Even the Blind Shall See

The CENTRAL THEME OF MARK’S TEXT IS “WHO IS THIS JESUS”?

People have been shocked, amazed, bewildered, offended, obsessed, enchanted, and confused by who Jesus is.

The only ones who clearly understood who Jesus really is are the demons he has casted out of those they possessed.

Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Mark 1:22 “And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.”

Mark 1:27 “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.””

Mark 2:7-8 ““Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts?”

Mark 2:16 “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?””

Mark 2:18 “Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?””

Mark 3:6 “The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.”

Mark 3:11-12 “And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.”

Mark 3:22 “And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.””

Mark4:41 “And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?””

Mark 6:2-3 “And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”

Mark6:15 “But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.””

Mark 6:51 “And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,”

Mark 7:37 “And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.””

Here we come the the crux of Mark’s Gospel, where we see the disciples for the first time begin to understand who Jesus is.

We will see how important this is and how it both an example and encouragement for our faith and how we desire to see faith birthed in others.

We will look at three things this morning throughout our passage.

Not All Sight is True Sight

True Sight is Divinely Given

Divine Sight is given through faith in Jesus and His Gospel

Not All Sight is True Sight

Mark 8:22-28 “And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 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?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.””

Bethsaida- Back to the Jewish People

after being with Gentiles for some time

Leads the man OUT of the Village

Some times to see Jesus for who he is you have to get away from the noise and distractions

Jesus spits and lays hands

Doesn’t need to (can heal from a distance)

Syrophoenician Women’s Daughter

To let the blind man know it is Jesus healing him

First time we see him lay hands

He asks questions of this man to see if his healing was complete

1st time

He is only partially healed

Is his power failing him?

Like Superman he needs to be recharged by the SUN?

He is completely healed “And he saw everything clearly” Perfect healing!!

Sends him Home, not back to the village

Sends people away because he has other things he is called to accomplish and if there is too much noise and fuss about him then the Romans will kill him before his appointed time and maybe not in the manner by which he needs to die. (more on that soon)

The reason why this man had a two step healing was not for his benefit, nor is it something that reflects the potency of Jesus’ power but for the good of the disciples and I dare to say our good.

v. 27 Mark Continues and Jesus and His disciples head north to Caesarea Philippi

Caesarea Phillippi

Phillip, son of Herod the great, brother of Herod Antipas (who beheaded JTB and married Phillip’s wife) inherits and builds up the city and the great temple there

Dedicated to Tiberius Caesar.

Phillippi- Panion, Paneas, the god Pan.

Mark 8:27-28 “And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.””

So it’s very interesting that as Jesus and the disciples make their way up to this region, where there is so much controversy about who is God, and what people think about Jesus, that Jesus asks them these questions Because Herod, son of Herod the great, who would summer right near where Jesus and his disciples were to have this discussion had heard of Jesus and had made some conclusions about him...

Mark 6:14 “King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.””

These rumors had found the ears of the disciples.

The rumors of Jesus are still swirling.

He’s a good teacher. He was an important figure. His disciples aren’t as moral as we think they should be. He’s just a man, we can see his family history.

He’s a great healer. He’s the one who informs my morality. He’s the one I come to sing and hear about on Sundays.

These are all blind answers. Both those who reject and those who think they believe. Neither have seen Jesus for who he truly is and neither had the disciples.

What blinds us?

Sin

How does sin blind us from the realities of this world?

Religious

What do we want to get from God.

What did the disciples want to get from God

Irreligious

What do we think will satisfy?

What are we pursuing?

Both of these people are using God to become self-justifying.

One uses the standards of morality one uses standard of self. Both are blind.

The look at the world and don’t see people they see trees, the ENTS trees walking around. It’s a fanciful reality.

How do we have this True Sight? How could we ever really see who Jesus is?

True Sight is Divinely Given 27-33

Ordo Salutis Romans 8:29-30 “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Non-understaning (8:17-21)

The Disciples didn’t understand who Jesus really was. (Mark 8:17-21 “And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?””

Misunderstanding (8:29-33)

The Disciples Eyes were opened but they missed the forrest for the trees. Mark 8:29-33 “And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.””

