Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 8:25

"Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked stedfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly." — Mark 8:25 (ASV)

Jesus then ordered the man to go home directly without first going into the town of Bethsaida, perhaps because he did not want this man broadcasting his miraculous cure (cf. comment on 1:44).

The importance of this story for Mark is that it anticipates the opening of the eyes of understanding of the disciples. This is the second in a pair of incidents that only Mark records (the first one is 7:24–37) and that fulfill the OT messianic expectations of Isa 35:5–6. Mark uses both incidents to lead up to the full revelation of Jesus’ messianic dignity to the disciples (8:27–30). Their eyes too were opened, not by human perception, but by the miracle of God’s gracious revelation—which was as much a miracle as the opening of the blind man’s eyes.