Stories of the Rabbi 14

Mark 8:22 – 9:1 Healing the blind and the way of the Messiah

We are heading into the third part of Mark’s Gospel. In the next seven chapters, we will see a strong emphasis on Jesus’ messiahship and the suffering that goes with it.

I. 8:22 – 26 Healing a blind man

a. Jesus is back in Galilee – Bethsaida small fishing village, and one of his main points of action in the Gospels

b. Vs. 22 – Notice the similarities between this verse and 2:3-4 and 7:32

i. 2:3-4 Jewish friends brought the lame man through the roof

ii. 7:32 Gentile friends and the man was deaf and mute

iii. 8:22 Jewish friends brought a blind man

iv. Do you think Mark is trying to say anything to his audience here?

c. Vs. 23a – Notice the similarities between this verse and 7:33-34

i. Discuss the intimate touch of Jesus with both men

d. Vss. 23b – 24 – healed but not quite

i. Jesus healed the man, but not fully – he could see fuzzy images of people

e. Vs. 25 – Jesus fully heals the man

i. Why do you think Jesus took two times to heal the Jewish man and only once for the Gentile? Hint: this is not a second attempt but a continuation.

1. Jesus is acting out a parable – read 8:21. Sometimes, it takes several attempts for Jesus to break through so people can see him fully.

ii. Does Mark intend to communicate anything to his readers about Jesus and these two groups of people?

f. Vs. 26 The Messianic Secret – again

II. Peter’s declaration

a. Read 8:27-30 and then read Matt. 16:13-20, giving a more complete accounting of the incident. We will concentrate on that passage for this section.

b. Matt. 16:13 – Jesus is in Caesarea Philippi

i. Phillip’s City of Caesar

ii. Northern part of Israel – very Gentile – historically for Israel a hotbed of Pagan worship

iii. The city had a large temple to the Roman god Pan – half goat, half man

iv. The temple faced the mouth of a cave that was believed to be the site where the Canaan god Baal came forth from the underworld – the cave is called “The Gate of Hell”

v. Also had a temple for Zeus next to the temple for Pan.

c. Vs. 13 Jesus asks the disciples whom the people say “the Son of Man.”

i. Jesus is referring to Himself with a Messianic title

d. Vs. 14 - Three responses are given

i. John the Baptist – prophet calling for repentance

ii. Elijah – prophet and worker of miracles

iii. Jeremiah – prophet of judgment

iv. All three fall short

e. Vs. 15 – The eternal question

i. Ponder and discuss the gravity of this question, not just for the disciples, but for all of humanity – and for us personally

f. Vs. 16 Simon Peter responds, affirming Jesus as Messiah

g. Vss. 17 – 19 – the ramifications of such a declaration

i. Blessing- those who call Jesus the Messiah are blessed

ii. Hear from God – it is God who reveals this truth to people

iii. Change in identity – Simon (Σίμων Simōn he has heard and obeyed) became Peter (Πέτρος Petros meaning rock)

iv. The truth of this is the rock (πέτρα petra) on which the church (ἐκκλησία ekklēsia – or gathering of people, never interpreted as a building) is built

v. Nothing, not even the vilest evil in this world or beyond, can stand against it

vi. The keys to the kingdom of Heaven – we are given heavenly authority – bringing the Kingdom of God into the present

h. Vs. 20 Again, the messianic secret

III. Back to Mark 8:31-33 Jesus predicts His death – first time

a. Vs. 31 – For the first time, Jesus starts to talk “plainly” about all that is going to happen to him

b. Vs. 32 – Peter, who has just gone through the above affirmation, rejects what Jesus states and - get this – rebukes Jesus!

c. Jesus not only rebukes Peter’s rebuke but uses the same kind of language used in exorcisms. Jesus tells Peter he needs an eternal Kingdom vision instead of his earthly-bound vision.

IV. Vss. 34-9:1 The cost of discipleship

a. Vs. 34a Jesus called a crowd and taught the crowd along with the disciples – this is a message that is to be heard by everyone

b. Vs. 34b – To be a disciple, one must

i. Deny themselves

ii. Take up their cross

iii. Follow Jesus

iv. Discuss what this might mean for us today

c. Vs. 35 - 37 - What is the cost of taking up our cross and following Jesus?

i. To save one’s life, one must first lose it for Jesus

ii. Everything in this world is useless compared to the eternal benefits of following Jesus

iii. One cannot buy or attain eternity; it must be something that comes from surrender

iv. Read this story - https://www.icommittopray.com/request/1908/hmong-christian/

d. Vs. 38 – What ramifications does this verse have on our everyday lives?

e. Vs. 9:1 – what does Jesus mean in this verse?

i. “Truly I tell you” means that Jesus is speaking authoritatively

ii. The verse could not refer to His coming again after the ascension – as that has not yet happened

iii. It may be referring to Jesus' death and resurrection.

iv. It may be referring to the sending of the Holy Spirit in Acts Chapter 2

v. It may be referring to the following passage (9:2-13)

vi. It may be describing the present manifestation of the Kingdom of God

vii. He may be referring to the destruction of the temple

viii. It may be all of them

ix. Discuss