Guest Speaker: Brady Braatz - "Restoring Sight"

Redemption Church KC Sermon Podcast

1. In his sermon on Mark 8:22-35, Dr. Brady Braatz pointed out that this story, in which Jesus restores sight to a blind man, stands alone as the only miracle Jesus performs in the gospels in which he has to give it a 2nd try to fully complete the miracle.
What do you make of the fact that Jesus essentially tries again in this story? What do you think the different groups of people (disciples, onlookers, etc) around him might have thought or felt in those moments? What about the blind man himself? What do you think could have been happening for Jesus?
2. Brady then taught about the expectations that the disciples (and many others) had for a messiah. He also talked about the fact that, after Peter shares that the disciples think Jesus is the messiah, Jesus doesn’t confirm or deny that for them.
Dr. Braatz said this type of (non) response probably led to an explosion in the imaginations of the disciples - specifically because of their likely well-developed expectations for the long-awaited messiah.
Take a second and let your mind imagine that moment between Jesus and the disciples. What tones of voice do you hear? How would you characterize Jesus’ questions? Why do you think he’s asking? What about Peter’s responses? Spend some time imagining the moment knowing that there are no right or wrong answers. Then share or brainstorm together as a group about some of the different possible versions of that exchange.
Are there any perspectives or imagined characterizations that surprise you? Any you think of as less or more likely? Why do you think certain versions resonate with you differently than others?
What about the tail end of that story, when Jesus predicts his death and resurrection only to be contradicted by Peter. As Jesus responds to Peter by rebuking the accuser or Satan, how do you imagine the tone of that interaction? The responses of those witnessing it? What do you think was happening under the surface in that moment for Jesus? For Peter?
3. Finally, Brady tied these two stories together and suggested that we may be able to see parallels to our own lives of faith in each of them.
As we contemplate the story of Jesus’ 2-step healing of the blind man ,and that of Peter’s confession to and subsequent rebuke by Jesus, we might also see instances in which - like some of those in the stories, we struggle with a moment that goes against our expectations of God or things of faith.
Think about this dynamic in your own life. Can you share an occasion on which you struggled to let go of your pre-existing ideas in favor of a new understanding of some part of your story of faith?
What other experiences do you have that relate to the idea of only partially “getting it” in your life of faith? What has been your experience of seeing things a new way or of shedding old expectations and understanding? What have the impacts of these examples been on your relationship to God and to your practice of life as a Christian?