Mark 8:1-26 - Arcabas Man born blind

Arcabas: The Man Born Blind

This painting pictures the reading about the healing of the blind man in Mark 8:22-26. And yet, it is also a striking picture for the subject of Mark 8:10-21, namely, about having eyes but not seeing.

It is a work by the French Catholic artist Arcabas who died in 2018. He produced many biblical works for churches. Sometimes he gives four eyes to people or angels in his works, as if they can see more than is in front of them. Here we see how Jesus places new eyes on a blind man, which can replace the not-seeing eyes.

That is precisely what the pharisees and the disciples in our passage need as well. The pharisees want Jesus to demonstrate his divine power in an indisputable way by way of a sign. As if they would then believe! The disciples have witnessed two miraculous multiplications of the loaves, but they are again worried about their next meal. Do they still not see it? Thankfully, Jesus is able to give new eyes to the blind.

Marleen Hengelaar-Rookmaaker