“Spit” Miracle One (Big Sigh)
◊Feeding of 5000 Jews (6:35-44)
◊At sea (6:45-56; disciples think they see ghost, are terrified; see the sea calmed are beside themselves; “didn’t understand about the loaves; hearts were hardened”)
◊Argument with Pharisees re. clean/unclean (7:1-23)
◊About bread (7:24-30; discussion with Syrophoenician woman)
Then-
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 3He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’
35And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
36Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’
“Spit” Miracle Two (Double Pass)
◊Feeding of 4000 Gentiles (8:1-29)
◊At sea (8:10)
◊Argument with Pharisees (8:11-13). Again to the sea
◊About bread (8:14-21; “Beware the leaven of the Pharisees.” Disciples, dimwitted, don’t understand about baskets of leftovers. J.: “Are you hearts still hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears, do you not hear?“)
Then—
22 They came to Bethsaida.
Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.
23He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Can you see anything?’
24And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.’
25Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again;
and he looked intently and his sight was restored,
and he saw everything clearly.
26Then he sent him away to his home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’
