Jack Rendel

J & Z Publications

MARK: WORKING MESSIAH

FOURTH DIVISION: WHY DID THE MESSIAH COME? 7:24 - 9:50

Second Section: For Confused People 8:14-9:1

 (The corresponding PowerPoint® presentation is Mark 4^th Division 2^nd Section CONFUSED

PEOPLE or click on Mark Fourth Division Confused People PP here

or on the home page for Mark studies.)

The Outline:

A World Of Confusion

The Four 'Cs'

I. Programs And Promises Of The Religious And The Political, Or Jesus’ Power? 8:14-21

Religious And Political Leaders

Principles, Plans, Promises And Programs

A Lot Of Hot Air

The Perfect Provider

Manolo’s Comprehension

II. To See Half Way Or To See Clearly? 8:22-26

Healed In Two Steps

Spiritual Eyeglasses

III. One More Prophet Or The Christ? 8:27-30

What The People Say

Typical Responses

Sin And Confusion

Peter’s Answer

IV. Sin And Adultery Or The Cross? 8:31-9:1

No Cross, No Christ

The Cross Is Very Unpopular

Let’s Review

Questions to aid in the study of this section, Mark 8:14-9:1

_____________________________________________________________________________

A World Of Confusion

The next four scenes deal with the confusion that many people wrestle with, the confusion of so many voices both political and religious in our world. Who has the ultimate answer about what we should believe or in whom we should believe? Jesus came to dispel this confusion.

The Four 'Cs'

The story line through these four stories begins with a challenge by Jesus to the understanding or comprehension of the disciples. Secondly, to illustrate the various levels of comprehension or perception, he heals a blind man from no sight, to partial sight and finally to full sight so that he sees with clarity. Thirdly, he brings up the issue of his true identity that he was the Christ, not just another prophet or guru, as some would have it, but the promised Messiah. Fourthly, he takes the disciples even further to see something they would find hard to accept about the Messiah, that he should have to die on a cross.

As in other sections these four “C’s” represent the four stories in the second column of this division.

I. Programs And Promises Of The Religious And The Political, Or Jesus’ Power? 8:14-21

Religious And Political Leaders

The disciples were worried because they had not brought any bread with them in the boat, except one loaf. Jesus, on the other hand, was more concerned about what the disciples understood about him and his program. He tells them to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees and of the Herodians.

In Matthew's gospel the evangelist says that the yeast of these groups is their teachings, in other words, their principles, plans, promises and programs. The Pharisees represented the religious and the Herodians represented the politicians.

Now, we ought to pray for the people in positions of authority, because the Bible teaches us to pray for them, according to 1 Timothy 2:1 and the following verses. They carry heavy responsibilities. How many political leaders do you know? Who is the president of Spain? (José María Aznar)  Of Colombia? (Ernesto Samper) Of Mexico? (Vicente Fox Quesada) Of Saudi Arabia? (Fahd ibn Abd Aziz ace-Saud, and Prince Abdullah) Of Egypt? (Mohammed Hosni Mubarak) Of Morocco? (Hassan II) Of Russia? (Vladimir Putin). (As of March 2002.)

Principles, Plans, Promises And Programs

On the other hand, we ought to understand, all of us, the great difference between the principles, plans, promises and program of Jesus and those of the temporal authorities. We do not want to despise temporal authorities, but neither do we want to diminish the greatness and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord made the disciples consider that difference, asking them about the two huge miracles he did, of feeding five thousand and four thousand people, with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. Which of the political or religious authorities of Jesus’ day could have done such things? It was unheard of! No one could even approach the power, glory, and care of the Lord Jesus!

A Lot Of Hot Air

Yeast seems to increase the volume of bread but it does very little. With yeast bread swells but no weight is added. It is a lot of hot air! Jesus did make the bread grow! He broke it in pieces and this reminds us of his sufferings. He was broken for us, according to his words at the last supper to his disciples, when he broke the bread and said it was his body broken for them. In this way he could be “distributed” among all the ones that long for his salvation and his eternal help. There is another thing. Amongst the great plans that the Lord drew up for his people when he rescued them from Egypt, was the Passover supper. In that celebration of their salvation from Egypt the use, and even the presence of yeast was prohibited. We find in Exodus chapter 12 the institution of the Passover and the festival, of a week in length, called the feast of unleavened bread, bread without yeast. Just as yeast was alien to the rescue from Egypt centuries before, so the plans, programs and promises of the Pharisees and Herodians were alien to those of Jesus. He called them yeast.

