Page 235 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_03_MacArthur_Bible_March.qxd 8/8/03 14:44 Page 216

MARCH 5

8:23 spit on his eyes. This action and Jesus’ 8:30 tell no one. Jesus’ messianic mission
touching his eyes with His hands (v. 25) were cannot be understood apart from the Cross,
apparently meant to reassure the blind man which the disciples did not yet understand
(who would naturally depend on his other (see vv.31–33; 9:30–32).For them to have pro-
senses, such as touch) that Jesus would heal claimed Jesus as Messiah at this point would
his eyes (see 7:33; John 9:6). have only furthered the misunderstanding
that the Messiah was to be a political-military
deliverer.The fallout was that the Jewish peo-
And he looked up and said, “I see men like
24 ple, desperate to be rid of the yoke of Rome,
trees, walking.” would seek to make Jesus king by force (John
25 6:15; see 12:12–19).
Then He put His hands on his eyes again
and made him look up. And he was restored
32
and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter
26
away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
town, nor tell anyone in the town.” 33 But when He had turned around and looked
27
Now Jesus and His disciples went out to at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying,
the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mind-
road He asked His disciples, saying to them, ful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
“Who do men say that I am?” 34 When He had called the people to Himself,
So they answered, “John the Baptist; but with His disciples also, He said to them, “Who-
28
some say, Elijah; and others, one of the ever desires to come after Me, let him deny
prophets.” himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
He said to them, “But who do you say that For whoever desires to save his life will lose
29 35
I am?” it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and
36
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the gospel’s will save it. For what will it prof-
the Christ.” it a man if he gains the whole world, and loses
30 37
Then He strictly warned them that they his own soul? Or what will a man give in
should tell no one about Him. exchange for his soul? For whoever is
38
31
And He began to teach them that the Son ashamed of Me and My words in this adulter-
of Man must suffer many things, and be re- ous and sinful generation, of him the Son of
jected by the elders and chief priests and Man also will be ashamed when He comes in
scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
DAY 4:What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
In Mark 8:34, Jesus Christ makes it clear that no one who is unwilling to “deny himself” can
legitimately claim to be a disciple.When He adds that one must “take up his cross,” He reveals the
extent of self-denial—to the point of death, if necessary. The extent of desperation on the part of
the penitent sinner who is aware he can’t save himself reaches the place where nothing is held back
as He follows Jesus Christ (see Matt. 19:21,22).
Jesus says that whoever “loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it”(v.35).This par-
adoxical saying reveals an important spiritual truth: those who pursue a life of ease, comfort, and
acceptance by the world will not find eternal life. On the other hand, those who give up their lives
for the sake of Christ and the gospel will find it.
To have all that the world has to offer yet not have Christ is to be eternally bankrupt. All the
world’s goods will not compensate for losing one’s soul eternally (v.36).It is the “soul,”the real person,
who will live forever in heaven or hell.Those who reject the demands of discipleship prove themselves
to be ashamed of Jesus Christ and the truth He taught.
anointed it and consecrated it and all its fur-
March 5 nishings, and the altar and all its utensils; so he
anointed them and consecrated them. Then
2
the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’
Numbers 7:1–8:26
houses, who were the leaders of the tribes and
Now it came to pass, when Moses had fin- over those who were numbered, made an offer-
7 ished setting up the tabernacle, that he ing. And they brought their offering before the
3
216