We Must Rely on God
Mark 8:1-26
Introduction
- Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant”
-- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- IMP: What God says to us here is critical application for living for Him
- Encouragement: When we encounter God’s truth, it should cause a change
-- We should feel uncomfortable in some areas of our life
-- Sometimes however, it IS our entire life that needs to change
-- The Gospel is not for the weak at heart, so count it an honor to be included
- Continuing in our study, we see Jesus performing more miracles/healings
-- His approach is direct, but sometimes the “why” is hidden from us
-- Let’s explore these passages and see if we can discover the “why” for ourselves
- Today we will look at three different events that happened as they were traveling
-- APP: They travel intentionally, and they minister to whomever they cross
-- It’s a great encouragement to us to SEEK ways to reach other people
- Read Mark 8:1-13
∆ Point 1 – Feeding another 4,000 (1-13)
- This feeding is different than the first feeding of 5,000
-- Later in v19-20 we see that He mentions the two events so we know this is new
-- We also know that His reaction to them is the same He shows all
-- The bible says, “He has compassion for …” (v2) Jesus looks at us the same
- What I’d like to ensure you see that this is also happening in a diff location
-- The first time was along the Sea of Galilee; this is in the Decapolis area
-- More importantly, the first feeding was primarily Jewish people (Jewish region)
-- Here, Jesus is outside and more than likely there are LOTS of Gentiles here
- Why is this important? Because Jesus is showing that what He offers is for all
-- Continuation of Wed night: See Mark 7:28: He comes for ALL!
- Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
-- The kingdom will be made up of Jews & Gentiles; this is demonstrated here
-- After three days (v3) of travel, Jesus is compassionate on all who are with Him
- What happens here is just like the miracle with the woman in Ch. 7 and her faith
-- IMP: Solidifies that only God can judge who is clean and who is unclean
- Jesus’ asking them to determine the food available is the same as before
-- The total is woefully inadequate, again showing need for Divine intervention
-- APP: In this remote place, where only God can provide … He does!
- After they ate their fill, Jesus continued onward to region of Dalmanutha (v10)
-- And once again … cue the party poopers who wish to cast doubt on Jesus
-- By refusing to see what happened, they turn their back on God and deny Christ
- This becomes clear in v11 where all they want is a sign (prove you are real …)
-- Perhaps they wanted fire from Heaven, or something else, but not Christ
-- It cannot be Him, because He doesn’t fit our mold … therefore He’s a problem
- This is where we need to see ourselves as well. Do we test God on who He is?
-- Do we demand that He prove Himself to us in the face of His righteousness?
- Here’s an opportunity for self-examination …
-- The Pharisees spiritual radar was 100% off-kilter: prayerfully ours is not also
- In v12 Jesus clearly shows His frustration with “this generation’s attitude”
-- Let me see if I can paraphrase this and attempt to show Jesus’ disgust
-- “I am not a magician & I am not here for your amusement or to do parlor tricks”
- TRANS: His departure is clearly a sign of Him dusting off His feet; it’s abrupt
- Read Mark 8:14-21
∆ Point 2 – The Yeast of the Pharisees (14-21)
- As the disciples are leaving, once again, they forget to take food with them
- Yeast was normally a bad thing in the Bible; it leavened (raised) the bread
-- Paul writes in Galatians 5:9, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
-- APP: Once it is inside the dough, it cannot be removed
-- It is an infector of everything it touches and is not to be used
- Why does Jesus talk in this way? Well, look how He says it in v15
-- Don’t take the yeast of the Pharisees or the yeast of Herod
-- APP: Be careful who you follow and don’t adapt the teachings of them
-- They are not God, and they have missed God, therefore don’t submit to them
- But to solidify this, Jesus begins to examine the Disciples
-- APP: Important to see this is to gauge where they are at this time
-- It is to force them to remember what has happened; see how God has worked
- How many baskets were left when we fed 5,000? “12” (v19)
- How many baskets were left when we fed 4,000? “7” (v20)
- Now, watch this … don’t miss what is about to happen
-- V21 Jesus asks them, “Do you still not understand?” (pause)
-- What is Jesus doing here? Why these questions and why does it seem so odd?
- HUGE: Jesus is reminding them of what they’ve seen when they had nothing!
-- Were they not in the middle of nowhere w/o a Wal-Mart during both times?
-- When we were totally without, God still provided and … THEN SOME!
-- “Do you still not understand?” is asking them simply to “connect the dots”!!!
- APP: The bible does the same thing to us by the way (pause) Ready?
-- Hasn’t God worked in your life in miraculous ways? Hasn’t He provided?
-- Then … why are you still doubting Him and asking for proof that He’s real?
- TRANS: The Disciples just got a quick lesson in who’s in charge!
- Read Mark 8:22-26
∆ Point 3 – Healing the Blind (22-26)
- Jesus then does something unique here: It is in essence … a two-part miracle
-- Part 1: (v23) when Jesus touches the man’s eyes and asks him what does he see?
-- Once again Jesus meets this man where he needs to be met
-- He communicates with the blind man exactly how he would understand
- To the blind, the touch is the most important thing you could ever do
-- It communicates trust … and it communicates compassion
-- It is a willingness to be a part of their life – something desperately needed
- So in private, Jesus takes this man away from the crowd and touches him
-- The man responds that he only sees dimly (v24), as if things are not clear at all
- Part 2: (v25) when He touches Him again His sight is fully restored
-- But, why wasn’t the first time enough to heal him? Was the man or Jesus weak?
- NO! Jesus was demonstrating that healing literally can be a process; takes time
-- It is in this revelation that we can see a verse like Phil 1:6 and rejoice: “… that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Verse of promise; personal ministry verse that was God revealed)
-- APP: If Jesus starts the work, Jesus will complete the work
- There’s another lesson here as well:
-- You and I should not begin to try to do things in our own power
-- The healing from God comes when He says it will come; and not before!
-- It’s not that Jesus was low on power or that this man’s faith was weak
-- It is that Jesus is showing us (v25b) that restoration is at His hands, not ours
- TRANS: So, with all this before us today, what is our takeaway from Mark 8?
∆ Big Ideas
1) Jesus’ feeding of another crowd shows the reliability for life is on God
-- Growing in the Kingdom of God is a process, and we have to respect that
2) Jesus also warns against following false teachings of the Pharisees/Herod
-- For us: We should not follow the teachings of false teachers
-- The Bible is not a book of riddles, it’s clear … it’s why we have our own copy
-- We can examine it and research it for ourselves … and we MUST!
3) When Jesus heals, it’s in His timing and through God’s power alone
-- We cannot do things in our own might, timing, or ability
- Pray
