1. The Story-Line of Christian Miracle Rhetorolect LESSON 5: HEALING THE EYES: THE WINDOWS OF UNDERSTANDING AND BELIEF
Christian miracle rhetorolect focuses in special ways on healing blindness.
The emphasis on healing blindness begins in Hebrew prophetic literature.
In prophetic literature, blindness regularly means the inability of people to see and understand God’s ways, to change their ways, and to live lives that are faithful to God’s promises.
Click to read about Christian miracle rhetorolect on blindness.

2. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect Focused on the Eyes (Blindness) cont. (1)
Christian miracle rhetorolect blends first with both wisdom and prophetic rhetorolect as it focuses on people’s ability to see and follow Jesus.
When miracle rhetorolect blends with precreation rhetorolect in the Gospel of John, the language of Jesus’ miracles changes from “powers” (dynameis) to “signs” (semeia) of the work of “light” and “life” in a world of “darkness.”
Click to read more about Christian miracle rhetorolect on blindness.

3. CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT: HEALING OF BLINDNESS
IN MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE
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4. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “Double Healing” of a Blind Man in Mark 8
Mark 8:22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him.
8:23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
8:24 He looked up, and said, “I see men; for I see them like trees walking.”
Click for continuation of the “double healing” in Mark 8.

5. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “Double Healing” of a Blind Man in Mark 8 cont.
Mark 8:25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.
8:26 He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.”
Click for the healing of blind Bartimaeus.

6. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus Produces “Discipleship” in Mark, Luke, (and Matthew)
Mark 10:46 They came to Jericho.
As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road.
10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!”
10:48 Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried much more, “ You son of David, have mercy on me!”
Click for continuation of healing of blind Bartimaeus.

7. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus Produces “Discipleship” in Mark, Luke, (and Matthew) cont. (1)
Mark 10:49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”
10:50 He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
10:51a Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Click for continuation of healing of blind Bartimaeus.

8. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus Produces “Discipleship” in Mark, Luke, (and Matthew) cont. (2)
Mark 10:51b The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.”
10:52 Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Cf. Matthew 20:29-34 (two blind men); Luke 18:35-43
Click for the healing of two blind men.

9. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: Jesus Regularly Heals Two Blind Men at a Time in Matthew
Matthew 9:27 As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him, calling out and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David!”
9:28 When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”
Click for continuation of Jesus’ healing of two blind men.

10. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: Jesus Regularly Heals Two Blind Men at a Time in Matthew cont.
Matthew 9:29 They he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.”
9:30 Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.”
9:31 But they went out and spread abroad his fame in all that land.
Cf. Matthew 20:29-34
Click for Jesus’ healing of a blind man in John 9.

11. CHRISTIAN MIRACLE RHETOROLECT: THE “DOUBLE HEALING” OF A BLIND MAN
IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
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12. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “First Healing” (Physical) of a Blind Man in the Gospel of John
John 9:1 As he passed by, he say a man blind from birth.
9:2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
9:3 Jesus answered, “Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; the, that the works of god might be revealed in him.”
9:4 “I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.”
Click for continuation of Jesus’ “physical” healing of a blind man in John 9.

13. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “First Healing” (Physical) of a Blind Man in the Gospel of John cont.
John 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
9:6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud,
9:7 and said to him, “Go, was in the pool of Siloam.”
Cf. Mark 8:22-26
Click for the second (“spiritual”) healing of the blind man in John 9.

14. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “Second Healing” (Spiritual) of the Blind Man in the Gospel of John
John 9:24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”
9:25 He therefore answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
9:26 The said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
Click for continuation of the second (“spiritual”) healing of the blind man in John 9.

15. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “Second Healing” (Spiritual) of the Blind Man in the Gospel of John cont. (1)
John 9:27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?
9:28 They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples or Moses.”
9:29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.”
Click for continuation of the second (“spiritual”) healing of the blind man in John 9.

16. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “Second Healing” (Spiritual) of the Blind Man in the Gospel of John cont. (2)
John 9:30 The man answered them, “How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.
9:31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.
9:32: Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.
9:33 “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
[NOTICE THE “UNDERSTANDING” OF THE BLIND MAN]
Click for continuation of the second (“spiritual”) healing of the blind man in John 9.

17. Christian Miracle Rhetorolect: The “Second Healing” (Spiritual) of the Blind Man in the Gospel of John cont. (3)
John 9:34 They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” They threw him out.
9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and find him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
9:36 He answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”
9:37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.”
9:38 He said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped him.
[NOTICE HOW A “SECOND” (SPIRITUAL) HEALING PRODUCES “BELIEF”]
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18. Good Work! In this lesson you have learned that:
Christian miracle rhetorolect focuses in special ways on healing blindness.
The emphasis on healing blindness begins in Hebrew prophetic literature.
Blindness regularly means the inability of people to understand God’s ways, to change their ways, and to live lives that are faithful to God’s promises.
Click to continue the summary.

19. Excellent!
Christian miracle rhetorolect blends first with both wisdom and prophetic rhetorolect, producing people who “follow” Jesus or go out and proclaim what was done for them.
When miracle rhetorolect blends with precreation rhetorolect in the Gospel of John, the language of Jesus’ miracles changes from “powers” (dynameis) to “signs” (semeia) of the work of “light” and “life” in a world of “darkness.”
Especially when people are healed of blindness, they are healed on two levels: physical and spiritual.
Click to continue the summary.

20. Wonderful!
A “double healing” appears in both Mark 8 and the Gospel of John 9.
In Mark 8, the second healing makes the man able to see clearly.
In John 9, the second healing makes the man able to believe in Jesus and worship him.
Click to continue the summary.

21. Congratulations!!!!
THIS WAS THE FIFTH LESSON on the Christian Miracle Story-Line.
Every good wish
as you continue with Lesson 6.