Look at what Exodus 13:3 says. And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. AV/KJV

Some people say we should not talk discuss politics or religion. They are topics that cause arguments and people may even resort to fighting over them. What many do not comprehend is that the promises and programs of Jesus are far superior to what the religious leaders and the politicians of this world can offer. Talking about Jesus and his plans for us is worth the risk. Furthermore, as Christians we do not believe Jesus told us to resort to physical warfare in order to promote what he taught us. Paul, in Ephesians 6 writes about warfare, but he makes it clear that we are not “wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in the heavenly realms”.

The Perfect Provider

To emphasize what Jesus had said to his disciples he asked them about the two miracles of the loaves of bread. Later he was going to heal a blind man in two steps. Here he did something similar with his disciples. He not only asked them about the breaking of the bread amongst 5000, but also about the breaking of the bread amongst 4000. And not just that, but he asked them about the baskets of pieces leftover, with an emphasis on how many baskets. What was the significance of his questions? I think Jesus wanted to make his disciples think about who he was, and about what he could do for them, and for all humanity. Jesus also asked about two events that were similar. I think he was trying to emphasize as forcefully as he could the point he was making by bringing up two feedings.

After feeding 5000 they collected 12 baskets of pieces leftover, a basket for each one of the twelve. Moses also sent Israel out to collect baskets of manna in the desert. I would like to suggest what the numbers 12 and 7 might bring to mind. I think that the number 12 might bring to mind either the tribes of Israel or even themselves, the 12 disciples. The Lord provided for their tribes in the time of Moses, and now he provided for them, the 12. But the Lord wanted them to go still further. Jesus was like Moses, a prophet, but he was more than a prophet. I remember preachers saying that the number 7 represented perfection in the Scriptures. I think Jesus wanted them to understand that he was their perfect Provider. To understand who Jesus was, they had to understand that he provided for them just as God provided, and not just as one more of the prophets. In his work of preaching the gospel to people we see that some came to understand who Jesus was and others never came to that understanding, rejecting Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Manolo’s Comprehension

Paquita returned home and said that she and her team mate had met two students. They had shown interest in what the two women had told them in their preaching from house to house. The year was 1972 and we were evangelizing in the city of Granada, Spain, with the purpose of planting a church in that city. Pablo, another member of the team, and I went to visit Manolo and Juan, who were university students. They had many questions about the Bible, Jesus, the creation and a mountain of other topics. We returned to visit them many times. Little by little we realized that Manolo had a growing interest in spiritual things, but that Juan did not. Juan stopped meeting with us, but Manolo began to attend the meetings, committed his life to the Lord, and eventually was baptized. Here we have the importance of comprehension which leads to commitment.

II. To See Half Way Or To See Clearly? 8:22-26

Healed In Two Steps

In this scene the Lord healed a blind man and did it in two steps. After anointing his eyes with saliva and placing his hands on him Jesus asked if he saw anything. The blind man responded and said that, yes, he saw something; he saw men as trees walking about. He could see only partially. Jesus put his hands on his eyes again and then he saw clearly.

For many years I asked myself why Jesus healed the blind man in two steps. It had to do with the spiritual experiences, which the disciples were living through in those moments. That is why Jesus healed him in this way. It is also the reason why the evangelist places the case of the blind man healed in two steps, here in this context.

Spiritual Eyeglasses

The blind man's new ability to see partially was the case of a great many people who could make out only partially, who Jesus was. The blind man's ability to see clearly represented the people who saw clearly who Jesus was. In fact the following scene gives more details.

A question does come to mind. Why did Jesus take him out of the village before healing him? This miracle done in this manner, in two steps, was not for the multitudes, but for the disciples. It is supposed that the disciples were with him and received the blessing of witnessing the healing in two steps.

I have certain problems with my physical vision. I do not see well up close, so I need reading glasses to clear up my vision. Otherwise, I cannot read. We will see in the following scene that most people had my problem in their vision of who Jesus was, but that the disciples now had some spiritual eyeglasses to put on and, therefore, they could see clearly who Jesus was.

III. One More Prophet Or The Christ? 8:27-30

What The People Say

In the third scene the Lord directs a question to his disciples about who he was. First he asks them what the people are saying about him. They responded that some said that Jesus was John the Baptist; others, that he was Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.

Typical Responses

This is how Muslims would respond. They believe that Jesus was a prophet, but only a prophet and that Mohammed is the last and greatest of the prophets. In the West, people are used to showing Jesus respect as one of the greatest teachers and figures of all time. But all these answers fall far short of the reality.

