“You are the Christ”

1. “You are the Christ” How Jesus Gets the Disciples Ready to “See” (Mark 8:1-30)

2. Structure of Mark • First half of book: power & authority • Second half of book: servanthood, suffering – and resurrection! • Turning point at the middle (8:27-30): • “Who do you say that I am?” • “You are the Christ”

3. Chapter 8: Lead-up to the turning-point • Bounty in the wilderness (v1-10) • A warning for the blind (v11-21) • Sight for the blind (v22-26) • The turning-point (v27-30): • Jesus’ question • Peter’s answer

4. Bounty in the wilderness

5. A wilderness feast for Israel (6:30-44) • A wilderness feast for Gentiles (8:1-10) • Bounty for all nations • Both take place in “desolate” places • Jesus can care for his people anywhere • Shows that he is the Christ

6. A warning for the blind (v11-21) • The Pharisees demand a “sign” • (What do they call a miraculous feast for 4,000 people?) • They’re blind! • The disciples are fretting over bread • “Having eyes, do you not see?” (v18) • They’re blind too!

7. Sight for the blind (v22-26) • Why this healing happens when it does • Why it happens in 2 stages • A picture of Jesus imparting “sight” • Two sea-miracles • Two feasts in the wilderness • Breaking through our “blindness” • And watch what happens next…!

8. The turning-point • “Who do you say I am?” (8:29) • Peter: “You are the Anointed One” • Promised by God, • commissioned by God, • to restore the people of God • and to restore God’s world • (“They all ate and were satisfied”, v8)

9. Q: How can I join Peter in the turning-point moment? • A: Be a Bethsaida blind man! • Give yourself to the the process…

10. Jesus takes him by the hand • He takes him away from his village • He spits on his eyes, & touches him • He asks him what he sees • He touches him a 2nd time • The man sees “everything clearly” • A picture of Peter: “You are the Christ”