This is not the first time Jesus has healed the blind. He had done other such miracles before John the Baptist died (Luke 7:22, Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.), but it is the first recorded in Mark’s Gospel. It’s possible the people know of these other healings, as they ask Jesus to “touch” the blind man, and not merely bless him by laying hands on him. Jesus heals a blind man, but it takes two attempts for the miracle to have its full effect. This story initiates the second of the Gospel of Mark’s three major sections.
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida:

It reads in Mark 8:22-26


They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.  He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

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