Some people need some extra help...like the man who went into a bank and said he wanted some money. The teller asked them to make out a check. But the man would not do it. So the teller said, "If you won't sign the check, I can't give you any money."
The man went across the street to another bank, where the same conversation took place.But after this exchange the teller reached across the counter, took him by the ears, and bangedhis head 3x’s on the counter. After which the man took out a pen calmly signed a check. Theman then return to the first bank and said, “They give me money across the street.”"How did that happen?" Asked the teller. "They explained it to me!" Answered the man.
Sometimes we need just a little more “splainin”. As the disciples needed here.
Title & Outline: Feast;Policed;Yeast.
FEAST(1-10)
Isn’t the bible full of contradictions? - I thought it was a feeding of 5000 not 4000???
These are simply 2 different events. I found 8 differences.
Feeding 5000 took place on the Western shore of Galilee;
Feeding 4000 on the Eastern shore.
Feeding 5000 involved 5 loaves & 2 fish;
Feeding 4000 involved 7 loaves & a few fish.
Feeding 5000 the people had been w/Him 1 day;
Feeding 4000 the people had been w/Him 3 days.
Feeding 5000 had 12 little baskets of fragments left over; [kophinos; small wicker baskets]
Feeding 4000 had 7 large baskets of fragments left over. [spuris; large hamper; Acts 9:25]
Feeding 5000 Jesus prayed 1 time;
Feeding 4000 Jesus prayed 2 times over the bread & fish.
The amount of the 2 crowds were different (5000 & 4000)
Lastly, Jesus says it was 2 different events!!! (vs.19,20)
Jesus was quite the preacher to keep them listening for 3 days. (2)
Why is He doing this miracle again? (4)
A different crowd (Gentiles). Compassion on them.
Also, Does yesterday’s miracle necessarily guarantee today’s faith? (no it doesn’t)
And as they say, Repetition is the mother of all learning!
So, Why is He doing this miracle again?
He wants the disciples and you & I to understand...He is the Bread of Life.
Jn.6:48-51 Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
My credentials: My Father prophesied to Moses in Ex.16:4 Behold, I will rain bread fromheaven for you(manna/Jesus). I was born inthe city of Bread(Bethlehem). It explainsMyperson, I am the bread of life; It explains My power, the miraculous multiplication shouted omnipotence. It explains My suffering, the bread that I shall give isMy flesh,which I shall give for the life of the world.
He wants the disciples and you & I to understand...He was not just the Bread for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles.
He wants the disciples and you & I to understand...His supply always meets and exceeds the demand.
Christ did not break the bread, so that suddenly there were huge piles of bread and fish. Rather, He kept breaking it & handing out what was needed bit by bit.
We need to be constantly bringing our needs to Jesus, and He will constantly break the bread andgive us what weneed.
Whatever God has given us, there is still far more for Him to give us.
Our souls, so to speak, are elastic. The more we eat the more they expand. The more they expand, the more we are able to eat. (Kent Hughes, Mark, pg.188.) [stretchy pants - stretchy souls!]
None of us have ever eaten as much as He wants to give us.
We are meant to hunger, & to eat & eat & eat.
(10) Dalmanutha – Exact location is unknown. Matthew places it near Magdala, on the Western shore of Galilee (Near Capernaum).
POLICED(11,12)
Here comes the spiritual coonhounds again. (Pharisees)
They’d do anything to Tree the Savior. [eventually did on the cross]
Chase & trap is what they do best.(or at least “try” to do)
Sounds like a few churches I know. Sounds like a few Christians I know.
A sign from heaven – This was simply another sign of their unbelief…faith doesn’t ask for signs.
True faith takes God at His word. But they wanted a “authenticating miracle” to validate his ministry.
But He had already done many miracles…would they have believed if he did 1 more?
Still today we have a generation that is looking for the bizarre, the spectacular, & the out-of-the-ordinary. Thus they are more interested in the miracle, then themiracle worker.
I’d rather have Jesus than any miracle He is able to do.
