Mark 8:23 Contradictions and Paradoxes

According to Mark, Jesus helped a blind man see again. At first, the man saw people, but they looked like blurry trees walking around.

Contradiction with Matthew 7:7

Mark 8:23 shows Jesus physically leading the blind man out of town and using specific actions to heal him, whereas Matthew 7:7 emphasizes simply asking through prayer to receive.

Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Contradiction with John 4:50

In John 4:50, Jesus heals the official's son with just a word from afar, while in Mark 8:23, He uses physical touch and ritual.

John 4:50: Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

Contradiction with Luke 17:14

Luke 17:14 depicts Jesus telling the lepers to go show themselves to the priests for healing, which occurs as they go, contrasting with the hands-on approach in Mark 8:23.

Luke 17:14: And when he saw [them], he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Contradiction with John 9:6-7

In John 9:6-7, Jesus uses mud and instructs the man to wash in the Pool of Siloam to receive sight, differing from the simpler method in Mark 8:23 of spitting and laying hands.

John 9:6-7: When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, [anointed...: or, spread the clay upon the eyes of the blind man]

Contradiction with Mark 5:34

Jesus tells the woman her faith has healed her, implying her faith alone suffices, contrasting with the more complex method in Mark 8:23 involving physical touch by Jesus.

Mark 5:34: And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Paradox #1