Seeing is Believing

There is more to “Seeing” than what you perceive with your eye.  Vision, sight, seeing, visualizing, are all words to describe the information that your eye interprets as it observes the world through its lenses.  This is now however the only meaning of being able to see.  Even in our everyday speech we use these words for more than just the physical meaning.  Right?  Think about it.  If you are in a conversation with someone and they have just made their point to you and you understand their point you might give them this response, “I see what you’re talking about.”  Knowing good and well you don’t actually see what they are talking about, but you understand what they said to the point that you can picture it in your head and fully understand it.  Or another way we use self-perception.  When you hear the question, “what do you see when you look in the mirror?”  the answer is not just, “I see me” but you’re supposed to look deeper to find out who you are.  Even in Hip Hop culture we use the idea of seeing as more than just physical.  If you see someone do something good, creative, dressed nice, dance well, perform well and excel at anything the response is “Ok, I see you”.  Again, that just lets the person know that I acknowledge that whatever you are doing, you are doing it well.  All these things but there is one that is always overlooked.  It is more important than all of these and that is “seeing spiritually” no other vision matters if you can’t see the invisible God.  You can have all five of your senses being fully functional, but if you will not accept Jesus than you are blind as a bat.  The reason being is that God had done more than enough to reveal Himself, and because He is has done so much to reveal Himself if you still can’t see the goodness of God than the only explanation is that your blind or you choose not to.  That’s why its blindness.

How can people not see the beauty in nature, how can people not see the creativity of the human body, how can people not see miracle’s every day, how can people not see that God is transforming lives?  How can we not see that God has reached out to us through his word and by Jesus own blood?  There will be no excuses.  Being blind is unfortunate and it’s a result of the fall of man, that one day, for those people who are blind, if they accept Jesus will see again.  But to be spiritually blind is a great tragedy that will forever separate you from God.

1. Pursuit of the “Son of Man”

This is good news.  Jesus hears that they put the man out and so he finds him. Jesus is so in love with this man that when he hears of his situation and struggle he seeks him out.  This word for “finding” him is mean to express that Jesus did not find him by stumbling across him by chance, no he actually searched for the man.  Jesus is intentional about having a relationship with this man, and introducing Himself formally to this man that He, Jesus, the King of Kings, takes time out to seek this man, the excommunicated sinner.  That is just how good my Jesus is.  That in spite of this man’s situation and circumstance Jesus saves him anyway.   And that is the testimony of every person who knows Jesus for themselves that at one point of time you didn’t know Jesus, you may have seen him, you may have heard about him, you may have already been in church, but one day Jesus found you just where you were.  Jesus found you at your lowest point, and he saved you. (Preach)

He did not just find the man for the purpose of knowing where he was but he meets him to raise the most important question in his life.  He asked him “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (some translations say Son of God).  And after the man says no Jesus tells him you have seen Him and it is He who is talking with you. 

-First of all, Jesus asked him the most important question he had been asked in his life. “Do you believe in the Son of Man? 

-Second Jesus claims to be deity, the one he has been waiting for. (Daniel 7:13-14)

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

-Third Jesus mentioned that you have seen him, reminding the man that you have seen him

2. Profession of Faith

This is the shout of the text. This is where the biggest miracle and testimony happens. Right here. “Lord, I believe.” (Preach)

Because this man, upon receiving the gift of salvation he worships Jesus. And that should be the response of all of us.  He worships Jesus after receiving wholeness.  He worships Jesus after because he got saved.  Notice that this is the first time in the whole story that the word “worship has shown up”.  (Preach about worship for God not because of stuff) This may be a good time to explain what worship is. (Worth-Ship)

3. Proclamation of Judgment

You can’t really do much with people who think they are perfect. Self-Evaluation will Enable you see Spiritually and recognize your Sin. It is the people who don’t see or recognize their sin who can never call on a Savior because they don’t think they need one. Deliver us from fake, religious, pharisaic, self-righteous people who think they are better than everyone else.

Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world” meaning, he has to set some people straight and give them their just due.

What could they not see? The could not see that

Jesus was the Son of God even though he worked miracles,

Son of Man, ....prophetic in His ministry

Word of God....Preached good News

Messiah...Delivering his people

Son of David....Came from royalty

Way maker....Fed the hungry

Healer...HE had just gave sight to the blind.

Our prayer should be, Lord, show me they way.

Show me how to pray...

Show me...

So, my guilty CCM, says:

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You I want to see YouOpen the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You I want to see YouTo see you high and lifted up Shining in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love As we sing holy, holy, holy