What was Jesus reaction? – he sighed deeply. (single strong word in Greek; found only here in the NT)
The willful unbelief of the religious leaders disturbed Christ to the depths of His spirit
No sign – a Hebrew oath formula meaning, if I do such a thing, may I die! (LKGNT)
What else did He say here? - Mt 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Mark seems to be saying, no sign of this kind you are seeking will be shown you… only the sign Jonah symbolized…i.e. Jesus death, burial, & res.
(13) And he left them – It was an act of judgment; refusing the Pharisees.
How sad to have the Savior sail away.
Today, Jesus is either sailing away from you or sailing away with you. Which is it?
YEAST(13-21)
The miracle of the 4,000 had had little effect in bringing spiritual reflection.
Don’t judge...How many have you missed?...Today?
Boys, He fed 1000’s of folks w/bread. Why worry/argue over 1 loaf, when Jesus is in your boat?
Their minds were dull; their hearts were hard; their spiritual eyes were blind; & their spiritual ears were deaf.
(14b) They did not have more than one loaf w/them in the boat? – Yes they did, they had 2 – They had the Bread of Life aboard!!!
It wasn’t so much that they forgot the bread, as much as they missed the loaf.
(15) But the real lesson wasn’t only about bread…but about leaven/yeast.
Leaven is consistently a symbol for evil in Scripture.
Gal.5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Or, (NIV) A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.
Here, the context was the leavened lessons/teachings of the Pharisees & of Herod (Mt. mentions Sadducees also).
See, just a small deviation from the Word may get into an individual or a whole church, & before long will grow & infect everything.
Also, Jesus only used Take heed when it was of utmost importance. (about 5 times)
The Pharisees teachings to watch for? – Legalism.
Today we can fall into the same trap of legalism; that is trying to live the Christian life by obeying a set of rules.
Christianity isn’t being inhibited by rules; but by being inhabited by a Ruler.
The legalistic church is a sad church…w/no joy; no thrill; no excitement; no victory.
Herod’s teachings to watch for? – Worldliness.
This is the church where there is no difference in lifestyles of its members & those of the lost world.
The Sadducees teachings to watch for? – Liberalism.
They didn’t believe in the supernatural, in the power of God, in miracles.
The spiritual Liberals don’t understand Gods power.
Today, Jesus still warns us…Beware of the leaven of Legalism; the leaven of Worldliness;&the leaven of Liberalism.
(17) Here Jesus drills them with 9 rapid fire questions.
Remember the teller that reached across the counter, took him by the ears, and banged his head 3x’s? Why do you reason because you have no bread? Bang! Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Bang! Is your heart still hardened? Bang! Having eyes, do you not see? Bang! And having ears, do you not hear? Bang! How is it you do not understand? Bang! Bang! Bang!
I’m sure when He got done with the 9th question…all you could hear was the oars dragging in the water.
Oh they knew the answers but didn’t understand the meaning.
Jesus was arousing them from their spiritual stupor.
Problem wasn’t hardness of heart but familiarity.
The repeated exposure to His teaching, when not reflected upon & acted upon, worked progressive insensitivity & dullness in their lives.
It was a case of use it or lose it. They were not appropriating what they were seeing & hearing. Feast on Jesus!
(21) How is it you do not understand? – It’s best to see this question not as the continuation of a rebuke, but as a searching appeal to the disciples. Now, do you still not understand I am the Bread of Life for the whole world?
Here, Jesus is getting them ready to hear about the Cross(8:31). Here, they were preoccupied with food.
Is Jesus your bread? Your sustenance? Your spiritual nourishment? Do you understand He is your Bread for all life?
Some people need some extra help...like the man who went into a bank and said he wanted some money. The teller asked them to make out a check. But the man would not do it. So the teller said, "If you won't sign the check, I can't give you any money."
The man went across the street to another bank, where the same conversation took place.But after this exchange the teller reached across the counter, took him by the ears, and bangedhis head 3x’s on the counter. After which the man took out a pen calmly signed a check. Theman then return to the first bank and said, “They give me money across the street.”"How did that happen?" Asked the teller. "They explained it to me!" Answered the man.
