Expectation vs Reality
April 25, 2021
Mark 8:22-9:1
- Part Two (What does it mean for Jesus to be the Messiah?) – 8:22 – 10:52
- Part Three (How Jesus Becomes King) – 11:1 – 16:20
CLOUDY VISION
- Mark 8:22-26
- This account is a physical demonstration of the spiritual reality in the disciples’ heart. “Having eyes, do you not see” (8:18).
- Jesus must open our eyes to see and savor Jesus (2 Cor. 4:4-6, 1 Cor. 13:12, Eph. 1:18)
CLEAR QUESTION
- Mark 8:27-30
- Jesus directly asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” While Peter declares that Jesus is the promised Messiah, it becomes clear that Peters expectation of the Messiah is at odds with the actual work of the Messiah.
- Application #1 | Do you worship Jesus for who he is or who you expect him to be?
- Are you surrendered to and worship Jesus according to who he declares himself to be according to the Bible or the an imaginative Jesus based on your own expectations about God.
COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
- Mark 8:31-9:1
- “deny yourself…” – we must turn away for our expectations of our future, comfort, plans, and security and surrender to Jesus
- “take up you cross…” – more than turning away from our expectations, as disciples, we are called to die to ourselves and live fully surrendered to God (Gal. 2:20, Col. 3:2-3).
- “follow me…” – we are called not only to follow Jesus’ teaching but to follow Jesus that also includes a life of suffering, rejection, and possibly death.
- Application #2 | Why are you following Jesus?
- Some people desire to follow an imaginative Jesus in order to feed their own idolatrous desire for power, comfort, control, and approval.
- True disciples have their eyes opened to see that Jesus is the true and ultimate treasure and will lay aside everything to take hold of Jesus.