Today’s passage: Mark 8:22-30
Helpful thoughts:
- After a few references in previous passages to the people’s inability to “see” who Jesus is, this man would be healed from his blindness, not in town, but out of town, for the disciples to see (And to “See”).
- The disciples had yet to “see” just who Jesus is, and what they had come to understand was going to be acknowledged hear in verse 29. Yet, they did not fully understand. The lack of clarity in the blind man’s initial phase of healing may be an example to the disciples of this reality.
- The spiritual eyes of the disciples were being opened, but they would not fully understand until after the resurrection.
Questions to consider:
- If Jesus wanted to show the world the “signs” of healing in order to gather as much attention toward Himself as possible, what would He have told that formerly blind man to do after His healing? What did He tell the man to do instead? What was the purpose of this healing if it happened outside of town for only the disciples to see?
- Who is Jesus? What are the implications of this reality? What must be our response to this truth?
- After seeing the responses of the people to the coming of Jesus, what does it appear the people really wanted when they thought about the coming of the Messiah? Whose pleasure and glory were they after? How does this give evidence for the reason why Jesus came in the first place? What did He need to do in His first advent?