Sometimes we need just a little more “splainin”. As the disciples needed here.
Title & Outline: Feast;Policed;Yeast.
FEAST(1-10)
Isn’t the bible full of contradictions? - I thought it was a feeding of 5000 not 4000???
These are simply 2 different events. I found 8 differences.
Feeding 5000 took place on the Western shore of Galilee;
Feeding 4000 on the Eastern shore.
Feeding 5000 involved 5 loaves & 2 fish;
Feeding 4000 involved 7 loaves & a few fish.
Feeding 5000 the people had been w/Him 1 day;
Feeding 4000 the people had been w/Him 3 days.
Feeding 5000 had 12 little baskets of fragments left over; [kophinos; small wicker baskets]
Feeding 4000 had 7 large baskets of fragments left over. [spuris; large hamper; Acts 9:25]
Feeding 5000 Jesus prayed 1 time;
Feeding 4000 Jesus prayed 2 times over the bread & fish.
The amount of the 2 crowds were different (5000 & 4000)
Lastly, Jesus says it was 2 different events!!! (vs.19,20)
Jesus was quite the preacher to keep them listening for 3 days. (2)
Why is He doing this miracle again? (4)
A different crowd (Gentiles). Compassion on them.
Also, Does yesterday’s miracle necessarily guarantee today’s faith? (no it doesn’t)
And as they say, Repetition is the mother of all learning!
So, Why is He doing this miracle again?
He wants the disciples and you & I to understand...He is the Bread of Life.
Jn.6:48-51 Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
My credentials: My Father prophesied to Moses in Ex.16:4 Behold, I will rain bread fromheaven for you(manna/Jesus). I was born inthe city of Bread(Bethlehem). It explainsMyperson, I am the bread of life; It explains My power, the miraculous multiplication shouted omnipotence. It explains My suffering, the bread that I shall give isMy flesh,which I shall give for the life of the world.
He wants the disciples and you & I to understand...He was not just the Bread for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles.
He wants the disciples and you & I to understand...His supply always meets and exceeds the demand.
Christ did not break the bread, so that suddenly there were huge piles of bread and fish. Rather, He kept breaking it & handing out what was needed bit by bit.
We need to be constantly bringing our needs to Jesus, and He will constantly break the bread andgive us what weneed.
Whatever God has given us, there is still far more for Him to give us.
Our souls, so to speak, are elastic. The more we eat the more they expand. The more they expand, the more we are able to eat. (Kent Hughes, Mark, pg.188.) [stretchy pants - stretchy souls!]
None of us have ever eaten as much as He wants to give us.
We are meant to hunger, & to eat & eat & eat.
(10) Dalmanutha – Exact location is unknown. Matthew places it near Magdala, on the Western shore of Galilee (Near Capernaum).
POLICED(11,12)
Here comes the spiritual coonhounds again. (Pharisees)
They’d do anything to Tree the Savior. [eventually did on the cross]
Chase & trap is what they do best.(or at least “try” to do)
Sounds like a few churches I know. Sounds like a few Christians I know.
A sign from heaven – This was simply another sign of their unbelief…faith doesn’t ask for signs.
True faith takes God at His word. But they wanted a “authenticating miracle” to validate his ministry.
But He had already done many miracles…would they have believed if he did 1 more?
Still today we have a generation that is looking for the bizarre, the spectacular, & the out-of-the-ordinary. Thus they are more interested in the miracle, then themiracle worker.
I’d rather have Jesus than any miracle He is able to do.
What was Jesus reaction? – he sighed deeply. (single strong word in Greek; found only here in the NT)
The willful unbelief of the religious leaders disturbed Christ to the depths of His spirit
No sign – a Hebrew oath formula meaning, if I do such a thing, may I die! (LKGNT)
What else did He say here? - Mt 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Mark seems to be saying, no sign of this kind you are seeking will be shown you… only the sign Jonah symbolized…i.e. Jesus death, burial, & res.
(13) And he left them – It was an act of judgment; refusing the Pharisees.
