South's SOAP for the Day
S-Read Mark 8:22-33.
O-Peter meant to do good by denying Jesus’s declaration of being killed, but Jesus pointed out that Peter’s concern was not Godly.
A-Just because something seems like the nice or right thing to do, examine your motives and reasoning before acting.
P-Pray that you act rightly in all endeavors.
Our passage today begins with yet another healing. This time it is a blind man in the city of Bethsaida. Jesus does what we have seen before. He takes the man outside the village and performs the miracle. He touches him and makes him see again. As Mark has done multiple times before, this is another healing account following a story of the disciples not getting it. Its as if Jesus is continually putting the good news in front of them so the wire will connect and they will fully get it. They are blind. Jesus makes someone else un-blind.
Also, as normal, Jesus tells this healed blind man to not go back into the village. Don't go back and show them what happened. Go home, which is obviously not Bethsaida. One would think that a healed blind man will make a scene anywhere he goes, since he was once blind and now he can see.
Our passage then begins to shift. As Jesus converses with his disciples in the region of Caesarea Philippi, he is beginning to turn his focus to Jerusalem and what he must go through there for the sake of the good news. This transition begins with Peter's declaration of who Jesus is.
Jesus is traveling with his disciples. Mark tells us they are in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Jesus poses the questions to his disciples, "Who do the people say that I am?" They begin to spout off the things they have heard--John the Baptist, Elijah, and a prophet. Then, he asks, "who do you think I am?" And Peter, being the loud mouth, forward one of the group says, "You are the Messiah."
Now, we have to think back to yesterday's blog. This idea of the Messiah is the one who will bring in the reign of God. Much of Judaism is looking for a leader to rally the Jewish nation. Its hard to tell whether the disciples fully get Jesus as Messiah. I really wonder if they are seeing him as the national hero Judaism is expecting or the real messiah that he is. Its hard to judge at this point.
Jesus "sternly" orders his disciples to not tell anyone he is the messiah. Its like he's finally revealed his fullness to them, but then tells them to hold it in. Their thoughts and assumptions have been confirmed. Jesus is the messiah.
Jesus continues to teach them. He tells them what is about to happen. He's going to be rejected by the religious leaders and killed. Then he tells them that he will raise to life after three days. Mark says he was quite open with this.
Put yourself in the place of the disciples at this point. You have changed from your normal lives as fishermen, tax collectors, and what not to following Jesus. Your life has been a whirlwind since then. You've seen Jesus to all these amazing miracles. You've heard him banter back and forth with the religious leaders. You've seen him walk on water. You've seen him converse with and cast out demons. And, he has sent you out with power to do miracles yourselves. You just heard Peter proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. And now, the one that all your hope is in is saying he will be killed. What? Even crazier than that, he will rise from the dead three days later? What? He's the one who has the power to raise people from the dead. If he's dead, he can't raise himself, right?
There is certainly confusion and frustration. Peter, being the forward, loud mouthed person in the group steps up to take control of the situation. He takes Jesus off to the side and starts to set him straight. Who takes the Son of God off to the side of the room and rebukes him? And then it happens.
For me, I get to sit here at my dining room table with my Bible in front of me, and let my imagination wander. I get to read everything that happens in big and little chunks. I get to read it three, four, and five times. I see Peter, who moments before was proclaiming Jesus as Messiah, quickly show his hand in the card game. He believes that Jesus is going to be this national hero messiah--or at least that's what I think he thinks.
Jesus reveals so much in what he says. First. He calls Peter Satan. That's probably not something you want the Son of God calling you. Jesus unpacks it more with what follows. Peter is focused on the human side of things. Maybe he doesn't want Jesus to die. Maybe he knows that if Jesus is the national hero messiah, being dead will not allow that to happen. Jesus says setting your mind on human things makes you Satan--against the kingdom. Jesus and what he knows he has to do is from above. Its about God's kingdom. It is good.
For us, I think the challenge is to use this idea as a measure of who we are and what we do. Is what I do focused on the kingdom or is it focused on the world. This could go for anything from what we wear, what we drive, how we talk, what we watch, how we spend our money...everything could and should be held up to this litmus test. How are our lives showing the good news? Are they? What do we need to change to be all in and fully committed to show the good news?
