"Doh!"

The Appomattox Court House Presbyterian Church Pulpit
The Lord's Day, May 1, 2005
Mark 8:22-26
Rev. Cameron S. Smith

How does Homer Simpson mirror the Christian life? Seems like a silly question, doesn't it? One of Homer's trademark lines is, "Doh!" It usually comes on the heels of a mistake, blunder, oversight or misunderstanding. It's a verbal expression of frustration in the highest degree. The word is now a permanent part of the American pop culture: It's listed in the dictionary. It's officially part of the English vocabulary!

I know this isn't going to seem like a very kind remark, but I want to suggest to you that Homer's endless cycle of Doh! pictures, with striking accuracy, our own attempts to live out our Christian confession consistently. How many times have you found yourself doing something that goes completely against the grain of who you are as a Christian? You fill in the blank with the sin. In a moment of conviction, you want to cry out, "Doh!"

For our purposes this morning, I want to focus on the apostle Peter. Peter strikes me as one who was totally committed to serving Christ from the very first day of his call. Peter, one of the "pillars" of the Church (Galatians 2:9), is also one who we see falling down on the job quite a bit -- blowing it in big ways.

Let me draw your attention to an important text for understanding Peter's ups and downs. It's from our New Testament reading this morning, Mark 8:22-26 -- The healing of the blind man in Bethsaida. A strange and odd encounter, to be sure. Only Mark records this unique miracle.

Jesus heals this blind man who was brought to him by the crowd. He spits into the man's eyes and then asks if he sees anything. The man replies, "I see people; they look like trees walking around" (Mark 8:24). But then Jesus puts his hands on the man's eyes once more, a second touch and his vision is completely restored! At first glance, you may think, "Wow, it took Jesus two times to get it right." But that observation misses the point of the story!

I want to suggest to you that the healing of the blind man in Bethsaida illustrates the Christian life. Here's what I mean: When you first come to Christ, you're enthusiastic in the newness of it all. Having observed the culture at many Christian colleges and church youth groups, I can testify that there seems to be this "take on the world for Jesus!" attitude. Everything's new, and you're eager to learn more and drink it all in. But then as you get into this new life, you find that you still have so far to go in holiness. So much to learn, and it doesn't happen overnight. You still find the same old struggles with doubt from time to time. Worse still, you still blow it on a grand scale occasionally. But this doesn't only apply to new believers; all believers can testify to this feeling of futility.

The first touch from Jesus is similar to the new birth. Vision is restored, but it's fuzzy sight. "I see men, but they look like trees, walking" (Mark 8:24). You've arrived, but in reality, you're not quite there yet! All of life, you're not quite there yet!

Look at how it plays out in the life of Peter. Right after the healing in Bethsaida, after asking his disciples "Who do people say that I am?" (Mark 8:27) he gets various responses: John the Baptist; Elijah or one of the other prophets. But then Jesus turns the question on his disciples: "Who do you say I am?" (Mark 8:29).

Peter boldly proclaims, "You are the Christ." Peter, you're the man! He was the first to get it. Kudos for Peter. But then, on the heels of Peter's confession, Jesus reveals for the first time in Mark's gospel that he must go up to Jerusalem; be treated with contempt, killed and then rise again after three days.

Peter rebukes Jesus for such insanely negative talk: "Listen Jesus, stop talking this nonsense, you're starting to scare me." But Jesus looked at Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's" (Mark 8:33). Doh! Peter blew it.

Mark doesn't stop here; the very next event recorded in his gospel is the occasion when Jesus takes the pillar disciples Peter, James and John to the top of Mount Hermon - the Mount of Transfiguration. There, they see Jesus changed before their very eyes into his heavenly glory. Not only that, Moses and Elijah appear alongside Jesus. Imagine that! Jesus, dressed in glory, the great lawgiver and the man of God. What a power rush!

