Christ in Full Color Pt. 1

Bible Passage: Mark 8:22-30

INTRO

“Soma Church exists to love the body of Christ and equip them to do the work of ministry here, near and far, all for the glory of God.”

Show Movie Cover

There is a common misconception that the first film to ever be released in full color was the Wizard of Oz back in 1939

But it was actually the movie that is up on the screen. A fifty minute film titled, The World, The Flesh and the Devil.

Using a coloring technique known as Kinemacolor, film makers were able to bring full color moving images to the big screen for the first time in history.

This has forever changed the way films are viewed. Color could now be a part of the story of a film bringing greater clarity to those who are watching.

in a similar way, when Jesus transforms the heart of a sinner, He takes them from blindness or foggy vision to seeing clearly in full color.

We are kicking off week one of a two week teaching to close out Mark 8 called Christ in Full Color.

BODY

Last week, Jesus was going toe to toe with the Pharisees in the region of Dalmanutha which is in the same region of His home base of Capernaum. His disciple and He get in their boat and make their way to Bethsaida

Mark 8:22–26 ESV

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.”

Nothing incredibly new here…

A blind man is presented to the rabbi who is the son of God and the savior of the world and what do ya know… this man is healed.

But this one is just a wee bit different than the others.

For starters, Jesus spits in the mans eyes. It was common practice amongst ancient healers to use saliva when healing as it was said to have healing properties.

But if you notice, he spit, touched the man and he wasn’t completely healed. you would think that Jesus would spit again but he doesn’t

If something works, wouldn’t you go back to it? probably, but Jesus doesn’t.

Instead, Jesus touches the man again and his sight is restored showing us that this is a divine miracle done by The Son of God without the aid of anything earthly. Even saliva.

And this multi stage healing shows us something deep about the reality of following Christ.

Mark 8:24 ESV

And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.”

This man has a dim sight of people looking like trees walking. His sight is not yet fully restored, he sees dimly.

There are times in our lives when the revelation of Jesus and His work can be dim in our lives.

1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Maybe some of you are in this first phase of healing.

You see dimly but not yet in full. You know there is something to this Christianity stuff but your sight has not yet been opened to the reality of who Jesus is.

This is true of the disciples at this point in the story of Mark.

Just last week, we saw the disciples lack of faith in knowing that Jesus, the miracle worker was in their boat with them when they had no bread but still being full of fear.

We have also seen them have moments where they may be getting it.

They see dimly, at times they get it and at other times they don’t.

The main problem for them is that though Jesus has done amazing things, He still hasn’t done what they expected their savior and messiah to do, which is overthrow Rome.

This healing serves as a parallel for the sight of the disciples.

And we see Jesus test this in them in this in verse 27

Mark 8:27–30 ESV

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.” 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.

The disciples describe Jesus in there answer to His first question with dim sight.

“Jesus, you might be this or this or this.”

But then Jesus asks them the most important question they have ever been asked…

“But who do you say that I am?” or “Who am I to you?”

Peter who often speaks for the rest of the group speaks up and says “You are the Christ!”

What’s interesting here is that though Peter answers correctly, there is great evidence later on in the story to point to the fact that Peter really didn’t understand his own answer. Namely, his denial of knowing Jesus during His trial.

But this is a question that I am sure stuck with Peter and the rest of the disciples.

The man who saw dimly and then had full sight is showing us what is going on in the disciples hearts.

They are seeing dimly but there will be a time when they will have full sight.

The aim of Jesus’ question is to lead His disciples closer to the conclusion of who He really is. The Christ, the Son of God and the savior of the world.

And it is the question that everyone must answer… Who do you say that Jesus is?

CLOSING

I have shared my testimony with our church a couple of times now, but as I have reflected this week upon the story we just studied, I can see how this played out in my own life.

I was raised in pastors home with great parents. Jesus, His word and His gospel were central to everything we did in our home.

But it wasn’t until I was 8 years old that all of it clicked for me. More on that in a minute but prior to my salvation at 8 years old, I would say that I was the blind man in the second stage of healing.

Due to the intentionality of my parents and godly influences in my life, I had some sort of a christian framework.

I knew all of the stuff, I was the smartest kid in Sunday school and I prided myself in my morals

But I wouldn’t say with any sort of confidence it had anything to do with a transformation of my heart but rather just a knowledge of what the right thing to do is. And if you know me well at all, I love being right.

The problem with believing you are always right or having a strong desire to be is that God will always show you how that is not the case.

There was one morning that I was doing some second grade math homework that I just couldn’t figure out and in my frustration I cussed at my homework as my father sat to my left.

Knowing that I had really screwed up, I turned to see my dad looking at me. He wasn’t angry or upset but broken.

Even at 8 I could see through his eyes into his soul as he faced the reality of his son being a broken sinner.

It almost felt as if Jesus himself were looking at me saying “Micah, who do you say that I am?”

I went to school deeply broken and bothered by what I had done. For the first time, I was facing the fact that I don’t know everything and that I am jacked up.

And as I reflect on that day, it really was as if Jesus was saying to me all day… “Micah, who do you say that I am?”

That night I went home and on the steps of my house placed my faith in Christ as my savior from sin.

I share that with you because the Bible says that their is power in your testimony and that you should share it with people.

Revelation 12:11 ESV

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

I believe that there are people here today and in our livesd every day who are currently being asked the same question by Jesus… “Who do you say that I am?”

Speaking from first hand experience, He is the the savior, the king, the one who told me everything I ever did, my friend and all that He says that He is.

So do you need to answer the question yourself? Or go tell someone who God may be speaking to?

PRAY