Jesus, taking the blind man by the hand, led him out of the village, moistened his eyes with saliva, and laid His hand on him. And He was asking the blind man whether he saw anything.
This healing stands out for its personal and gradual character. Christ leads the blind man out of the village, showing that at times He deals with a person on a deeply personal level, bringing him out from the noise of people and setting him alone before Himself. This shows that the Lord sometimes sets a person apart so that his healing will not become a spectacle for the crowd, but an inward encounter with Him. Taking him by the hand speaks of guidance, tenderness, and inspiring trust. The manner of healing with saliva and the laying on of hands reminds us that Christ is free in His choice of means; the power is not in the outward form, but in His person. He asks, “Do you see?” not because He does not know, but so that the man himself may express his condition and become aware of the process of his restoration. This episode also reminds us that spiritual sight is often opened gradually; the Lord brings a person out of a distracting environment, touches his heart, and teaches him to recognize the light.