Seeing The Savior Clearly - Mark 8:22-33

Mark 8:22-33 Seeing the Savior Clearly 2019-12-08 See and submit to God’s perfect plan and purposes. In our celebration of Advent and Christmas, our emphasis is on the promise of our Savior who came from heaven to earth, to redeem humanity from sin and death. On Christmas Day we celebrate his birth, the Savior born in Bethlehem, the infant laid in a manger. We think of angels heralding his birth, of shepherds marveling at the announcement, and of the ancient promises fulfilled. Those promises didn’t only involve his birth, though. They included his life, his death, and his resurrection and ascension. We must not be so short-sighted that we forget that the mission of God wasn’t accomplished in the cradle, but only started there. The mission was accomplished at the cross. And while a baby in a cradle might appeal to our sensitivities and be acceptable to our culture, the baby grew to be a man on a cross. Scripture Passage: Mark 8:22-33 See and submit to God’s perfect plan and purposes. Sight in Stages (vv.22-26) 1. v.22 “And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.” - Jesus’ fame had spread throughout the region. They knew the power of Jesus to heal, so they brought those in need of healing to Jesus. They knew of his power to touch and bring healing. 2. v.23a “And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village…” - Some healings Jesus performed publicly, but others were more private. This is important to notice, that he leads the blind man by the hand out of the village to perform the healing. 3. v.23b “Do you see anything?” - Spit was something that those who performed healings would normally use. Jesus didn’t need to use spit, but for this man, especially without the use of all of his senses, the spit would have been something he would associate with healing. The blind man now sees, but not fully. His vision isn’t completely restored, but he only sees shapes and figures, not detail. 1. I appreciate this question and the man’s answer. Do you ever take the time to explain a task to someone, then ask the person you’re explaining it to if they understand? You get an affirmative answer, then they go about performing the task in the wrong way? I appreciate that the man answered honestly. He didn’t feel the need to claim better vision than he really had; there was no pride in his answer. Nope, I’m still broken and I need another touch by you, Jesus. 2. I think we walk around with too many spiritual ailments because we fail to admit we’re still broken. Redeemed, yes, but still walking around in these bodies of flesh and in need of more sanctification. Like Paul in Romans 7, there is still a struggle and a battle. Romans 7:24–25 “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” 4. v.25 “Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes…” - The first touch only partially restored the man’s sight. Jesus lays his hands on this man again, then he sees clearly. Saying Rightly (v.27-30) 1. v.27 “Who do people say that I am?” - This was prime time for discipling; walking along the road to Caesarea Philippi and armed with a couple good questions. 2. v.28 Varying theories about who Jesus is. Remember Herod believed Jesus was John the Baptist back from the dead (Mark 6:14)? Others thought maybe he was Elijah, the one coming in preparation for the Messiah. 3. v.29a “But who do you say that I am?” - This is what Jesus was most interested in. Public opinion polls didn’t have all that much significance. Jesus really wanted to know if his disciples were swayed by public opinion, or impacted by their personal interaction with Jesus. This is the most important question anyone will ever answer. 4. v.29b “You are the Christ.” - Peter answers. It’s always Peter. 1. Remember back to the very beginning of Mark’s gospel? Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Mark’s purpose has been to reveal Jesus as the Christ. We’ve been able, in a sense, to walk in the sandals of the disciples as we’ve read the account Mark records for us. All that the disciples had seen and heard brought them to this place of true and right confession of Jesus as the one anointed by God, promised by God, and on mission from God to accomplish redemption for God. 2. 1 John 5:1 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” 3. This is, in a sense, the high water mark in Mark’s gospel. Mark’s gospel begins to shift focus after this point, with less emphasis on miracles and teaching around Galilee, and more emphasis on the mission of Jesus centered in Jerusalem. That mission, ultimately, would lead him to the cross where he would suffer and die, a righteous man dying for the sins of the unrighteous in order to accomplish redemption. Understanding Wrongly (v.31-33) 1. v.31 “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.” - Jesus is now opening the eyes of his disciples to his messianic mission. 