WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
Mark 8:22-9:1
INTRO:
The Truman Show features Jim Carrey as a naive insurance salesman whose humdrum existence is, unbeknownst to him, being telecast live around the globe 24 hours a day.
The film evolves from an intriguing premise. A corporation, personified by a sovereign television producer named Christof, adopts an unborn child for the purpose of creating the ultimate home movie. For nearly thirty years, 5,000 hidden cameras monitor Truman Burbank’s every move for the peeping masses. Truman doesn’t know he’s on display, or that his pristine hometown of Seahaven Island is actually an enormous sound stage filled with actors hired to play various roles in his life.
But things start to unravel. Strange events inspire Truman to satisfy his curiosity about the world around him, eventually leading him on a quest to sail beyond the borders of his small Island. And Christof wants desperately to stop him before he reaches the truth and freedom waiting at the outer walls of the set.
Let’s watch as Truman has an eye-opening experience.
[Truman Show Video Clip]
Its possible to have an eye-opening experience that changes your whole life.
Perhaps you can relate to his struggle to see things clearly.
PREV:
Today, God wants you to have an eye-opening experience. He wants you to see things clearly, and to change, improve your entire life. Today we are going to see how Jesus can open your eyes, and what you will see when he does. Its in Mark 8. Turn there with me
As I read Mk. 8:22-26, notice how Jesus opens this man’s eyes.
A. Jesus gives sight to a physically blind man
A fairly typical situation. Jesus shows up in a place, and some people bring a needy person to him. In this case, a blind man. Jesus establishes a personal relationship with him – takes his hand, leads him away from the crowd. He uses a common symbol of healing -–spit, hands on.
The man’s sight is partially restored – he has blurry vision. Jesus touches him again, and his sight is fully restored. Typically, Jesus sends him home in silence.
One of the things God promised to do when he came to his people was heal the blind. Cf. Isa. 35:5. This healing shows that Jesus is divine.
B. Jesus offers sight to the spiritually blind too.
But there’s more here than that. Only recorded by Mark. This miracle is unique – partial sight, then full sight. When you see what follows this passage, you will see that Mark includes this for a specific reason. Its not just about Jesus’ ability to physically open blind eyes. Its a picture of faith, of Jesus’ ability to open spiritually blind eyes.
Its possible today that you are, spiritually speaking, blind. Or that your vision is blurry. And that vision problem is the root of the angst, unhappiness, emptiness, unfulfillment in your life.
Jesus helps those who can’t see physically see.
Jesus helps those who can’t “see” spiritually see.
The key question is, “Do you see anything?”
How is your spiritual vision? What do you see?
I. JESUS CHRIST WANTS TO OPEN YOUR EYES
“I have come to open blind eyes.” I want to give you an eye-opening experience. He wants to take you by the hand and give you your sight back.
Trans: What is it that he wants you to see? When our eyes are open, what will we see? The answer comes in the form of another question that Jesus asks, in Mk. 8:27
A. The question
An important point of transition in Mark’s Gospel.
Ceasarea Phillipi, 25 mi. north of Galilee, pagan area.
Unusual for a rabbi to ask the questions…
“Who do people say I am?”
This corresponds to “Do you see anything?”
“What do people see when they look at me?”
Let’s see the answer as we read Mark 8:28.
B. The people’s answers
They give Jesus the popular estimation of who he was:
John the Baptist (recently beheaded)
Elijah – the prophet of old
One of the prophets – one in the long line.
These views were going around for some time.
Cf. 6:14-16. These views weren’t negative, but inadequate.
If he is John or Elijah, he’s nothing in himself, just the realization of a past event.
If he is just a prophet, this fails to distinguish him.
These answers correspond to the partial sight in v. 24.
These answers exists in our culture too.
Now Jesus redirects the question in Mk. 8:29-30.
C. A disciple’s answer
We know what they see. What do you see?
Emphasis on "you" who do you say I am?
Peter speaks for all, no doubt.
Christ = Messiah = Anointed One, the Coming king.
First use of "Christ" since 1:1.
This is climax of Mark’s story so far, the crucial turning point, what he has been leading up to the whole way.
This is an exultant expression of faith.
