Healing the Blind Man in Bethsaida

Mark 8:22-26

Purpose of Miracles

• Not to make someone well Hebrews 9:27• A sign to indicate something else Heb. 2:4• To point to a specific truth John 20:31• To confirm the word of God Mark 16:20• The gifts ended when the complete word was

given 1 Cor. 13:8-10• Know in part, prophesy in part vs. complete • Partial revelation vs. complete revelation

Purpose of The Miracle in Mark 8

• Context of the miracle in Mark 8• Immediately before this miracle, Jesus

rebukes the disciples for their inability to see His spiritual lessons in His words 8:13-21

• Immediately after this miracle, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ 8:27-29

• Matthew’s account records the joy of Jesus over this confession Matthew 16:17-19

• However, Peter still had some to learn v.21-23

The Book of Mark

• We see that Jesus is the Son of God• Authority 1:21-28• Action many miracles in Mark• Attention many references to reaction 1:28• This picture of Jesus would appeal to the

Romans 1 Peter 5:13• However, this is only a partial picture of what

it means to be the Son of God

The Book of Mark

• The second half of the book gives the complete picture of Jesus as the Son of God

• Selflessness 9:14-29• Service 9:33-35• Submission 14:32-42• Sacrifice 14:1-16:20

Parallels

• John declares the Lord• 1:1-8• Baptism• 1:9-11• Exorcism• 1:21-28• Fame• 1:28-45

• Peter declares the Lord • 8:27-29• Transfiguration• 9:2-13• Exorcism• 9:14-29• Humility• 9:33-50

The Miracle in Mark 8• The only miracle that is not immediate• Immediately appears 40 times in Mark• Jesus gave sight in 2 steps just the same way the

book of Mark enlightens us in 2 steps• This miracle divides the book of Mark into its two

parts • The Son of God has authority, he acts, and

demands our attention• But the Son of God’s true greatness is seen in His

selflessness, service, submission, and sacrifice