How sad to have the Savior sail away.
Today, Jesus is either sailing away from you or sailing away with you. Which is it?
YEAST(13-21)
The miracle of the 4,000 had had little effect in bringing spiritual reflection.
Don’t judge...How many have you missed?...Today?
Boys, He fed 1000’s of folks w/bread. Why worry/argue over 1 loaf, when Jesus is in your boat?
Their minds were dull; their hearts were hard; their spiritual eyes were blind; & their spiritual ears were deaf.
(14b) They did not have more than one loaf w/them in the boat? – Yes they did, they had 2 – They had the Bread of Life aboard!!!
It wasn’t so much that they forgot the bread, as much as they missed the loaf.
(15) But the real lesson wasn’t only about bread…but about leaven/yeast.
Leaven is consistently a symbol for evil in Scripture.
Gal.5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Or, (NIV) A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.
Here, the context was the leavened lessons/teachings of the Pharisees & of Herod (Mt. mentions Sadducees also).
See, just a small deviation from the Word may get into an individual or a whole church, & before long will grow & infect everything.
Also, Jesus only used Take heed when it was of utmost importance. (about 5 times)
The Pharisees teachings to watch for? – Legalism.
Today we can fall into the same trap of legalism; that is trying to live the Christian life by obeying a set of rules.
Christianity isn’t being inhibited by rules; but by being inhabited by a Ruler.
The legalistic church is a sad church…w/no joy; no thrill; no excitement; no victory.
Herod’s teachings to watch for? – Worldliness.
This is the church where there is no difference in lifestyles of its members & those of the lost world.
The Sadducees teachings to watch for? – Liberalism.
They didn’t believe in the supernatural, in the power of God, in miracles.
The spiritual Liberals don’t understand Gods power.
Today, Jesus still warns us…Beware of the leaven of Legalism; the leaven of Worldliness;&the leaven of Liberalism.
(17) Here Jesus drills them with 9 rapid fire questions.
Remember the teller that reached across the counter, took him by the ears, and banged his head 3x’s? Why do you reason because you have no bread? Bang! Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Bang! Is your heart still hardened? Bang! Having eyes, do you not see? Bang! And having ears, do you not hear? Bang! How is it you do not understand? Bang! Bang! Bang!
I’m sure when He got done with the 9th question…all you could hear was the oars dragging in the water.
Oh they knew the answers but didn’t understand the meaning.
Jesus was arousing them from their spiritual stupor.
Problem wasn’t hardness of heart but familiarity.
The repeated exposure to His teaching, when not reflected upon & acted upon, worked progressive insensitivity & dullness in their lives.
It was a case of use it or lose it. They were not appropriating what they were seeing & hearing. Feast on Jesus!
(21) How is it you do not understand? – It’s best to see this question not as the continuation of a rebuke, but as a searching appeal to the disciples. Now, do you still not understand I am the Bread of Life for the whole world?
Here, Jesus is getting them ready to hear about the Cross(8:31). Here, they were preoccupied with food.
Is Jesus your bread? Your sustenance? Your spiritual nourishment? Do you understand He is your Bread for all life?
Outline: His TOUCH;His TITLE;His TARGET.1. Have you experienced Jesus Touch? Do you know His Title? What was His Target?
HIS TOUCH(22-26)
This is only recorded by Mark.
And the only miracle that took placein stages.
About 2 ½ yrs have passed since the disciples began their journey.
(22) Bethsaida – on the very top of the Sea of Galilee, on the east side of the Jordan river right before it spills into Galilee.
(23) He took the blind man by the hand – I love that.
Led him out of town – Why? Bethsaida was under judgment.
Mt.11:21 Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
So Jesus took the man out of there & told him not to go back(26). [he wasn’t from there]
Why in 2 stages?
1st, we know Jesus could have healed this man instantly.
It seems reasonable that the limitation was on the side of the human, not the divine.
Alexander Maclaren speaks of Christ “accommodating the pace of his power to the slowness of the man’s faith.”
Or perhaps it was the atmosphere in Bethsaida that hindered him.
