Mark 8:22-37

  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Heb 11:1 (KJV)  8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Mark 7:8 (KJV) Faith vs Works

  And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Mark 8:15 (ESV)  a : freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility  b : disregard for standards of personal conduct : LICENTIOUSNESS LICENTIOUSNESS Legalism & License

  22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.  23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” Mark 8:22-23 (ESV) Another Blind Man Healed

  Greek: haptomai - properly to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch (in many implied relations): touch.— Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary Touch Him

  24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.”  25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” Mark 8:24-26 (ESV) Seeing Clearly

  6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud  7 and said to him, “ Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. John 9:6-7 (ESV) Blind from Birth

  46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.  47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:46-48 (ESV) Blind Bartimaeus

  49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “ Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:49-52 (ESV) Healed by Word

  21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”  22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” John 21:21-22 (ESV) HE is Lord

  27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” Mark 8: (ESV) Who is Jesus?

  29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”  30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. Mark 8:29-30 (ESV) Christ Revealed

  17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matt 16:17 (ESV) Revealed by God

  31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.  32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mark 8:31-32 (ESV) Rebuking the Teacher

  33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Mark 8:33 (ESV) Set Your Mind on God

  34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. Mark 8:34-35 (ESV) Deny Self

  36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul ?  37 For what can a man give in return for his soul ? Mark 8:36-37 (ESV) Soul/Life

  38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matt 10:38-39 (ESV) Dying to Self

  38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38 (ESV) Shame & Rejection

  “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”  “God always gives his best to those who leave the choice with him”  “Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth!” Jim Elliot

  Day by day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find to meet my trials here; Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear. He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure, Gives unto each day what He deems best, Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest. Day by Day

  Every day the Lord Himself is near me, With a special mercy for each hour; All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me, He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r. The protection of His child and treasure Is a charge that on Himself He laid; "As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure," This the pledge to me He made With Each Passing Moment

  Help me then, in every tribulation, So to trust Thy promises, O Lord, That I lose not faith's sweet consolation, Offered me within Thy holy Word. Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting, E'er to take, as from a father's hand, One by one, the days, the moments fleeting, Till with Christ the Lord I stand. From A Father’s Hand

  Live a life of faith: Trust Him and not our own understanding.  Add not to the Word of God with our own traditions; Talk about disagreements.  Set our minds on the things of God: Take as from a Father’s hand.  Take up our cross and follow Him: by His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. Life in Him