SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: A Heart That Restores - Jesus and a Blind Man - July 28, 2019
Video - EasyWorship Background - 5 minute
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
A leper - A heart that touches
A Centurian - A heart that marvels
The Samaritan woman at the well - A heart that accepts
The Two Daughters (bleeding and Jairus daughter) - A heart that cares
The Pharisee and the woman who anoints Jesus' feet - A heart that confronts
The Canaanite woman - A heart that reaches
John Newton- one of the best known slaving ship captains
became a minister
influenced William Wilberforce who lead the effort to outlaw the slave trade in England
he wrote "Amazing Grace"
"I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see."
- THE STORY
“They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.””
Mark 8:22-26 NIV
A. Bethsaida - "house of fish"
1. Hometown of Philip, one of Jesus' disciples (John 1:44)
2. A place where Jesus had performed miracles
3. Jesus pronounced judgment on Bethsaida because it did not respond to Jesus (Matthew 11:21)
B. "They" bring the blind man to Jesus
1. He says nothing
2. Usually people make a personal request
C. The miracle
1. Jesus takes the man by the hand and takes him out of the city
2. Jesus spits in the man's eyes
3. The man receives partial sight (unusual occurrence-weak, bad day, the man's lack of faith, etc.)
4. Jesus heals him "again" to full sight
5. Other blind people
a. The man born blind - Jesus packed mud in his eyes and sent him to the pool of Siloam
b. Blind Bartimaeus - Jesus spoke words
6. Why?
2. THE POINT
Sjoren Kierkegaard "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
Jesus is the Messiah.
A. Cycle One
1. Feeding of the 5,000 (Mark 6:35-44)
2. Debate with the Pharisees and Scribes (Mark 7:1-16)
3. Healing of a deaf man (Mark 7:31-37) [spitting again]
B. Cycle Two
1. Feeding of the 4,000 (Mark 8:1-9)
2. Debate with the Pharisees (Mark 8:10-12)
3. Healing of the Blind Man (Mark 8:22-26)
“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.””
John 3:1-2 NIV
C. Affirming the point
1. Caesarea Philippi - moving closer to the obvious truth
“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.””
Mark 8:27-29 NIV
2. A description of the Messiah
“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”
Isaiah 35:3-6 NIV
“Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.”
Mark 8:30-31 NIV
3. THE QUESTION
1. Who is Jesus? The most important question ever asked!
a. A miracle worker
b. A prophet
c. A charlatan
d. The Messiah
2. What do you see?
a. Have you looked at the evidence?
b. Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good?
c. Have you trusted Him with all your heart?
Clara Scott, 1895
Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall I clasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
Ready, my God, my will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
CHALLENGE
Find someone blind to heal this week (kidding). Help someone get to Jesus, their only hope.
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