New Normal, 26 April 2020
New Normal
Series—Mark: The Real Jesus
Mark 8:22-30
Series Big Idea: Mark’s gospel is the most concise biography of Jesus.
Big Idea: A blind man and Peter are both transformed by encounters with Jesus…and we can be, too.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a number of buzzwords and phrases that will forever remind us of this season of life: social distancing, quarantine, and flatten the curve, for example. But there’s one phrase that is rising in popularity…and uncertainty: new normal.
There are defining moments in all of our lives which forever change how we live. Some occur on a societal level such as removing your shoes before flying since 9/11. Others are personal in nature, such as my daughter’s amputation or even my wedding day. I’ve never been the same since.
Nobody knows what life will look like on May 1, much less June, September, or January 1. One thing’s for sure: life will be forever different after coronavirus.
Today we’re going to look at defining moments in the lives of two very different people, one a stranger to Jesus and the other one of his three best friends.
We’re in the middle of a series on the book of Mark: The Real Jesus. This biography is packed with compelling stories about the life of Jesus, and our text in chapter eight is no exception.
The disciples have been traveling with Jesus and
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” (Mark 8:22-23)
Did the blind man want to be healed? I know that seems like a crazy question, but nowhere are we told it’s his desire. People brought him to Jesus and begged Jesus to touch him. It doesn’t even say they wanted him healed, though I t seems obvious enough to us.
Jesus leads the man outside the village. That’s interesting. Couldn’t he heal the man in Bethsaida? Was he trying to get away from the crowds? Did Jesus want to heal in private?
We’re told elsewhere that the people of Bethsaida were an unbelieving bunch (Matthew 11:21). Jesus spoke “woe” and grief over them. The city was destroyed in AD 115 by an earthquake and was never rebuilt. Anyhow, just as Jesus often withdrew with his disciples away from the lake and crowds, so here Jesus leaves the village.
His healing technique was definitely unique! He spit on the guy! He spit on the man’s eyes! “Jesus, this is not sanitary!” It’s actually quite gross!
It should be noted that Jesus healed different people in different ways. Some people have formulas for prayer, hoping to manipulate God with certain words or behaviors. God’s so much bigger than rituals. He wants to know our heart. The Holy Spirit is alive and active in and through followers of Jesus.
Then the blind man is asked if he sees anything.
He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” (Mark 8:24)
Jesus, you’re off to a good start, but he’s not quite healed.
If he recognized trees, it’s possible he was not born blind, but lost his sight through an accident or disease.
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” (Mark 8:25-26)
Jesus heals the man. He can see! He’ll no longer be the blind guy, but the guy who used to be blind! I can’t imagine the new normal he experienced from that day forward.
We’ve noted before how Jesus is not eager to become famous. We saw last week how the Pharisees were after him, testing him and trying to ultimately kill him. This was not the time for his true identity to be revealed. He had compassion on people, but didn’t want to be the object of paparazzi! Jesus warns the man to avoid the crowds, to stay away from the village, to go home quietly…as if he could hide his vision for long!
The once-blind man could see. His new normal was filled with light…and life.
LORD, open our eyes to see what You are doing, even in this pandemic.
Open our ears to hear Your still, small voice leading and guiding us.
Open our hearts to receive all You want us to know and experience.
Most people fear change. They avoid it at all costs. Sometimes they will actually choose a worse outcome rather than a “new and improved” option out of comfort and security. But sometimes the “new normal” is actually better. It certainly was for the blind man! I can’t help but think of those precious words in Amazing Grace:
I once was lost, but now I am found
Was blind, but now I see
Ironically, the blind man in Mark 8 wasn’t the only one who couldn’t see. The disciples were often blind, clueless, unable to see and understand who they were following. After Jesus heals the blind man, he leads his friends twenty-five miles north.
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27)
Caesarea Philippi was named after Augustus Caesar and Herod Philip. Its citizens would often declare, “Caesar is lord!” It was a pagan place filled with temples devoted to various gods. I don’t think it was an accident that Jesus asked this question in such a religious place where an emperor and even a goat were worshiped!
