The Gospel According to Mark (Part 28)

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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 28)

Welcome to Jesus Church – Here and Online

If you are new/visiting – Middle of a series on life and ministry of Jesus

• Doing that by going through the Gospel of Mark
  • Last week we looked at the feeding of the 4000 (not the 5000)
  • And how Jesus focuses in on the heart of those in the story
  • Addresses Herod – Pharisees – Disciples

• All 3 groups in the story are dealing with some level of unbelief
  • The Pharisees demand a sign based on their terms
  • The disciples forget bread and worry about not having food

• And all Jesus wants is that we would believe he is who he says he is
  • And he will do what he says he will do
  • Which is be our Messiah/Savior

• And where we struggle with that unbelief
  • We fail to see what He is doing
  • We fail to hear His voice when he speaks
  • We forget how he has been faithful in the past

This week we finish Mark 8 – This is a turning point in the Gospel story

• Mark is divided into 2 main sections
  • Ch. 1-8 – Main point: The King is here and his name is Jesus
  • Ch. 9-16 – Now that its established… not the king you expected
  • Next passage is the hinge b/w the two sections (very important)

Mk 8:22-29

They came to Bethsaida, (fishing village NE of Lake) and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes

• Thought about making Kyle come up here to illustrate this
  • But probably not in his job description
  • But saliva was used as medicine in ancient world – not weird

and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything”? He looked up and said, “I see people, they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home saying, “Don’t even go into the village”.

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am? They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets. But what about you? “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah. (The son of the Living God)”

[PRAY]

Story

I heard a story of a man who went to heaven and met Jesus. Jesus was showing him around and brought him to a house that was full of clocks.

But it was strange because all of the clocks were spinning at different speeds and had the names of different people down on earth. He asked why they were all spinning at different speeds and Jesus explained, that the clocks would spin faster depending on how honest that individual was. For instance if someone cheated a lot, their clock would spin faster. Now this man was a huge football fan so naturally he found all the clocks from the great football players that he knew. First he saw Payton Mannings clock, which was basically standing still because he is such a great guy and would never cheat. Next he saw Aaron Rodgers clock, which was definitely moving faster, as Jesus explained Green Bay was pretty cheap in taking advantage of the rules. As he looked around, he was surprised not to see Tom Brady’s clock. So he asked Jesus, where is Tom Brady’s clock, it should definitely be here. Jesus chuckled and replied, oh ya its actually in my office, I use it as a fan.

We see and sometimes meet extraordinary people all the time

• Some are passionate… smart… athletic… talented… selfless
  • And when we see people like that – We feel inspired
  • Its encouraging to see people that we look up to

• And I think most would agree Jesus would fall into that category
  • 2000 years after his birth… still influencing the world
  • Teachings are foundation to our moral/ethical behavior
  • He cared for the poor & rejected
  • He challenged the system… called out hypocrisy
  • Never settled for an easy life over a missional life

• Jesus is very inspiring/likable person… but some think it ends there
  • Once I was talking to a neighbor… we had a lot in common
    • One day I asked him what he thought about Jesus
    • Answer was: Good person, Great teacher, high morals
    • That was/is what a lot of people SEE Jesus as

Mark start this turning point to the gospel with a story of a blind man

• Quickly: If you notice he isn’t healed all at once… it’s a process
  • And sometimes healing is like that
  • At times healing is all at once… come forward/prayer/healed

• Other times its incremental… pray and you seeing progress
  • And then next week you pray… a little bit better
  • And you keep praying and believing God is working
  • Start out seeing trees – then you see clearly

• There was a guy who’s younger brother had some medical issues
  • He was also autistic
    • And he didn’t speak… hadn’t from his youth
    • The older… part of college ministry asked friends to pray
  • They came over and prayed for about an hour
    • Asked him if he would try to speak the name of Jesus
    • And he did
  • Couple weeks later he was still struggling – but working on it
    • Now does the older brother stop praying
    • No… he keeps praying and even more so

• All that to say – If you are praying for something in your life
  • Please don’t stop… keep praying for healing
  • Keep praying to see that breakthrough

So the story about a blind man… but also its not about a blind man at all

• Mark uses this story as a literary tool – not that it didn’t happen
  • But Mark uses it in a creative way to make a point…
  • Mark uses this word “SEE” is used 9 times in this story
  • This is a story at its core about SEEING JESUS

• And keep in mind the CONTEXT… last story was all about blindness
  • How the disciples – pharisees are blind to seeing who Jesus is
  • Jesus just stated “Do you have eyes… but fail to SEE”
  • And says the are BLIND to the fact that he is the MESSIAH

• And then right after 2 stories about being blindness…
  • We have a story about Peter finally SEEING Jesus for who he is
  • When Peter says “You are the Messiah, Son of the living God.”

