JESUS BRINGS 20/20 VISION
FEBRUARY 4, 2024
Matt. 6:22-23 – The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
Mark 8:17-29
AN EMBARRASSING MISUNDERSTANDING
Mark 8:13-21 – Then Jesus got into the boat and crossed to the other side. The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had in the boat. Be careful, Jesus warned. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod. The disciples discussed why Jesus had said this and they decided it was because they hadn’t brought bread with them. Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? You have eyes, but now don’t really see! You have ears, but you don’t really listen. Remember when I divided five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food? They said, twelve. And when I divided seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food? They said, seven. Then Jesus said, and you still don’t understand yet?
WHAT KEEPS ME FROM CLAIIRTY
1. Pride.
“Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees.”
2. Short term thinking.
“The disciples discussed why Jesus had said this and they decided it was because they hadn’t brought bread with them!”
3. Short term memory.
“Remember the two miracles?”
A PROGRESSIVE MIRACLE
Mark 8:22 – They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.
THREE CONDITIONS FOR A MIRACLE
1. When somebody cares.
2. When we get close to Jesus.
3. When we trust Jesus to lead us.
Mark 8:23-26 – Then Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and put His hands on him, and then asked, do you see anything? The man looked up and said, I see people, but they look like trees walking around. So, Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes a second time. Then his eyes were opened fully, his sight was restored completely, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, don’t go back into town.
THREE LESSONS ABOUT CLARITY
1. My spiritual vision grows in stages.
2. The test of my vision is how I see other people.
3. Jesus heals my sight three ways:
• My focus gets sharper.
• My perspective gets larger.
• He makes my vision clearer.
Teach what I cannot see; and if I’ve done wrong, I won’t do it again!
A CLARIFYING QUESTION
Mark8:27-29 – Then Jesus asked them, who do people say I am? They replied, some say you are John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others you’re one of the other prophets. But what about you, Jesus asked, who do you say I am? Peter said, You are the Christ, the Messiah!
How I see Jesus determines how clearly, I see everything else.