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” (Mark 8:28)
There was a similar list in chapter six (verse 14). Jesus was nothing like John the Baptist! He was more like Jeremiah, the weeping prophet who was rejected by his own people, called out the false religious leaders, and persecuted by those in authority.
Who do people say I am?
Much like today, many of the people in Jesus’ day didn’t understand who he was, and perhaps they didn’t really care. Public opinion was defined by Elbert Hubbard as “the judgment of the incapable many, as opposed to that of the discerning few.” Doesn’t that sound like our culture today?
There are two problems with following the crowd. First, the crowd rarely, if ever, follows God. When we do what everyone’s doing, we’re almost certainly breaking the first two Commandments to have no other gods or idols. The second problem with following the crowd is the crowd is always changing. Look at fashion. Look at architecture. Look at what is politically correct.
The Bible is old school. God never changes. He’s doing new things, but He never changes.
He provided for Abraham.
He was trustworthy for Elijah.
He was faithful to the disciples.
He continues to be good…so good!
Every day we make choices to do what’s popular or follow God.
Now Jesus gets personal with Peter.
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29a)
Here was Peter’s response:
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29b)
This is the first use of the word “Messiah” in the book of Mark since the first sentence:
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, (Mark 1:1)
Messiah was more than a title. It was a politically dangerous declaration, stating Jesus is the true King of Israel. It meant he was the “anointed one.” Jesus is more than a prophet announcing the kingdom of God; he’s the king! Such pronouncements could get Jesus killed. They did! Such pronouncements could get Peter killed. That happened, too! It’s no wonder that…
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. (Mark 8:30)
We often look at Jesus as this wonderful, perfect person of peace who brought nothing but wisdom, healing, hope, and forgiveness to the world. He did, but even good things are threatening to evil. Life is threatening to death. Jesus is threatening to satan.
So What?
The blind man and the disciples experience a new normal. The blind man goes from darkness to seeing people like trees to seeing things clearly.
The disciples go from seeing Jesus as a rabbi to seeing him as a prophet to seeing him as the Messiah.
Where are you at today? Who do you say Jesus is? It matters. I think it’s the most important question in life. Perhaps you’re thinking, “He’s my Savior.” Great! But there’s so much more to Jesus than the cross and being saved from the penalty of your sins. Author, pastor, and professor David Fitch notes,
“The shift from accepting Jesus as Savior (and Lord) to submitting to (putting complete trust in) Jesus as Lord (and Savior) fundamentally changes the phenomenology (experience) of salvation. Salvation is reframed ... from seeing/experiencing God at work in me (first) to seeing God at work in the world (first) governing all things in Christ for His purposes. Into this I am saved (and find "me" all over again).” – David Fitch
In other words, we need to go from seeing Jesus as a great teacher to seeing him as savior to making him LORD. The boss. Our leader.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, you’re really not in control of much in this life. One event on the other side of the world can quarantine you, cost you your job, make toilet paper scarce, and wipe out your sports channels.
Some of you say you believe in God, but you’re not following him. He’s not leading your life. How’s that working out for you?
Jesus wants to be LORD. Nothing less. He wants your complete surrender and allegiance…not because he’s a control freak, but because he’s got a better way, a better plan. He loves you. He proved it by dying for you. Who else has ever died for you? His message to the disciples was simple: follow me. That remains his invitation today.
I urge you…make Jesus LORD…today…and tomorrow…and this week. What does that mean? It begins with time in the Bible, discovering his plans for your life. It begins with prayer, talking with God. It begins with seeking first his will and kingdom and plan rather than doing whatever you want. By the way, his rules are never meant to harm you or take away your fun. They’re only there for your benefit, for your flourishing.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt our future will be different than the past. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Open your eyes and see Jesus is LORD…and declare it with your life. If you haven’t already done so, give your life to Jesus. Simply says, “Jesus, I give you my life.” When you do, you not only get Jesus, you get the Holy Spirit who is able to guide, comfort, and fill you, making you more like Jesus. We don’t become like Jesus by trying harder. It begins with surrender. It continues with pursuit. It takes a lifetime, but what a journey! What an adventure! A new…better normal!
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.
You can watch this online worship experience here.
