Message by Doug Bunnell, recorded live March 2, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellingham. Scripture read by Hillary Thomsen.

Half Sight, Half Blind, I See, Never Mind

Like Peter we only see with partial understanding.

• What is unique about this healing story?
• In Caesarea Philippi what does Peter “see”?
• In verses 31-33 what does Peter “not see”?
• How is Peter like the man who was healed of his blindness?
• What does it mean that we may only understand partially? In human reality? In divine truth?

Mark 8:27-33

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”