It corresponds to full sight in v. 25. They see clearly!
Restriction on telling due to misunderstanding & timing.
This is exactly what Jesus wants you to see! He is Christ!
II. JESUS IS THE CHRIST
The first thing Jesus wants you to see is that he is indeed the Christ, not some religious figure, not some important man. He is the one sent from God, the climax of God’s promises. Jesus wants you to embrace who he is, embrace his person.
Have you embraced his person? Have you recognized his uniqueness? Are you ready to call him Christ?
Trans: This is what is means to be a Christian, a follower of Christ – to believe that he is the Christ. What exactly does that mean? After all, some 82% of Americans say that they are Christians. Yet our churches, society, personal lives don’t seem to reflect that. The difference is one of definition. We often have different ideas about what something means. For instance, men and women view the issue of "cleanness" differently. Let’s see what Jesus’ definition of “Christ” is as we read Mk. 8:31-33
A. Jesus begins to teach
Assured of the disciples understanding, Christ begins to teach new things about the nature of his mission. “Now that you recognize me, let me spell out for you what it means that I am the Christ.” He spoke plainly, openly, like never before, about his rejection, death, and resurrection.
B. Peter rebukes Jesus
Peter shows a lot of nerve, as he takes Jesus aside…
He couldn’t believe his ears, all this stuff about suffering and death.
It didn’t fit his conceptions of the Messiah.
The common conceptions of Messiah were of political and military champion. When Peter said “Christ” or Messiah, visions of glory danced in his head.
But Jesus talked of rejection, suffering, death.
Peter (& 12) were right in principle, wrong in concept.
C. Jesus rebukes Peter
Jesus strongly, sternly rebukes them.
Responds to all, not just Peter, the spokesman. He sees Satan as the source of his statement - Satan attempted to dissuade Jesus from the cross. CF. Matt 4:8-10.
The cross was God’s will, and Jesus refused to abandon it.
It was absolutely essential that he suffer and die.
Jesus wants to open your eyes to this fact. Because he is the Christ,
III. JESUS HAD TO SUFFER AND DIE
To have open eyes we must embrace his purpose.
We must embrace not only Christ’s person, but his purpose - to die on our behalf, and to conquer sin and death by his resurrection. This makes our following more personal. We must admit our need. To deny the necessity of his death and resurrection is to deny your need for a Savior. Its one thing to recognize that a doctor has the skill and ability to cure disease, quite another to admit you’ve got the disease!
Jesus calls us to embrace his purpose.
Have you recognized your need?
With that straightened out, Jesus goes on to show us something else he wants us to see. Not only does he want to open our eyes to see that he is the Christ, who must suffer and die on our behalf, but he invites you to follow him.
IV. JESUS INVITES YOU TO FOLLOW HIM
In fact, he says if you want to belong to me, you must follow my path. Not only must you embrace my person and my purpose, but you must embrace my path. Many of us embrace the first two, that He is the Christ, and that we need him to save us, but we don’t get this one. How do we embrace his path? Look at Mk. 8:34.
A. Abandon self will and accept God’s will
He must deny himself.
Say no to self in order to say yes to God.
“Shift the center of gravity from self concern to reckless abandon to do God’s will.” - Lane
Turning away from self-orientation. Cf. 10:45
Say yes to God
Accepting what He brings your way.
Condemned man carried cross to demonstrate obedience and submission to authority. Cf. 14:36
Also, a willingness to suffer (reality for Mark’s readers). Image of a death march. Christ’s (and the Christian’s) path to glory is through suffering. Open your eyes and see!
Their is another aspect to embracing his path. Read Mk. 8:35-38).
B. Appreciate the value of eternity
Image of a situation in court where denial of Jesus would save your life, while affirmation leads to martyrdom.
Selfish orientation will cost you eternal life.
Giving self over to God preserves life eternally
Nothing is more valuable or can compensate for eternity!
Rejection of Christ now will lead to your own rejection.
We must value eternal life over earthly life.
JESUS CHRIST WANT YOU TO SEE THAT HE IS THE CHRIST THAT YOU NEED AND MUST FOLLOW
Can you see he is the Christ? Your Savior?
