Mark lesson 19
Read Mark 8:22-33 – https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.8.esv
Mark 8:22-26
Normally, Jesus' healings were complete and immediate. This case was
different-‐-‐He applied saliva to on the eyes of the blind man, laid
His hands on him, and then asked what he saw. The man reported seeing
men like trees walking around. So Jesus touched his eyes again, and his
vision was perfectly restored. Why didn't Christ heal this man all at
once, like He normally did? Jesus' healings were signs, symbols of
spiritual truths. In this case, the two-‐stage healing of the blind man
symbolized how men's understanding and insight is often healed in two
steps. The disciples, for example, weren't totally blind, for they
understood that Jesus was the Son of God (see 8:29). But, on the other
hand, they still didn't recognize Jesus' complete ability and therefore
had defective vision (see 8:17-‐18, 31-‐33). They needed to be touched
again so they could see clearly.
Note -‐-‐ Don't be satisfied to see men like trees walking. Consider the situation of the blind man. While blind, he saw absolutely nothing. When Jesus first touched him, his vision improved: he saw men, though they looked like trees. To one who had been totally blind, that was fantastic progress. But Jesus could do more-‐-‐He touched the man again and he began to see perfectly. Unfortunately, in the spiritual realm, some are satisfied with one touch. They see, but not clearly. Many don't even realize that they need a complete cure -‐-‐that they should not be content to see men like trees walking. Consider someone whose life has been totally dominated by sin. He hears about Jesus, begins to follow many of His teachings and his life improves. Sadly, however, He lacks knowledge in many areas and settles for distorted vision. Let's check our own lives. Could it be that we still are not seeing clearly, and that Jesus could restore our vision perfectly?
1. How did the blind man see after Jesus first touched him? Answer: He saw men that looked like _____ walking around.
2. How did he see after Jesus finished with him? Answer: He saw everything _____
Mark 8:27-33.
Jesus asked who the public thought He was. The disciples reported
varying opinions: John the Baptist, Elijah, etc. When Jesus asked their
own opinion, Peter boldly responded: “You are the Christ.” It was a
brilliant insight. Nevertheless, when Jesus went on to warn about how He
was going to be rejected and crucified, Peter was horrified. He could
not imagine the Lord being killed. He began to correct Jesus, telling
Him that this would never happen! Jesus sternly rebuked Peter: "Get
behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests,
but man's." Peter was tempting Him not to suffer. Temptations are often
strongest when they come through people we are close to. So Jesus flatly
rejected Peter's advice. Isn't it strange that one minute Peter
proclaimed Jesus to be the Christ, and the next he was pulling Him aside
to tell Him that He was mistaken! If Jesus was truly the Christ, Peter
had no business arguing with Him. Nor do we.
3. Who did people consider Jesus to be? a) John the Baptist, b) Elijah, c) one of the prophets, d) all the preceding. Answer:
4. What did Peter confess regarding Jesus' identity? a) He was a great
teacher, b) He was a sublime philosopher, c) He was the Christ, d) He
was a prophet, but not divine. Answer: _____
5. How did Peter react to Jesus' announcement of His coming suffering? Answer: He took Jesus aside and began to _____ Him.
6. What did Jesus say was the reason Peter would not believe Jesus was
going to die? Answer: He was not thinking about the things of _____ but
the things of _____.