Mark 8:22-30

Mark 8:22-30 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.”

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.

This was about 6 to 8 months before Jesus’ death. He was moving around a lot now because He wanted to focus His attention on His 12 disciples, but the crowds kept gathering. He wanted to teach the disciples well so they could continue on after He was gone.

In this passage Jesus heals a blind man. This is the only recorded healing that was done in two steps. We don’t know why. Maybe just so we will realize that Jesus heals in different ways. As usual Jesus tells the man not to tell anyone. He said, “Don’t even go back into the village.”
Which may have had something to do with how the Jewish people missed that He was/is the Messiah.

Messiah is an Old Testament term that refers to God’s anointed one. God chose this Savior.

Jesus created food out of nothing, He healed people. He cast out demons. He handled the Pharisees with the truth. He raised people from the dead. The Jews had waited forever for the promised Messiah and they missed Him!

The Jews thought the Messiah would over throw the Roman government and rule on earth. This would take a leader who rallied people around. Not someone who sent people away telling them not to tell about a miracle Jesus had preformed. And certainly not someone who was as gentle and humble as Jesus. AND He was speaking to the gentiles. They thought the Messiah was only coming to lead the Jews. Christ was confusing the Pharisees.

Even so, today we find it hard to see how they missed it. I mean there are over 300 prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament and Jesus fulfilled every single one! But we have the advantage of the New Testament too. We know about His resurrection. So WE have no excuse not to see who He is.

In verses 27 and 28 Jesus had finally got them alone and asks “Who do people say I am?”

Between the gospels of Mark and Matthew the answers were: 1. John the Baptist – who had been known for his popularity and his bold preaching style. 2. Elijah – the prophet who could do miracles. 3. Jeremiah – the weeping prophet – Jesus was kind, tender hearted and compassionate.
But then He asks the disciples who THEY think He is and Peter nails it. “You are the Messiah.”

That means He is Lord and Savior. It means He is God’s Son. When we know this it should impact our lives. We have to do something with that knowledge. We need to act like we are saved. We need to worship Him in gratitude. We need to share the news with everyone. We need to let Him control the choices we make and submit everything in our lives to Him.

Unlike the people He healed when He walked the earth WE are told to “go and tell”!