Can you see?

“Peace be with you.”

“Let us pray. Father may your will be done. Jesus may your word be proclaimed. Spirit may your work be accomplished in us we pray. Amen.”

I. Intro

In the Gospel of Mark, we have three accounts of Jesus teaching his disciples about his death and resurrection. These three accounts happen in sequence beginning in Chapter 8, then again, in chapter 9, and ending in Chapter 10.

A. Disciple’s reaction.

Included at the end of each account are the reactions that the disciples have to Jesus’ teaching them about his death and resurrection.

1. Chapter 8: Appeal for Self interests.

In the First account, which we looked at last week, Mark writes about how Peter responded with rebuking Jesus for such an idea. We learn that Peter, though inclined with good intentions, did not have his interest set on God’s but man’s. This demonstrates how selfish man can be when they don’t have God’s interest above their own.

2. Chapter 9: Appeal for Status

In the Second account, the gospel lesson for today, Mark informs us about the conversation among the disciples that peaked Jesus’ interest after they were told about his death and resurrection again. The conversation was about who will be the greatest among them. Their hearts were more focused on their Status than on Jesus as Savior.

3. Chapter 10: Appeal for Position.

In the third account, in chapter 10, which we will not get to in the lectionary reading this year, James and John ask ask to sit next to Him in glory, inciting grumbling among the disciples. Their request demonstrates their hunger for position.

B. Teaching Moment.

Jesus uses these reaction for a teaching moment:

1. Deny Self.

Mark 8:34–35 NASB95

34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

2. The first shall be last- Like a Child.

Mark 9:35–37 NASB95

35 Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Taking a child, He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”

A. Children:

Lowest status in the Family.

Are to Honor Mother and Father.

Are to be taught.

Are to help accomplish their parent’s desires.

are not to be given anything that their level of maturity can’t manage.

3. To be great is to be a servant of all.

Mark 10:42–45 NASB95

42 Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

A. The World vs. the Kingdom.

Greatness in the world is seen by those who are served.

Greatness in the Kingdom is seen by those who serve others. Like Jesus.

Before we team up on the disciples for being so ignorant and selfish. Let’s be honest, that we can see ourselves in them. And before you completely think the disciples are ignorant there is something else Mark wants us to consider…

C. Book Ends.

What opens up these three acounts of Jesus teaching about his death and resurrection and what closes these three accounts are two blind men.

Mark writes about two blind men. One kicks off chapter 8 and Jesus first telling of his death and resurrection and the other brings them to a close. The difference between the two inform the reader about why the disciples can’t understand what Jesus is teaching about and How they will eventually understand.

Blindness from Bethsaida to Bartimaeus

Seeing Clearly (Ch. 8)- Bethsaida. The first blind man expresses how we may initially see but not clearly but things become more clear as Jesus continues to work on us.

Seeing to follow (Ch. 10)- Bartimaeus. The second blind man expresses how merciful Jesus is on those who are blind but want to see and follow after Jesus on the way. He moves from sitting by the road to walk on the road.

The bookends of the blind men represent the lack of understanding the disciples have when it comes to Jesus death and resurrection and what following Jesus looks like (pun intended). These bookends help explain their ignorance is due to their spiritual blindness and their need to receive sight from Jesus in order to follow Him in the way.

Their sight is gained when they receive the Spirit at Pentecost. And they grow in knowledge the more they walk with Jesus and have him work on them.

II. Application.

The way Mark structures these three chapters helps reveal to us our own selfishness and sin. We all relate at some level with the disciples and Jesus’ correction isn’t just for them but for us.

Concerning today’s gospel lesson, we need to take on the status of being a child in this present world. We need to submit ourselves to the rule and reign of Jesus in our lives and serve his purposes. We need to serve others more than ourselves. The one who is the greatest among us should be the one who serves others the most.

Where can your vision be made more clear? We all start out blind, but Jesus can make us see more clearly the more we seek him and his word. Ask the Spirit to show you your blindness and seek Jesus for sight.

We learn quite a bit about what is valued in the Kingdom of God from these three accounts. Where might you need to rearrange your life to live more kingdom and less worldly?

Lastly, Let’s not get too focused on ourselves but be reminded of the whole point of these accounts is that Jesus died and Rose from the death for us to be saved and to live life like Him. Let’s not get distracted from what is of first importance and that is trusting ourselves to Jesus who died and rose again to redeem ourselves from sin and to teach us how to life our new lives in Him and His kingdom.

All of this began with a question, “Can you see?”

Can you see how your life is turned in on itself?

Can you see Jesus and what He has done for you?

Can you see what life in the kingdom looks like?

Can you see how the way of the world is not the way of the Kingdom?