This morning I would like for us to focus more on the practical or applicable things that Jesus wants us to see. In Mark’s gospel, there is a parenthesis or inclusio that surrounds Jesus’ three statements about going to the cross, paying the price for our sins, and rising the third day. If you remember, Jesus healed the blind man in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26). He has led him out of town, spit on his eyes, laid his hands on him, and asked him to open his eyes. The first time he saw men as trees walking. Jesus put his hands on his eyes and asked him to look up and his eyesight was completely recovered. This man’s healing came through a process, whereas Blind Bartimaeus was healed immediately. Within these two healings of blind men, Jesus is working to open the eyes of His disciples. They are not seeing clearly, but I believe if we take notice of what Mark includes in this section, we can understand some core issues concerning discipleship. If you remember, a disciple is a learner, follower, and imitator of someone. We want to be and make disciples in this church who follow Jesus with “Eyes Wide Open.” Bartimaeus did. The disciple’s needed their eyes to be opened so they could understand (Mark 8:21). Jesus was on his way to the cross and the disciples needed to focus in on those things that are most important. The title today will be “Seeing Jesus Christ in Everyday Life.”
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