July 24-30, 2022

Compiled by Dr. "Joey" Alan Le, Ph.D.

The Demand for a Sign

v11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him.

The Pharisees seek to test (peirazo) Jesus, the same word that was used to describe Satan testing Jesus (Mk 1:13). What “tests” challenge you to remain faithful to God?

After both miracles (signs) of feeding thousands of people the Pharisees fail to see the great work that God was doing. Instead of praising God or dialoguing with Jesus, they simply want to discredit him. What would it take for you to be convinced that God is real, and that God looks like Jesus Christ?

v12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

The scribes saw Jesus doing miraculous signs, exorcising demons, and instead of attributing it to God and his compassionate goodness, they attribute Jesus’ miracles Beelzebul and demons (Mk 3:22). Here, in Mk 8:12, Jesus knows their hearts. He gives us what we need. And he withholds what we do not need. The Pharisees do not need more miracles because they’ve already resolved in their hearts not to believe. More signs will not convince them. So Jesus refuses to give them more signs.[11] What signs do people usually look for as evidence of God’s presence? In your opinion, what is the most convincing sign that shows that God is real and in your midst? On the other hand, if you don’t think there’s much evidence for God…why do you think God hides his presence? Why doesn’t he make himself more obvious, plain to see, visible to all?

v13 And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.

Jesus did not enter a new debate, and did not perform another miracle as the Pharisees demanded. He did not play those games with them. He left them and continued his ministry to the people who were open to learning about the Kingdom of God. In your opinion, what is the most effective way to be a witness to God? Is it talking, arguing, doing, loving, dying, etc.? How do you know when to engage in debate, and when to disengage?

Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida

v22 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.

Blindness was one of the most serious sicknesses in the ancient world, an affliction considered to be a little less serious than being dead. There was no known cure in the Old Testament. It was thought that the cure for blindness required a miracle.[16] What miracle do you need Jesus to provide today?

Does faith always have to originate from the person in need, or can it come from others? Some of the people in Bethsaida exercised a vicarious kind of faith that was strong enough to bring about the blind man’s healing.[17]

v23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?”

Physical contact would be especially important for a blind person.[18] How can we be more accommodating and make things more accessible for those with disabilities?

Why did Jesus lead the blind man out of the village? Perhaps he wanted to remove the man from the main crowd who did not believe or have faith.[19] Or maybe Jesus did not want the strange method of putting saliva into the blind man’s eyes to be a stumbling block, to hinder faith.[20] No matter what strange methods God may use, we should still recognize that it is God who does the healing. Has God ever provided for you in unexpected ways before?

v24 And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

Why did Jesus heal this blind man in two stages? This is the only two-stage healing in the Gospels, and miracle stories in antiquity usually stress the suddenness of the miracle; healing by degrees was quite rare. This narrative is therefore significant and probably represents an acted parable: unlike Jesus’ opponents, the disciples have begun to see but remain blind (8:16–18) until he touches them again at his resurrection (9:9). The Old Testament prophets sometimes acted out parables to get people’s attention and communicate their point (e.g., Is 20:2–6; Jer 19:1–15; Ezek 4:1–5:17; 12:1–11).[21] Why doesn’t God answer prayers, or help us, fully and immediately, sometimes?

In a few verses, Peter correctly identifies Jesus as the Messiah (Mk 8:29). But neither he nor the disciples see clearly that Jesus must go to the cross and die. Complete insight requires seeing Jesus’ full mission including suffering and death.[22] How would explain the necessity of suffering and death to a person who is not a Christian?

v26 Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”

Jesus instructs the man to disassociate himself from the town, which symbolized unbelief.[23] What can you do to extricate yourself from people who pull you away from God’s love, grace, mercy, and peace?

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

v32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

First-century Jews believed in the resurrection of all people at the end of the age, but they could not fathom that the Messiah would die and resurrect.[28]

Despite the language of rejection and death, Jesus’ tone is neither gloomy nor fatalistic. His death would not be meaningless or tragic. He freely accepts it because it has a purpose. The suffering and death of the Son of Man is necessary for fulfilling his messianic mission. Through it, there will be resurrection and eternal life for the entire world.[29] Have you been able to accept and embrace the fact that suffering and death are a part of Christian discipleship?

v33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

Mark makes it a point that Jesus rebukes all his disciples. All of them, of whom Peter was a mere spokesman, misunderstood Jesus’ mission.[30] How have you seen groupthink hold back the church’s mission today?

Peter’s protest is so much at odds with the mind of God that Jesus attributes it to a more supernatural source, Satan. By opposing God’s will for his Messiah (Jesus), Peter and those who agree with him are acting as Satan’s spokesmen (see Mk 4:15).[31] Why is it so satanic to avoid rejection, suffering, and death? Isn’t normal and natural to avoid such painful things?

Paradoxically, the way to life is by dying to oneself. So, Peter’s attempt to derail Jesus from suffering merits the sternest rebuke.[32] Explain this paradox in your own terms.

Jesus presents a whole new way of looking at life. His disciples find glory and triumph by first going through defeat, disaster, and death. God’s logic turns human logic upside down.[33] Does this logic make sense to you? How so? If not, why not?

v34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Self-denial means to refuse to be guided by one’s own interests and to surrender control of one’s own destiny. Jesus calls us to radically abandon our own identity and self-determination, to join him on the march towards the cross.[34] In the past week, what small or big choices have you made to deny yourself and take up your cross?

Disciples face the very literal threat of physical death. Of course, it will include every other “little death”: every limitation, loss, and discomfort. But ultimately, Jesus wants us to be ready to literally die for our love of God.[35]

v35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

“Losing one’s life” certainly may include the loss of privilege, advantage, reputation, comfort, and the like...but we should never forget that this loss of life may be literal -- physical death.[36]

v36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?

In what ways do you see yourself and others try to gain the world? Why is that not a good bet in the Christian point of view?