Open my Eyes

Read:  Numbers 29:40 and Mark 8

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:   “But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ He said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’”  Mark 8:33

 

O:  Jesus wants us to be of the same mind as The Father.  The word in verse 33 “have in mind” in Greek is phroneō and it means “to be of the same mind i.e. agreed together, cherish the same views, be harmonious, to understand or to be on the same side as”. 

 

All through this passage we see the disciples as not understanding what Jesus was about doing.  In the feeding of the 4,000 the disciples wanted to send the people away, but Jesus wanted to meet their needs so no one would collapse or faint on their way home.

 

In the boat Jesus was concerned about the leavening of the Pharisees and Herod and the disciples had their mind on the single loaf of bread with them.  You see Jesus was thinking about what was about to transpire (see verse 31) with His upcoming crucifixion and instead of the disciples thinking about the Bread of Life (Jesus), they were only thinking about the fact that they only brought one loaf of bread with them in the boat.  Jesus was thinking long-term while the disciples were thinking short-term.  Jesus was thinking about the BIG picture or the overarching plan of salvation and the disciples were thinking about, well, lunch.

 

After that Jesus came to Bethsaida and opened up the eyes of the blind man.  I think this is important because the disciples themselves really were quite “blind” to the plan and purpose of Jesus.  They too needed their eyes opened.

 

Following the healing Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi where He got down to business with the disciples.  He wanted to know – “Do you really know who I am?”  Peter said, “You are the Messiah.”  Jesus was probably glad to hear that answer because He was beginning to wonder if they really understood (see verse 21).

 

Once He knew the disciples were on board with who He was then He began to talk to them about what was going to happen, but Peter wasn’t about all that.  The Messiah was supposed to set up His Kingdom and rule and reign.  Peter was ready for that!  But to die?  Uh-uh, not going to happen!  To which Jesus replied, “Get thee behind me!”  Jesus was basically saying to Peter, “Either get with me on this thing, or go away!”

 

Jesus’ final words to the disciples and to the people there was this, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

 

A:  The application is this:  We have to put away our own ideas and ways of thinking and get His ideas and ways of thinking in us!  We have to phroneo - to be of the same mind i.e. be agreed together with Him, cherish the same views He does, be harmonious and understand or to be on the same side as He is.  Let’s get with Him or “go home”!

 

P:  Father in Heaven, God Your ways are not our ways!  God You see the BIG picture and sometimes we are just thinking about “what is for lunch”.  God I pray we would phroneo – that we would begin to get the same mind as You and be more mindful of Your ways and Your plans.  God we can look at our world and the news and all that is transpiring at this time God and we can get narrow minded and earthly minded, but I pray that we would set our minds on heavenly things God and trust You and get on board with Your plan.  It may not look like, and probably will not look like, our ideas and plans, but I want to be on board with You LORD!  Help me, help us, to do that!  In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen & Amen.