This is so interesting to me. It doesn't seem likely that Jesus would have botched his first attempt to heal this man (I don't think we see this anywhere else in scripture), so naturally this draws me to ponder the question: What is the significance of the blind man seeing tree-like people walking around?
Mark 8:22 - 25
ESV - 22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
What do you mean by 'tree-like people''
Tree-like people is what the blind man reported seeing when Jesus asked him after layying hands on the man. Jesus then lauds hands on him again and immediately the man saw plainly. This always was interesting to me also. Weird fact.. People report during hallucinogenic visions that other people look like giant insects and trees.. Maybe dude was seeing in the spiritual realm.. Weird huh?
Anyway, I agree with answer in part that God wants us to seek help at all times from Him alone and this takes revisits to certain areas where we need healing.
1. Christ spit in his eye. Spit comes from the mouth. While the spit allowed him to see, he couldn't see clearly. Either that or he was misinterpreting what he saw. I believe it should be compared to someone praying for you instead of taking action to help. Even if it's something simple. Majority of modern preachers pray for you, hold your hand and repeat insincere words.
2. Christ simply touch his eyes and healed him. I believe this us showing followers of Christ to skip empty words and the laying of hands and telling followers to take action to help those who ask us for help. Another way I view it is that we should not make one attempt and give up. Almost fixed isn't good enough. This blind man needed complete healing.