But to this point they can’t seen clearly … Its been blurry/unclear/fuzzy

• And its only as they’re touched by Jesus that they can see
  • So this story is really a set up… which is really cool
  • B/C it’s a story the leads us to the question of how do we SEE
  • Are we blind… blurry… or seeing Jesus for who he is

And this question: Who is Jesus – Most important

C.S. Lewis

Based off the life and things Jesus taught, you will have to decide who Jesus is in your own mind. You can either believe that Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, or he is the Lord

In reality… Jesus can’t just be an extraordinary person

• Because a person who convinced the world that he is God’s son
  • He is either the greatest con-man of all time
  • He’s delusional
  • Or he is who he says he is… there is no “Good Guy”
• And what you decide about who Jesus is… eternal implications
  • And I want to look at two things this morning
    • 1^st the question/response from the disciples
    • 2^nd the response/response from us

Andy Stanley

I can’t force you into relationship w/ Jesus… but I can set up the 1^st date”

Jesus starts w/ question: Who am I (Caesarea Philippi)

Now this place Jesus takes the disciples… normally not a place they’d go

• It was a destination b/c it was outside of Israel territory
  • Says Jesus took them to explain what was about to happen
  • Jesus couldn’t pick a better place to ask “who am I”

• Caesarea Philippi was to this religion what walmart is to shopping
  • It was a melting pot of religion… thought… debate
  • So it was just infested with Idol worship
  • Herod had just built a new temple to Caeser (Caesarea)
    • And was paying tribute to his son Phillip (Philippi)
    • Basically an “anything goes” place [PIC 1 &2]

• So visually think about that… surrounded by these false gods
  • And scripture tells us there is demonic influences behind idols
  • So basically the most spiritually dark place you could find
    • They would throw babies into this water to the god Pan
    • If the baby sank… Pan accepted the sacrifice
    • If not they’d throw another baby in until one stayed under

And Jesus goes out of his way to bring his disciples there…

• And asks: Who do people say that I am
  • Answers start casual… probably wondering why they’re there
  • They give answers they’ve heard around
  • But Jesus makes it personal… and the disciples can feel it

Matt. 16:15-16 (read from Matthew because it adds some detail)

But what about you? he asked. Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

• Notice this answer… Son of the “Living God”
  • Peter’s response is in the midst of a sea of non-living gods
  • And God reveals who Jesus is
  • And this is the statement on which Jesus builds his church
    • That’s why the name “Jesus Church” makes so much sense

• The foundation of the church was built on SEEING Jesus…
  • That in Him & through Him alone is life… He is the LIVING GOD
  • In contrast to other gods demanding our attention in this world

• So Jesus brings life to us in everything we do FOR HIM
  • You will find life in serving in kids church – FOR HIM
  • Ushering/worship team/sound team/set up team – FOR HIM

Jesus responds…

Matt. 16:18-19

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…

Keys are symbolic for authority… Key to my house gives me authority

• • Before I bought my house – someone else had that key
  • They had authority in that house… but that was transferred

• So Keys to kingdom of heaven… (kingdom is the rule/reign of God)
  • Means SEEING Jesus as the LIVING GOD
  • Gives us authority to invite people into God’s rule/reign
  • Why Jesus Church exists…
    • TO BRING GODS KINGDOM FROM HEAVEN TO EARTH

• But all of this hinges on SEEING JESUS for who he really is

If Jesus is Son of God… calling him a good teacher is a slap in the face

• And Jesus would be okay with it… he always declared his deity
  • He uses this term “Son of Man” – 80 times
  • Now why does that term declare his deity

Daniel 7:13-14 

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

So Jesus uses this term to talk about himself constantly

Luke 9:58

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Mark 13:26

At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

Luke 9:22

And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

• And people make claims all the time about who/what they are
  • But how you receive that… based on their credibility
  • Once in church… guy stood up right as service started
  • Claimed he was prophet – Said the Moon will attack New York
    • We escorted him out and service went on
    • Later Kyle apologized
• People make crazy claims all the time
  • And I’m sure some people thought that about Jesus
  • But the more they watched him… they knew he wasn’t crazy
  • The more people understood Jesus, the more they trusted him
• And Jesus claimed some crazy stuff… find a lot of it in Gospel of John
  • First: Jesus gives us 7 ways he says “I am God”
  • Second: We read of 7 miracles he does that proves it
  • Third: We are given 7 eye witness accounts of proof Jesus is God

TAG: Jesus makes crazy claims on who he was… Can’t just a good guy

Most important question… what is your response

Because as much as Mark writes details this story to document Jesus

• He also does it to ask the question to his readers…
  • Who do you say he is
  • How do you see Jesus today… blind/blur/clear

Larry King once asked… if you had 1 question for God what would it be

• Hed said: “I’d ask: Did you really have a son”
  • And he followed it up saying… if he did it changes everything
  • And it does… Peter makes confession that Jesus is Messiah
    • People all around the world are saying today
    • I believe Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God
• That’s the question… Is Jesus your messiah, Son of the living God
  • What is your response
  • If he is – It changes everything… the way you live/talk/think/value
  • And you will see fruit of that change in your life

Knew of a pastor who went to Israel… one stop was in Bethlehem

• Bethlehem is unique – Have to trade out bus driver and tour guide
  • The pastor said this new tour guide brought life to everything
  • He was passionate… informative… super engaging
  • Pastor was convinced this guy had to be a Christian

• He asked the guide… and he said “I’ll tell you my story later”
  • So at the end of the day ready to go back to the hotel
    • Asked the guide again… you’ve gotta be a Christian
    • He replied, “No, I’m a Muslim”
  • So the pastor in disbelief asked… so you don’t believe in Jesus
    • He said yes I believe in Jesus – but not the way you believe
    • He knew of Jesus… but didn’t SEE him
    • Had the right answers but the wrong response

• And you can be emotional… play the part… know the phrases…
  • None of those mean you really SEE him
  • Our belief in Jesus has to be more than he is a good guy
    • It has to be that He is my LORD and my SAVIOR
    • And his kingdom is established in & over my life
    • So His authority is established over my life as well

1 Jn. 2:5-6

But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

We must be changed when we give our lives over to Jesus

• Your actions should be different… because your life is not your own
  • Jesus has given you the keys to the kingdom – To enter in
  • But in that Kingdom… He is the king and you are not
  • And that cannot be faked
    • B/C response shows what Kingdom is established in ur life