “Do you see anything?”