2. v.32a “And he said this plainly.” - No parables, no metaphors, just straight talk. 3. v.32b “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.” - I imagine Peter was quite confused. Matthew’s gospel tells us he was commended for his answer to Jesus’ question about who he is. Peter gave the right answer. But though Peter answered rightly, he understood wrongly. His understanding of the Christ, the Messiah, led him to believe that the Messiah would be a political and national hero, not one rejected and killed by the religious rulers of the day. Peter was so confident that he rebukes Jesus. That’s a strong word. It’s a stern telling, a scolding. 4. v.33 “But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said…” - As one commentator put it, “Peter quickly plummets from the brightest student with his A+ answer, “You are the Christ,” to class dunce.” Jesus scolds Peter, rebuking him. Peter’s rebuke was done in ignorance, but Jesus’ rebuke was done in love. Revelation 3:19 “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” What he was saying was not from God but from Satan. 1. I recently heard Caleb explaining the difference between sight and vision. The eye might be able to see an image, but the brain needs to accept it and process it for there to be vision. There is sight and vision - seeing and perceiving. I see that same concept at work in this passage, that one must see Jesus as the Christ, but then also receive what that title carries with it - that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). 1. Mark 8:17–18 “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?” Jesus connects true seeing with the heart. 2. In the first paragraph we studied there is a large emphasis on sight, seeing, and blindness. The people brought a blind man, and Jesus takes the blind man out of the village. He spits in his eyes and asks him if he sees anything. The man looked up and says he sees, but people look like trees. Jesus lays his hands on him again, the man opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he then saw everything clearly. Why I point this out is because Scripture speaks about more than one kind of blindness and sight. There is certainly the physical, but there is also a spiritual sight and a spiritual blindness. 3. Why did Jesus not restore the man’s sight in one go? There are reasons we can dismiss, like Jesus not being powerful enough or making a mistake. But that still doesn’t answer the question. Let me tell you what I think. I’ve been wrestling over this for a couple of weeks asking this question of, “Why?” He healed the man in such an unusual way it has grabbed my attention, caused me to stop and consider and ask questions. I know Jesus doesn’t do things without intention and purpose, so why did he take two goes at healing this man? I think that’s just it - he wanted to get the attention of his disciples, and of those who would hear or read of this account later. He did something unusual to draw the attention of certain individuals; not the villagers or masses, but of his disciples. While the blindness this man had was physical, and it was healed, I think Jesus went about it in the way he did in order to illustrate a spiritual truth for his disciples and for us. Their spiritual vision was coming in stages; they were growing and developing in their understanding of Christ’s mission. 4. Imperative to their right seeing was that they set their minds on the things of God. 5. Colossians 3:1–3 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Conclusion: Who do you say Jesus is? Is he the baby born in Bethlehem? Is he the teacher around Galilee? Is he also the Christ who would suffer and die and rise again? Peter only saw what made sense to him. He had plans and hopes and ideas about the Messiah that didn’t align with God’s plan and purpose for the Messiah. He was earthly-minded, and not setting his mind on the things of God. Family December 8, 2019 Table Talk Sing! Hark the herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled" Joyful, all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem" Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!" Christ by highest heav'n adored Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin's womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!" Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings Ris'n with healing in His wings Mild He lays His glory by Born that man no more may die Born to raise the sons of earth Born to give them second birth Hark! The herald angels sing "Glory to the newborn King!" Advent Reading... Isaiah 7:13-14; 11:1-5; Luke 1:26-38 Matthew 1:18-25 Micah 5:2-4; Matthew 2:1-12 Luke 2:8-14 This week’s Scripture Memory Exodus 20:13-16 In the second week of Advent, we set our focus on the angels who came to proclaim the coming of Jesus. The angels were sent as messengers from God to announce the advent of Jesus, and also to orchestrate events around his coming. It is good for us to hear the wonderful things they spoke about our Savior King. www.pillarhoodriver.org