Complete Understanding

The understood who Jesus was and had faith that would take them throughout the NT. (Mark 15:39 “And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!””)

This is not something that we do for ourselves, we don’t move from non-understanding to complete understanding, it’s not intellectual ascent we’re talking about. How can the dead raise themselves, how can the blind give themselves sight, how can the rebel become sons. It is something that must be EXTRA NOS, outside of itself.

Even Peter’s great proclamation was not an intellectual epitome:

Matthew 16:16-17 “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

Jesus is the Messiah but he was not the one they expected.

Jesus explains: Yes I am the Christ, here’s what that means:

The Son of Man (Jesus’ fav title for himself) MUST:

be rejected by the elders, Chief Priests, Scribes

Killed

after 3 days rise again

Peter rebuked Jesus (rebuked same word as what Jesus did to the demons)

Peter was looking out for himself, his place in the kingdom

James and John were looking out for themselves and their roles in the earthly Kingdom

Jesus calls out Peter, calls him Satan

In the greek this means… Satan

Peter’s rebuke was focused on himself, the same error of Satan, satan wasn’t about God’s glory, it was the thwart God’s authority for his own.

When we prioritize or use Jesus for any other reason than for to have Jesus, we’ve come to the same error of the disciples, and many who came to Jesus just for healing.

We don’t know what Love it is that Jesus has come to establish. We don’t know sacrificial/selfless love

God is the only one who doesn’t need us and yet loves us completely. This is the love that sent Jesus to the cross.

This is the radical love by which he loves us. This is the standard of love by which we are called to live.

We will fall short yet how deep is the love Christ has for us.

So how do we see, if we are selfish lovers, blind to the reality of Christ without the work of the Spirit how then can we truly see?

The Way of Seeing is through faith in Jesus and His Gospel 34-9:1

God must opens our eyes to the gospel. His good news.

This is why we’re planting. We want people of Tampa, of Citrus Park, to hear the good news of the GOSPEL!

Jesus calls the disciples and the crowd and explains to them the way of salvation, the way to follow him, the way God allows us to truly see.

The way to Jesus is

Deny himself

There is no end and no limit to the obstacles of the man who wants to pursue what is right and at the same time shrinks back from self-denial.

John Calvin

self denial, is the beginning of following Jesus. It’s the end of yourself but the beginning of eternal life.

All who have not been influenced by the principle of self-denial have followed virtue merely from the love of praise.

John Calvin

Take Up his cross

Above all, many of us have not adequately reflected on the cross. We have been used to thinking of the cross as the means of our salvation; we have not thought much about what it means to take up our cross and die daily, or to fill up the sufferings of Christ.

D. A. Carson

Taking up one’s cross is a call to suffering

Follow me

not following self, not following philosophies of the day or culture, but to follow Jesus

Teaching them all I have commanded you

Whoever would save his life will lose it

If you do what you can to make this world your heaven you will compromise in following Christ

whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it

whoever loses their identity in Christ will find life.

It’s the upside down economy of the kingdom, you must die to live, you must lose to save

in a world where identity is the paramount issue, may those in Christ be assured that nothing defines us but Jesus.

What can a man give in return for his soul?

Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels

Some will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God

The kingdom of God

They will not taste death, the true death

John 8:52 “The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’”

Heb 2:9 “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”

The cost of following Jesus will always pale in comparison to what we recieve in Christ.

For those whose eyes have been opened and truly see, see Jesus for who he is there is no turning back no turning back.

Application

My we never become satisfied with misunderstanding Jesus

There are these three essential elements in faith—believing, being persuaded, and acting. To put it another way, the mind is involved, the heart is involved, and the will is involved.

The Gospel of God, 313

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Church Planting:

To discuss on Thursday Night

TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC:

CITRUS PARK CHARLES AND PAMELA

Chuck and Pam

Charge & Benediction

Beloved

because Christ has come to give sight to the blind, salvation to the captives, and life to his people may we who are called to self denial, suffering, find our identity our personhood and our life in Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, now and forever Amen.

(Romans 8:35, 37-39)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine

or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.