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 _____.