Peter, in his excitement, must have thought, "Hey, since the kingdom seems to be arriving in all its glory here and now, maybe all of that nasty stuff about dying in Jerusalem won't happen after all." Peter wanted to seal the deal and said, "Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah" (Mark 9:5). But wait a minute, "a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!' Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus" (Mark 9:7-8). Peter was reminded that the comfort of the mountaintop experience was not the end, but just the beginning. To paraphrase God's reply to Peter: "Don't you remember what my Son just told you about going up to Jerusalem, Peter? Listen to him!" Doh! Peter screwed up again!

Later that week, on the night before his death, Jesus told his disciples, "'You will all fall away,'…'for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'" (Mark 14:27/ Zechariah 13:7). Once again, Peter hastily declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today--yes, this very night--before the rooster crows twice you yourself [Peter] will disown me three times." But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you" (Mark 14:29-31). But when the time came for Peter to stand and be counted, Peter denied his Master three times. "I don't know this man you're talking about." Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept" (Mark 14:71-72). Doh.

If you're keeping count, it's three strikes and you're out! But you and I know that God didn't give up on Peter. Some Christian teachers explain away Peter's bad judgment: "Peter didn't become a Christian until after the resurrection." When people use that line, I usually remind them of Paul's confrontation with Peter many years later when the post resurrection Peter blew it again big time by an act of shameless discrimination against some Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11 ff.). Peter refused to eat with the Gentile believers because they were ceremonially unclean and he didn't want to offend some powerful, influential Jews in this matter. Peter really knew better!

Think of it this way, Peter was with Jesus for nearly 3 years. He wasn't a neophyte to the faith. He sat at the Master's feet and listened intently to his teaching every day. He got one-on-one treatment. All of the parables, hidden in meaning to the understanding of the crowds, were explained in detail to him. He witnessed the miracles, and was himself a direct beneficiary of some of them. And then, after all of this, in that final crucial week leading up to the crucifixion, Peter looked more like Homer Simpson than a giant of the faith.

I don't know about you, but I can certainly identify with Peter. A number of years ago, Shannon and I were having dinner with another couple. When the subject turned to religion, the wife started talking about her churchly upbringing. She started relating how she had once believed the Bible to be the Word of God; but now she had grown up and put away such ideas.

We had a great opportunity at that moment to share the Gospel. It literally fell into our laps. But, neither one of us said anything in response to our friends' disparaging remarks. We didn't want to make any waves. We crawled home that night. Doh!

I'm quite sure that you too, experience numerous setbacks as you follow Jesus. We are like that blind man in Bethsaida: vision miraculously restored, but it's awfully fuzzy. We need a second touch from Jesus.

And what exactly is that second touch? Time and experience. Through time, you experience the ups and downs of life. You find that life isn't easy. Suffering is sometimes your lot. Jesus did say that you can't be my disciple unless you take up your cross and follow me. You and I won't see perfectly until the day we stand before Jesus in heaven. But our vision is improving each day as we mature in our faith. That maturity, which we call sanctification, is the second touch.

But, here's what I want you to understand above all things: Through all Peter's bumbling and stumbling, God still loved him dearly -- Even after he blew it, time after time. In the depths of his despair, Peter would get up and dust himself off and keep walking; and God was always right there with him. He wasn't finished with Peter yet. He isn't finished with you yet!

Consider Paul's words to his young protégé, Timothy: "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life" (1 Tim 1:14-16). If you're honest, you know that Paul's words and Peter's experience are yours as well.

I don't know where you are today in your walk with the Lord. I've shared with you in the past year, many times over, my own feelings of wonder and amazement that God still loves me in spite of my many shortcomings. This sermon is very, very personal, and my sense is that many of you are there with me, as well.

When you really blow it, mourn for your sin and ask for forgiveness. Desire in your heart a greater measure of obedience. But then, get up and dust yourself off! Your God is with you! Serve Him in freedom and with great joy.