See How to Study the Bible like Sherlock Olmes Observe, List questions, Mystery solve, Exegetical outline, Search light on life

I. Lessons from the rise and fall of Greece and Rome, and life in the USA:

Without a focus on pleasing God as the basis of our worth, we look to temporal Power (security/significance), Pleasure, and Possessions to validate our value. However, for these to satisfy our craving for worth, we must have them in every increasing relative doses, i.e., a degree greater than others. This results in futilely using others and things to meet our needs, depriving us of the joy of other-centered Christlike relationships with others and God.

II. Disciples in Training Don’t See, Hear, Speak And Do (Depend And Serve) As They Should

A. Mk 7:32  Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33  And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34  Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35  Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.  36  Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 

B. Mk 8:11  Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12  But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation." 14  Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. 15  Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 16  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no bread." 17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 21  So He said to them, How is it you do not understand?

C. 8:22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23  So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.  24  And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." 25  Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26  Then He sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town."

D. 8:27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?" 30  Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him. 31  And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32  He spoke this word openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33  But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

III. When We See Clearly Enough To Follow Christ As His Disciples We Gain Perspective & Eternal Value

A. 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35  "For whoever desires to save his life/soul will lose it, but whoever loses his life/soul for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36  "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37  "Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38  "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." 9:1  And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."  2…mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 9 …He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

B. 9:25…He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"

C. 9:50  "Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another. Lk 14:34-35

D. 10:17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"    28 Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." 29 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time-houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions-and in the age to come, eternal life.  31  "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." 33  "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34  "and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."  42  But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43  "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

44  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

E. 10:51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."

52  Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (Palm Sunday)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1.  What keeps people from being happy? Are most folks satisfied, content, other-centered and serving with an unshakeable self-worth/image?

2. What is it that most unbelievers and believers don’t “get” about Biblical Christianity? Why is that? What would help? 

3. Why do people think that the route to glory doesn’t involve suffering, or that following Christ isn’t worth it? How can you help them see?

4. What helped you understand what it means to follow Christ as His disciple? What keeps you on the path? What tempts you to throw in the towel?

5. Do you “get it” or do you need a miracle to be a disciple? What would convince you of the Truth, or are the words of Christ adequate?