Series—Mark: The Real Jesus
Mark 8:22-30
Series Big Idea: Mark’s gospel is the most concise biography of Jesus.
Big Idea: A blind man and Peter are both transformed by encounters with Jesus…and we can be, too.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a number of buzzwords and phrases that will forever remind us of this season of life: social distancing, quarantine, and flatten the curve, for example. But there’s one phrase that is rising in popularity…and uncertainty: new normal.
There are defining moments in all of our lives which forever change how we live. Some occur on a societal level such as removing your shoes before flying since 9/11. Others are personal in nature, such as my daughter’s amputation or even my wedding day. I’ve never been the same since.
Nobody knows what life will look like on May 1, much less June, September, or January 1. One thing’s for sure: life will be forever different after coronavirus.
Today we’re going to look at defining moments in the lives of two very different people, one a stranger to Jesus and the other one of his three best friends.
We’re in the middle of a series on the book of Mark: The Real Jesus. This biography is packed with compelling stories about the life of Jesus, and our text in chapter eight is no exception.
The disciples have been traveling with Jesus and
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” (Mark 8:22-23)
Did the blind man want to be healed? I know that seems like a crazy question, but nowhere are we told it’s his desire. People brought him to Jesus and begged Jesus to touch him. It doesn’t even say they wanted him healed, though I t seems obvious enough to us.
Jesus leads the man outside the village. That’s interesting. Couldn’t he heal the man in Bethsaida? Was he trying to get away from the crowds? Did Jesus want to heal in private?
We’re told elsewhere that the people of Bethsaida were an unbelieving bunch (Matthew 11:21). Jesus spoke “woe” and grief over them. The city was destroyed in AD 115 by an earthquake and was never rebuilt. Anyhow, just as Jesus often withdrew with his disciples away from the lake and crowds, so here Jesus leaves the village.
His healing technique was definitely unique! He spit on the guy! He spit on the man’s eyes! “Jesus, this is not sanitary!” It’s actually quite gross!
It should be noted that Jesus healed different people in different ways. Some people have formulas for prayer, hoping to manipulate God with certain words or behaviors. God’s so much bigger than rituals. He wants to know our heart. The Holy Spirit is alive and active in and through followers of Jesus.
Then the blind man is asked if he sees anything.
He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” (Mark 8:24)
Jesus, you’re off to a good start, but he’s not quite healed.
If he recognized trees, it’s possible he was not born blind, but lost his sight through an accident or disease.
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” (Mark 8:25-26)
Jesus heals the man. He can see! He’ll no longer be the blind guy, but the guy who used to be blind! I can’t imagine the new normal he experienced from that day forward.
We’ve noted before how Jesus is not eager to become famous. We saw last week how the Pharisees were after him, testing him and trying to ultimately kill him. This was not the time for his true identity to be revealed. He had compassion on people, but didn’t want to be the object of paparazzi! Jesus warns the man to avoid the crowds, to stay away from the village, to go home quietly…as if he could hide his vision for long!
The once-blind man could see. His new normal was filled with light…and life.
LORD, open our eyes to see what You are doing, even in this pandemic.
Open our ears to hear Your still, small voice leading and guiding us.
Open our hearts to receive all You want us to know and experience.
Most people fear change. They avoid it at all costs. Sometimes they will actually choose a worse outcome rather than a “new and improved” option out of comfort and security. But sometimes the “new normal” is actually better. It certainly was for the blind man! I can’t help but think of those precious words in Amazing Grace:
I once was lost, but now I am found
Was blind, but now I see
Ironically, the blind man in Mark 8 wasn’t the only one who couldn’t see. The disciples were often blind, clueless, unable to see and understand who they were following. After Jesus heals the blind man, he leads his friends twenty-five miles north.
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27)
Caesarea Philippi was named after Augustus Caesar and Herod Philip. Its citizens would often declare, “Caesar is lord!” It was a pagan place filled with temples devoted to various gods. I don’t think it was an accident that Jesus asked this question in such a religious place where an emperor and even a goat were worshiped!
