they still do not see, or hear, or understand; that is, they still have no faith (8:14–21). Since faith has been discussed using the metaphor of sight, the cure of the blind man at the end of the section holds out some hope (8:22–26). If Jesus can open the eyes of the physically blind, perhaps he will be able to open the eyes of the disciples, so that they can truly see the one they are following. Despite their obtuseness, however, the disciples do not present an entirely bleak picture. Some of their
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