-
Verses 8:22-26 tell the story of a blind man whose vision is only healed partially at first. What was your reaction to that story when you first heard it?
-
Reading that story in context, Pastor Will suggests the halfway healing of the blind man is a physical representation or expression of a spiritual condition of the disciples - that you can have "eyes but fail to see." Reflect on your own journey following Jesus. Can you think of instances where your spiritual vision was fuzzy? Where your intention and commitment was to follow Jesus, but looking back, you realize that you didn't quite know what that meant?
-
After Peter correctly identifies Jesus as "the Messiah" (the Christ, the anointed one), Jesus begins to explain how he must undergo suffering, rejection, and death and then rise. This is called the "passion prophecy" and Jesus repeats it three tmes in chapters 8, 9, and 10, respectively. Peter has a very strong reaction to this, and even "rebukes" Jesus. Why do you think Peter had such a strong reaction that he was willing to rebuke and try to silence the Messiah himself? Has there ever been a time where the way of Jesus didn't fit into your vision of how God can work and save in a certain situation?
-
Will suggested that there is something very specific afflicting the spiritual vision of Peter and the disciples; and Jesus has a very specific remedy. Every time that Jesus tells of how he must suffer, the disciples react in a similar way. And every time they react in that way, Jesus has a similar response. Take time to read over and compare these three passages: 8:31-36; 9:30-37; 10:35-45. What do the disciples seem to be fixated upon? How does Jesus try to correct their vision?
-
In 8:33, Jesus rebukes Peter by saying "Get behind me, Satan." Will suggested that Jesus is rebuking a certain way of seeing things in Peter: "Invoking the name of Jesus to help me and my team win, to secure power and control in the world, setting our eyes on the crowns of this world while scoffing at the way of the cross, well, that is the great falsehood! Jesus calls THAT the work of Satan. Jesus wants to cast that mindset out of us like he’s been casting out evil spirits all gospel long!" What is your respose to this interpretation? What times or ways in your life have you felt like Satan tempted you to put winning, or securing power and control, over the call of Jesus to serve?
-
Pastor Will shared that we can put the "crown above the cross" in subtle ways when Satan tempts us to take something that seems good, but then giving it our entire allegiance. We start loving that otherwise good thing more than God. Will shared examples of his allegiance to getting good grades or earning a good reputation. Can you think of examples where you've been tempted to put good things in the place of God?
-
One major indicator of where our greatest allegiance lies is our anxieties: "Our anxieties usually reveal our real allegiances." What would your anxieties reveal about what you care about the most?
-
Will suggested that the high anxiety and intensity among Christians about the outcome of the election, and the political process, may be indicator that our allegiance to "winning the soul of America" or making sure that America is a so-called "Christian nation" has become greater in our hearts than our allegiance to the kingdom of Jesus and the way of the cross. Perhaps that came across challenging, or surprising. What did you make of that suggestion?
-
Will cited a number of passages that encourage us to not put our ultimate allegiance in America, but instead the coming kingdom of God that Jesus has inaugurated. If you have time, read over Hebrews 13:14, Philippians 3:20-21, and 1 Peter 2:11. How do these passages inform how we should relate to the kingdoms of this world and their politics?
-
The church's ultimate goal is not to win power in any nation, but to live and love like Jesus. Mark is clear that this means the church must become "servant of all" (Mark 9:35). What does it look like for the church to become "servant of all" in our world? Where do you see healthy examples of that around you? What's a way God is inviting you to grow as a "servant of all" in relationship to those around you -- your family, your neighbors, and/or community?