Lord, open our eyes. Allow us to see the needed changes and to have the boldness to change our living. You are the Messiah! May our lives reflect that!
Also, as normal, Jesus tells this healed blind man to not go back into the village. Don't go back and show them what happened. Go home, which is obviously not Bethsaida. One would think that a healed blind man will make a scene anywhere he goes, since he was once blind and now he can see.
Our passage then begins to shift. As Jesus converses with his disciples in the region of Caesarea Philippi, he is beginning to turn his focus to Jerusalem and what he must go through there for the sake of the good news. This transition begins with Peter's declaration of who Jesus is.
Jesus is traveling with his disciples. Mark tells us they are in the region of Caesarea Philippi. Jesus poses the questions to his disciples, "Who do the people say that I am?" They begin to spout off the things they have heard--John the Baptist, Elijah, and a prophet. Then, he asks, "who do you think I am?" And Peter, being the loud mouth, forward one of the group says, "You are the Messiah."
Now, we have to think back to yesterday's blog. This idea of the Messiah is the one who will bring in the reign of God. Much of Judaism is looking for a leader to rally the Jewish nation. Its hard to tell whether the disciples fully get Jesus as Messiah. I really wonder if they are seeing him as the national hero Judaism is expecting or the real messiah that he is. Its hard to judge at this point.
Jesus "sternly" orders his disciples to not tell anyone he is the messiah. Its like he's finally revealed his fullness to them, but then tells them to hold it in. Their thoughts and assumptions have been confirmed. Jesus is the messiah.
Jesus continues to teach them. He tells them what is about to happen. He's going to be rejected by the religious leaders and killed. Then he tells them that he will raise to life after three days. Mark says he was quite open with this.
Put yourself in the place of the disciples at this point. You have changed from your normal lives as fishermen, tax collectors, and what not to following Jesus. Your life has been a whirlwind since then. You've seen Jesus to all these amazing miracles. You've heard him banter back and forth with the religious leaders. You've seen him walk on water. You've seen him converse with and cast out demons. And, he has sent you out with power to do miracles yourselves. You just heard Peter proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. And now, the one that all your hope is in is saying he will be killed. What? Even crazier than that, he will rise from the dead three days later? What? He's the one who has the power to raise people from the dead. If he's dead, he can't raise himself, right?
There is certainly confusion and frustration. Peter, being the forward, loud mouthed person in the group steps up to take control of the situation. He takes Jesus off to the side and starts to set him straight. Who takes the Son of God off to the side of the room and rebukes him? And then it happens.
Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things.Again, I wonder what is running through the minds of the disciples. "Jesus said what?" "Whoa, Peter just got called Satan!" "What did he say?" "I was thinking the same thing. I'm glad I'm not Peter!"
For me, I get to sit here at my dining room table with my Bible in front of me, and let my imagination wander. I get to read everything that happens in big and little chunks. I get to read it three, four, and five times. I see Peter, who moments before was proclaiming Jesus as Messiah, quickly show his hand in the card game. He believes that Jesus is going to be this national hero messiah--or at least that's what I think he thinks.
Jesus reveals so much in what he says. First. He calls Peter Satan. That's probably not something you want the Son of God calling you. Jesus unpacks it more with what follows. Peter is focused on the human side of things. Maybe he doesn't want Jesus to die. Maybe he knows that if Jesus is the national hero messiah, being dead will not allow that to happen. Jesus says setting your mind on human things makes you Satan--against the kingdom. Jesus and what he knows he has to do is from above. Its about God's kingdom. It is good.
For us, I think the challenge is to use this idea as a measure of who we are and what we do. Is what I do focused on the kingdom or is it focused on the world. This could go for anything from what we wear, what we drive, how we talk, what we watch, how we spend our money...everything could and should be held up to this litmus test. How are our lives showing the good news? Are they? What do we need to change to be all in and fully committed to show the good news?
Lord, open our eyes. Allow us to see the needed changes and to have the boldness to change our living. You are the Messiah! May our lives reflect that!
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