Everything becomes clear:

Context:

• Jesus fed the 4000.
• He warned about the leaven of the Pharisees, and of Herod.
• At Bethsaida, some people bring Him a blind man and beg for a touch.

Do you know anyone that is desparate for a touch from Jesus?

Mark 8:23-26 “...And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, 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. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village...”

Why would Jesus lead him out of the village?

• Does a true relationship with Jesus occur apart from the crowds?
• Mark 7:33-35 “...And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly...”

How did the first touch from Jesus change the man’s life?

• He saw things he hadn’t seen before, even though they weren’t clear.

When a person is first touched by Jesus, do they see everything clearly?

• Having eyes that don’t see, and ears that don’t hear is a common problem.

How did the second touch from Jesus change the man’s life?

• He saw EVERYTHING clearly..

When does a person see everything clearly?

• When Jesus finishes his work in their life.

• Proverbs 4:18 “...But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day...”

Why would Jesus tell the man to not even enter the village?

• He sent Him home, which wasn’t the village.
• The “messianic secret” is a prominent theme in Mark’s gospel account.
• The current religious/political view of the coming Messiah was inconsistent with Jesus’ mission.
• Nobody knew His secret ambition.
• A growing focus on His power and authority would not help His mission.

Peter Gets It:

Matthew 16:13-16 “...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...”

Mark 8:27-30 “...And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him...”

Were there multiple opinions about Jesus?

Are there still multiple opinions about Jesus?

Does your opinion about Jesus matter?

Matthew 16:17-20 “...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...”

How did Peter come up with the correct answer?

• Revelation from the Father who is in heaven.

On what will Jesus build the church?

• The firm foundation of confessing Jesus as the Christ, the son of the Living God?

• 1 Corinthians 3:11 “...For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ...”

• Ephesians 2:19-20 “...So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,...”

• Revelation 21:14 “...And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb...”

How did Christ continue to protect the messianic secret?

• “...he strictly charged them to tell no one about him...”

How would you interpret Matthew 16:18 (NASB) “...upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.....”?

• What was Jesus going to do? <build His church>

• What was about to happen that might cause concern? <He was going to be crucified, dead, and buried>

Is Hades is the temporary place of the dead?

• Revelation 1:17-18 “...When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades...”

• Revelation 20:13 “...And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done...”