Christ recognized

Introduction

A. Last week we studies Mark chapter 8 verses 11-21 Jesus has returned to Jewish territory. He has an encounter by the pharisees who demand a sign. The text says they began to argue with him. Jesus sighed deeply and said why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you no sign will be given to this generation. Then he gets into a boat and the disciples had forgotten to bring bread for the journey. He begins to teach them saying watch out for; beware of the leaven of the pharisees and the leaven of Herod. They missed what he was trying to teach them because they were too concerned with food. Jesus asks them “why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? DO you not yet perceive or understand are your hearts hardened.

Do you not remember when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand

Or the when he broke the loaves for the four thousand

He asks Do you no yet understand?

Here they are here filled with anxiety over enough food with the source of life is with them. He warns regarding the leaven which is often used as a metaphor for evil in the bible. The hard hearts and false teaching of the pharisees according to their oral traditions. He warns the Herodians due to their love for Rome and the ways of the world. A little leaven will corrupt.

This is why he asks Do you no yet understand?? If you missed last week go back and listen to the sermon online.

No we will go on and look at please stand with me for the reading of God’s word

The bind man at Bethsaida

Jesus has been teaching these disciples both in word and deed. He lives out his ministry. He still asks the question do you not yet understand? We see the patients of our Lord. in verse 22 it says they came to Bethsaida and some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.

Jesus takes the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. We see this pattern in Jesus a lot when dealing with deaf man and now a blind man Jesus touches and leads him personally to be with him in a more private location. Jesus deals with people personally. verse 23 says when he spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “do you see anything” verse 24 says 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.

We must ask the question, what happened here? Jesus always heals instantly was he losing his anointing? Was the fullness of the Holy spirit not fully with him so he needed to try again? Why would it have taken two tries to heal this blind man?

Remember He is always demonstrating and teaching the disciples and anyone else with eyes to see and ears to hear. Mark just laid out for us Jesus asking the Disciples if they could see, if they could hear, if they understood yet the identity of who he was.

It was obvious by the actions of the Disciples in the boat they did not see clearly. Yet Jesus continues to walk with them, teaching them, and ministering to them.

This man’s healing occurred gradually not instantly. The first time Jesus touched him gave indication he wasn’t totally blind but the sight was still poor. The disciples too were being exposed and their hard hearts being changed and their spiritual sight being restored gradually. This is too our experience isn’t it? Jesus then continues with the man and his sight is perfect. The text says he saw everything clearly. This out come the disciples could anticipate despite difficulties in the process

Confession that Jesus is the Messiah

Now we move on, in verse 27 says Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. This is placed right at the center of this gospel and it’s not by chance this has happened. There is a transition happening here. Caesarea Philippi was a city located 25 miles to the north east of Jesus’s base of operation. The city was at the source of the Jordan River on the slope of Mount Hermon. This city was dominated by immoral activities and pagan worship. In the OT times NE area of Israel became a center of Baal Worship. The nearby city of Dan, the israelite king Jeroboam built the high place that angered God and eventually led the israelites to worship false gods. Eventually worship of Baals were replaced by the worship of fertility gods. This area was the center of the worship of greek god Pan, the greeks named the city Panies, years later Rome conquered the area and Herod Philip renamed it after himself. At the base of the cliffs of Mount Hermon was a grotto a spring. At this time the people believed gods travel back and forth from the underworld through caves. This place at this city was called the gates of hates. It was entrance to the underworld.

the people in this area were obsessed with the fertility gods and the whole city participated in religious worship actives such as orgies, prostitution, and beasteality with the use of goats. This was a very vile wicked place.

Jesus brings his disciples here though. Why, why does he bring them here. To a cliff over looking this place. These disciples knew where they were. I’m sure they were confused as well. It is here Jesus asks the question who do the people say that I am?

Matthew 16:13–20 ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 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. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

We can see the parallel accounts of this in and I think Matt has the most details included. But remember Mark is writing to primarily Gentiles where as Matt is writing to primarily Jews. Jesus as common in rabbi circles asks the questions and his students answer. Who do the people say I am?

they say some say John the baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets

Jesus asks another question, but who do you say that I am? In the greek text there is extra emesis when he says you. Who do YOU say that I am.

All the responses were wrong, indicating that Jesus Identity and mission remained veiled from the people. Here Jesus brings them to this famous place. This heart of pagan worship and asks them plainly. He’s giving them a pop test. Who am I to you? Who do you say that I am

Peter a spokes man for the group speaks up and says You are the Christ, the son of the living GOD. This is the first time the word Christ appears since 1:1 Peter answers correctly and Jesus tells him, that the father has given him this answer. But remember, to every Jew the Christ, or the messiah was everything but a suffering savior. The messiah was expected to over through Rome and restore the kingdom of Israel.

Although Peter spoke correctly, they still did not see the entire identity. After this confession Jesus makes his journey to Jerusalem. His teaching points now toward his suffering, death and resurrection.

Peter says you are the son of the living God. He is right in this claim because He knew and was pointing out all idols including the one worshipped in CP the fertility God of dan was dead and held no power.

Jesus builds his church

Jesus responds to Peter and says Peter and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Remember Gates are defensive structures. Jesus takes them to this place. Jesus says he will build His church upon this declaration. He is the Christ, He is the son of God. His Church will penetrate and overtake the pagan worship.

Again he tells them not to speak if his identity because he knew they would of demanded he become king politically and he had the heart of his mission (the cross the finish)

Conclusion

Sanctify- we learn a-lot from this passage. Jesus may deal with us gradually which means we should expect variety in his working according to his word. Abide in Him and allow Him to change you.

Stand- We are not to sit in our churches and expect the world to change. Jesus describes his church as being on the offense penetrating the gates of hell. What are you doing to proclaim the truth of Christ in your life

Who- the greatest question we all must answer is “who is Jesus” we know the world has differing opinions as to the identity of Jesus . BUT with emesis Who do you say I am? this must be answered. Is Jesus LORD of your life? Does He lead you as a shepherd, do you hear his voice and follow Him?

lets pray