Benjamin Geldart … takin’ after his daddy

Mark 8:22-35 NIV 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 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. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Mark 8:22-35 NIV 27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man

Mark 8:22-35 NIV must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple

Mark 8:22-35 NIV must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

TWO STORIES, ONE MESSAGE Why did Mark couple these two stories?

Story #1: The Blind Man Something is OFF Why does Jesus touch him TWICE to heal his blindness? A question of power? If its not about POWER, then the WAY Jesus heals him must be important!

Story #2: Jesus and the Disciples “Who do PEOPLE (the crowds) say that I am?” A prophet Jesus didn’t leave that option open to us “Who do YOU say that I am?” THIS IS ALWAYS THE ULTIMATE QUESTION! “You’re the Messiah” “I’m going to suffer, die, and rise again” Peter says, “NO WAY” But Jesus says, “YES, I AM – and I want YOU to follow me”

Why Are These Stories Together? Both involve blindness Both show Jesus asking the same question: “Can you see me?” God is the one who heals both blindnesses BOTH BLINDNESSES REQUIRED MULTIPLE STAGES OF HEALING GOD HEALS SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IN STAGES!

The Auger of the Gospel A DRILL! Going deeper and deeper into truth It takes TIME to get deep God KNOWS our souls need him to go slowly So He lovingly heals our spiritual blindness in stages

The Crown AND the Cross Terrible Beauty Jesus is the Messiah King AND the Suffering Servant Terrible Beauty Isaiah 35:5-6: “5Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.” v. 4: “your God will come, he will come with vengeance;  with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Jesus came not just to BRING divine vengeance and retribution, but to BEAR IT HIMSELF!

What Does This Mean for Us? GOD HEALS OUR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IN STAGES “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me” This is Discipleship – becoming a follower of Jesus Die to your old sinful self/identity Follow Him INTO suffering Following Jesus into death LEADS to life and freedom For us too, THE CROSS PRECEDES THE CROWN

Where Are You this Morning? Maybe you’re like the crowds Jesus was a teacher or prophet, but not the Messiah SEE THIS JESUS Maybe you’re like the disciples You see the Crown, but struggle to embrace the Cross Maybe you’re like the Roman believers You ARE following Jesus, and it’s HARD, you’re suffering!

END OF ACT ONE INTERMISSION