Remember His problem in Nazareth. see Mark 6:5,6
All I know is…There are many times I need a 2nd touch.
Praise God for His 2nd, 3rd, & 4th touch upon our lives.
How many things weren’t clear to me, the 1st I heard of them?
In another account it says he broke into song, singing... :) I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the darkclouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day.
HIS TITLE(27-30)
(27) Now they walk 25 miles north to one of my favorite places in northern Israel.
Caesarea Philippi - (Beautiful) - It is at the headwaters of the Jordan.
Strange place to reveal Himself though? - Originally known as a center for Baal worship. Also it was the site of a great temple to theGreek god, Pan.
Called Banias from Paneas. OT area was called Laish, or Dan.
Normally disciples would ask their rabbi the questions,butJesus reverses theprocess. [looking around at these grotto’s/niches, who do you say I am?]
(28) John? (Herod thought this); Elijah? (They were waiting his return according to Malachi); Prophets? (maybe he’s just another prophet?)
All would agree He was special.
He has his place among the greatest men. (He always makes the Top 100 influential men in history lists)
But this is inadequate for Jesus…He is not just one of a series.
He stands alone, unprecedented, unparalleled, unrivaled, unique.
The spot light turns to them…what do you think?
Feel the burn of that spot light today folks, because He still asks everyone that same question.
The prize for the right answer is….Eternal Life.
Who do you say that He is? Welcome to theforkin the road...everyone finds it!
Was Jesus just a Legend? - A Liar, for claiming to be God? A Lunatic, crazy & not knowing what He was doing? - Or, Lord?
(29) What a moment of revelation…You are the Christ.
Matthew adds, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Mt.16:19
Christ isn’t Jesus’ last name. Nor a cuss word.
Jesus is Hisname(Jehovah is salvation);& Christ is Histitle, meaning“anointedone”. [Heb. Messiah]
Jesus seemed to be very reluctant to use this title of Messiah/Christ (only 3 times in the sayings of Jesus), probably because of all of its current misconceptions.
The confession of Jesus as the Messiah marks the midpoint of this gospel & the turning point in Jesus ministry.
HIS TARGET(31-33)
Began to teach – He makes a departure here in His teaching.
Now that He is recognized, He immediately begins His journey to the cross.
You might make a mark in your bible, as I did mine, as there’s an important division here.
Between vs.30/31. Up to this point the focus was on Jesus as Servant, from now on it’s Jesus as Sacrifice.
Looking back - there was crowds, preaching, and popular ministry; Looking ahead - the crowds slip away, the skies darken, & all roads lead to Jerusalem. (David Hewitt, Mark, pg.118)
He starts His death March!
(31) 1st of 3 announcements that Jesus made of his death & Res.
Jesus stretched out his arms & said, “I love you this much” & “I’d rather die than live w/o you.”
Elders (gen. name for the members of the Sanhedrin); chief priests (Sadducees); & scribes (mainly Pharisees) = the Sanhedrin.
And they would reject him like a counterfeit coin.
(32) The Blind man went from having a blurred vision, to seeing clearly; but Peter went fromclear, back tofuzzy.[can you relate?]
This was a nonsensical revelation at the time.
1 minute, inspired from heaven,next minutehis inspiration is from hell.
1st he stood on thetop rung of a ladderthat reached into the heavens; Then he dives off an Acapulco cliff…only to belly flop in front of all the onlookers.
One minute he was Peter the rock;thenPeter the boat anchor.
Peter saw only shame in the cross, Jesus saw glory. Peter saw defeat, Jesus saw victory.
This kind of belief encouraged political revolution rather then spiritual revival.
He had to warn them…He was going to Jerusalem not to reign…but to die.
(33) Get behind me Satan – Ouch, that kinda stings.
He looked at his disciples (His back to Peter) – because they agreed w/Peter’s assessment of the situation. [Peter was spokesman]
Peter had become the unwitting carrier of demonic doctrine, parallel to that which Christ faced in the wilderness when Satan tempted Him to abandon the Father’s will & seek an easy Saviorhood.