Sin And Confusion

The sinful state of mankind brings confusion, turmoil and vexation, just as some texts from the Old Testament say:

Isaiah 59:4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity(confusion), and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. AV/KJV, or, as in,  

Isaiah 59:4 No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly. They trust in confusion and speak lies; they conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity. NASB-u

Ezekiel 22: 5 Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed(confused). AV/KJV or, as in,

Ezekiel 22:5 "Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you of ill repute, full of turmoil. NASB-u

Peter’s Answer

So the Lord asked the disciples for their opinion and Peter declared, “You are the Christ.” Here we have the adequate answer to the question. Jesus is the Messiah, the anointed of God. He is more than a prophet. He is the One who for centuries the people of God waited expectantly, and to whom all the prophets gave testimony. The people saw partially, but the disciples saw clearly, just like the blind man, first partially, then later, clearly.

IV. Sin And Adultery Or The Cross? 8:31-9:1

No Cross, No Christ

In the fourth scene another very important theme appears. The Lord made very clear that we cannot have Jesus as the Christ without his cross. Christ and his cross go together.

The Cross Is Very Unpopular

Paul wrote that for many, the cross is foolishness, and a stumbling block.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25. AV/KJV People do not understand the "why" of the cross.

Muslims teach that Jesus never died on the cross. They say another was substituted in his place but the gospel insists that he died on the cross. That adulterous and sinful generation could not see this reality with clarity. Its sin left it confused about the need for the cross. But anyone who has suffered for Jesus will see its truth and the reason for Jesus’ crucifixion very clearly.

In October of 1997 I met a group of peasants in Pachuca, Mexico, in the home of the director of OM, Samuel Castro. Some 70 persons had been expelled from their homes and land, in a town about three hours from Pachuca. The local priest had raised opposition to them as evangelical Christians. Some of them were on their way to Mexico City to see if they would be able to solve the problem by appealing to the authorities. A clear commitment to Christ alone can bring persecution.

But at the same time that sin leaves us confused, Jesus died on the cross to forgive us of these sins and cleanse us of every evil. Furthermore, he frees us of these sins and the resultant confusion.

Let’s Review

Let's review what we are saying. Firstly, Jesus is deeply concerned that we comprehend two very important things. Jesus made a contrast between what are the promises and programs of the religious leaders and politicians, and what he does and offers. Next, he did a miracle in two steps helping us understand that there are two groups of people, the ones who see partially and the ones who see clearly, who he is. And the two themes that he wanted to emphasize were the fact that he was the Christ, and that the Christ had to die on the cross. If we are to be his followers we would have to understand that he was the Christ; and, secondly that we would have to take up his cross, just as the Christ took up the cross.

In fact one follows the other. If we insist that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed of God, and that he is the only Savior and Lord, there will be many who disagree and may persecute us. That persecution, be it emotional or physical, is the cross that the disciple of Jesus should take up and carry.

But the Lord continued, and spoke of a future day when he will return in great power and glory with his angels, and on that day all those who have carried their cross will also carry their glory. Besides that he promised something else, that the kingdom of God would come with power before some of those that were there, died. I believe that here Jesus referred to the coming of the Holy Spirit. The word power appeared in the commission Jesus gave to the disciples in Acts 1:6-8 referring to the person of the Holy Spirit.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. AV/KJV

Another possibility is that Jesus referred to his resurrection. I do not want to be dogmatic, but when Jesus spoke of his resurrection he used other terms, and spoke clearly of his death and resurrection. We can take for example what he said when he descended from the mount of the transfiguration, in Mark 9:9-10.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. AV/KJV

The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples is so linked with the work of being witnesses of Christ and of his cross, that the prophecy about the coming of the kingdom of God with power in Mark 9:1, seems to be referring to the same thing as Acts 1:6-8.

Brothers and sisters, we have here the challenge of all challenges! We understand clearly that Jesus is the Christ of God, and that his cross is the sign of his unique salvation, given by God to men.

JESUS CAME FOR THE CONFUSED. Our world is confused with its many religions. Jesus is the answer to that confusion.

Questions to aid in the study of this section, Mark 8:14-9:1

1. How does Jesus contrast what he can do for people and what two typical religious and political groups can do?

2. Why and how does the healing of the blind man in two stages fit into this context?

3. What method did Jesus use to get his disciples to reveal his identity?

4. What are the various reactions to the cross in the world?

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