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” (Mark 8:28)
There was a similar list in chapter six (verse 14). Jesus was nothing like John the Baptist! He was more like Jeremiah, the weeping prophet who was rejected by his own people, called out the false religious leaders, and persecuted by those in authority.
Who do people say I am?
Much like today, many of the people in Jesus’ day didn’t understand who he was, and perhaps they didn’t really care. Public opinion was defined by Elbert Hubbard as “the judgment of the incapable many, as opposed to that of the discerning few.” Doesn’t that sound like our culture today?
There are two problems with following the crowd. First, the crowd rarely, if ever, follows God. When we do what everyone’s doing, we’re almost certainly breaking the first two Commandments to have no other gods or idols. The second problem with following the crowd is the crowd is always changing. Look at fashion. Look at architecture. Look at what is politically correct.
The Bible is old school. God never changes. He’s doing new things, but He never changes.
He provided for Abraham.
He was trustworthy for Elijah.
He was faithful to the disciples.
He continues to be good…so good!
Every day we make choices to do what’s popular or follow God.
Now Jesus gets personal with Peter.
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29a)
Here was Peter’s response:
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” (Mark 8:29b)
This is the first use of the word “Messiah” in the book of Mark since the first sentence:
The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, (Mark 1:1)
Messiah was more than a title. It was a politically dangerous declaration, stating Jesus is the true King of Israel. It meant he was the “anointed one.” Jesus is more than a prophet announcing the kingdom of God; he’s the king! Such pronouncements could get Jesus killed. They did! Such pronouncements could get Peter killed. That happened, too! It’s no wonder that…
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. (Mark 8:30)
We often look at Jesus as this wonderful, perfect person of peace who brought nothing but wisdom, healing, hope, and forgiveness to the world. He did, but even good things are threatening to evil. Life is threatening to death. Jesus is threatening to satan.
So What?
The blind man and the disciples experience a new normal. The blind man goes from darkness to seeing people like trees to seeing things clearly.
The disciples go from seeing Jesus as a rabbi to seeing him as a prophet to seeing him as the Messiah.
Where are you at today? Who do you say Jesus is? It matters. I think it’s the most important question in life. Perhaps you’re thinking, “He’s my Savior.” Great! But there’s so much more to Jesus than the cross and being saved from the penalty of your sins. Author, pastor, and professor David Fitch notes,
“The shift from accepting Jesus as Savior (and Lord) to submitting to (putting complete trust in) Jesus as Lord (and Savior) fundamentally changes the phenomenology (experience) of salvation. Salvation is reframed ... from seeing/experiencing God at work in me (first) to seeing God at work in the world (first) governing all things in Christ for His purposes. Into this I am saved (and find "me" all over again).” – David Fitch
In other words, we need to go from seeing Jesus as a great teacher to seeing him as savior to making him LORD. The boss. Our leader.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, you’re really not in control of much in this life. One event on the other side of the world can quarantine you, cost you your job, make toilet paper scarce, and wipe out your sports channels.
Some of you say you believe in God, but you’re not following him. He’s not leading your life. How’s that working out for you?
Jesus wants to be LORD. Nothing less. He wants your complete surrender and allegiance…not because he’s a control freak, but because he’s got a better way, a better plan. He loves you. He proved it by dying for you. Who else has ever died for you? His message to the disciples was simple: follow me. That remains his invitation today.
I urge you…make Jesus LORD…today…and tomorrow…and this week. What does that mean? It begins with time in the Bible, discovering his plans for your life. It begins with prayer, talking with God. It begins with seeking first his will and kingdom and plan rather than doing whatever you want. By the way, his rules are never meant to harm you or take away your fun. They’re only there for your benefit, for your flourishing.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt our future will be different than the past. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Open your eyes and see Jesus is LORD…and declare it with your life. If you haven’t already done so, give your life to Jesus. Simply says, “Jesus, I give you my life.” When you do, you not only get Jesus, you get the Holy Spirit who is able to guide, comfort, and fill you, making you more like Jesus. We don’t become like Jesus by trying harder. It begins with surrender. It continues with pursuit. It takes a lifetime, but what a journey! What an adventure! A new…better normal!
You can listen to this message and others at the First Alliance Church podcast here.
You can watch this online worship experience here.