Satan was in Peters voice.
Jesus wasn’t calling Peter the devil. But, He saw in Peters mistaken concern the same temptation to avoid suffering & choose the easy way.
So, why such strong language? - As it gets closer to the cross He couldn’t have any tolerance toward this temptation.
Peter does learn this lesson though, he writes much about suffering/sacrifice in 1st Pet.
Soul-saving salvation could only come through a suffering Messiah. There was no other way.
This is why I believe the story of the gradually healed blind man preceded this.
He is chiding His disciples for their slowness of spiritual understanding. They were slow to perceive, slow to comprehend what Jesus was saying & doing.
Spiritual maturity is not something that happens all at once. We have to grow & develop.
Lastly, What is not mentioned in vs.31 (or in 9:31, 10:33,34) is WHY?
Mark gives us the clearest statement of WHY after the 3 predictions. In 10:45 The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, & to give His life as a ransom for many
This is the greatcentral factofhistoryandof ourlives.Jesus, the Son of Man, theexalted human, divine God-man, came & was sent by God the Father - to give his life as a ransom for many.
God Can Ransom What Man Can’t. Our sin had, as it were, kidnapped us and put us in a prison of our own making, far from God, in the chains of iniquity, under God’s holy wrath, and powerless to free ourselves. (John Piper on Mark 8:31)
A ransom had to be paid.
But listen to Ps.49:7,8 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them - the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough.
In other words, no mere man can ransom another man’s soul. And you can’t ransom your own.
Then listen to verse 15 of that psalm: But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; He will surely take me to himself. Man can’t. God will.
“Peter, if you resist my plan to die, you resist God. You side with Satan against God. Satan doesn’t want me dead, because he wants you in hell. Satan wants me to bow down and worshiphim andjump off temples for fame andturn stones into bread for self-preservation. The last thing he wants is for a ransom to be paid for his captives.Butthat’s what God wants,Peter, because, he loves you. My coming to die as your ransom is the love of God.” (ibid)
A. Outline: His TOUCH;His TITLE;His TARGET.1. Have you experienced Jesus Touch? Do you know His Title? What was His Target?
Slide#9 HIS TOUCH(22-26)
This is only recorded by Mark.
And the only miracle that took placein stages.
About 2 ½ yrs have passed since the disciples began their journey.
(22) Bethsaida – on the very top of the Sea of Galilee, on the east side of the Jordan river right before it spills into Galilee.
(23) He took the blind man by the hand – I love that.
Led him out of town – Why? Bethsaida was under judgment.
2
Mt.11:21 Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
So Jesus took the man out of there & told him not to go back(26). [he wasn’t from there]
Slide#10 Why in 2 stages?
1st, we know Jesus could have healed this man instantly.
It seems reasonable that the limitation was on the side of the human, not the divine.
Alexander Maclaren speaks of Christ “accommodating the pace of his power to the slowness of the man’s faith.”
Or perhaps it was the atmosphere in Bethsaida that hindered him.
Remember His problem in Nazareth. see Mark 6:5,6
All I know is…There are many times I need a 2nd touch.
Praise God for His 2nd, 3rd, & 4th touch upon our lives.
How many things weren’t clear to me, the 1st I heard of them?
In another account it says he broke into song, singing... :)
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the darkclouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day.IV. Slide#11 HIS TITLE(27-30)
(27) Now they walk 25 miles north to one of my favorite places in northern Israel.
Slide#12 Caesarea Philippi - (Beautiful) - It is at the headwaters of the Jordan.
Slide#13 Strange place to reveal Himself though? - Originally known as a center for Baal worship. Also it was the site of a great temple to theGreek god, Pan.
Called Banias from Paneas. OT area was called Laish, or Dan.
Normally disciples would ask their rabbi the questions,butJesus reverses theprocess. [looking around at these grotto’s/niches, who do you say I am?]
Slide#14 (28) John? (Herod thought this); Elijah? (They were waiting his return according to Malachi); Prophets? (maybe he’s just another prophet?)
All would agree He was special.
He has his place among the greatest men. (He always makes the Top 100 influential men
in history lists)
But this is inadequate for Jesus…He is not just one of a series.
He stands alone, unprecedented, unparalleled, unrivaled, unique.
Slide#15 The spot light turns to them…what do you think?
3
Feel the burn of that spot light today folks, because He still asks everyone that same question.
The prize for the right answer is….Eternal Life.
Slide#16 Who do you say that He is? Welcome to theforkin the road...everyone finds it!
Was Jesus just a Legend? - A Liar, for claiming to be God?
A Lunatic, crazy & not knowing what He was doing? - Or, Lord?
Slide#17 (29) What a moment of revelation…You are the Christ.
Matthew adds, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. Mt.16:19
Christ isn’t Jesus’ last name. Nor a cuss word.
Jesus is Hisname(Jehovah is salvation);& Christ is Histitle, meaning“anointedone”. [Heb. Messiah]
Jesus seemed to be very reluctant to use this title of Messiah/Christ (only 3 times in the sayings of Jesus), probably because of all of its current misconceptions.
The confession of Jesus as the Messiah marks the midpoint of this gospel & the turning point in Jesus ministry.
V. Slide#18 HIS TARGET(31-33)
Began to teach – He makes a departure here in His teaching.
Now that He is recognized, He immediately begins His journey to the cross.
You might make a mark in your bible, as I did mine, as there’s an important division here.
Between vs.30/31. Up to this point the focus was on Jesus as Servant, from now on it’s Jesus as Sacrifice.
Slide#19,20 Looking back - there was crowds, preaching, and popular ministry; Looking ahead - the crowds slip away, the skies darken, & all roads lead to Jerusalem.1
He starts His death March!
(31) 1st of 3 announcements that Jesus made of his death & Res.
Jesus stretched out his arms & said, “I love you this much” & “I’d rather die than live w/o you.”
Elders (gen. name for the members of the Sanhedrin); chief priests (Sadducees); & scribes (mainly Pharisees) = the Sanhedrin.
And they would reject him like a counterfeit coin.
(32) The Blind man went from having a blurred vision, to seeing clearly; but Peter went fromclear, back tofuzzy.[can you relate?]
Verses 1-21
The man went across the street to another bank, where the same conversation took place.But after this exchange the teller reached across the counter, took him by the ears, and banged his head 3x’s on the counter. After which the man took out a pen calmly signed a check. The man then return to the first bank and said, “They give me money across the street.”"How did that happen?" Asked the teller. "They explained it to me!" Answered the man.
Feeding 4000 on the Eastern shore.
Feeding 4000 involved predominantly Gentiles.
Feeding 4000 involved 7 loaves & a few fish.
Feeding 4000 the people had been w/Him 3 days.
Feeding 4000 had 7 large baskets of fragments left over. [spuris; large hamper; Acts 9:25]
Feeding 4000 Jesus prayed 2 times over the bread & fish.
Verses 1-21
The man went across the street to another bank, where the same conversation took place.But after this exchange the teller reached across the counter, took him by the ears, and banged his head 3x’s on the counter. After which the man took out a pen calmly signed a check. The man then return to the first bank and said, “They give me money across the street.”"How did that happen?" Asked the teller. "They explained it to me!" Answered the man.
Feeding 4000 on the Eastern shore.
Feeding 4000 involved predominantly Gentiles.
Feeding 4000 involved 7 loaves & a few fish.
Feeding 4000 the people had been w/Him 3 days.
Feeding 4000 had 7 large baskets of fragments left over. [spuris; large hamper; Acts 9:25]
Feeding 4000 Jesus prayed 2 times over the bread & fish.
Verses 22-33
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day.
Verses 22-33
A. Outline: His TOUCH; His TITLE; His TARGET.1. Have you experienced Jesus Touch? Do you know His Title? What was His Target?
2
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day.IV. Slide#11 HIS TITLE (27-30)
in history lists)
3
A Lunatic, crazy & not knowing what He was doing? - Or, Lord?
V. Slide#18 HIS TARGET (31-33)