Seeing God Through Love
1 John • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsThis passage teaches that we have not seen God, but that we have seen God. How can both be true. Stay tuned.
Notes
Transcript
Think of a magician on stage, performing what seems to be remarkable feats. With just a flick of the wrist, he makes a coin disappear. It’s a beautiful display of skill, but it reminds me of how, in life, things are often not what they seem.
Imagine a scenario where a child watches a magician perform. Wide-eyed and full of wonder, the child believes in the impossible. Later, when the child learns it was all a trick, there's a mixture of disappointment and understanding that comes with growing up.
Life is full of moments where we must discern between what are eyes seemed to have seen vs. THE TRUTH.
The challenges is to see with spiritual eyes.
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
This passage says,
we have not seen God.
But look what he says
just 2 verses later.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
Now it says we
have seen God.
I get the meaning.
It is suggesting that
we haven’t seen God
in all His unveiled glory.
But we have seen Christ
the Son of God
in His incarnate state.
But I would like to
take it a bit further
than that.
I believe this concept
of seeing God
in verse 14 is deeper
that just physically
resting eyes on Jesus.
He is not only saying
we are eye witnesses
of the Savior.
The Bible repeatedly uses
the word
“to see”
in a metaphorical sense.
The Metaphor of Sight
The Metaphor of Sight
Paul uses the metaphor
repeatedly in letters
(John does more).
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you...
Here Paul is talking about
“the eyes of the heart!”
Paul is teaching
we must not see
with physical eyes.
Our physical eyes see facts.
They see data -
measurable data.
But “the eyes of the heart”
sees what the physical
eyes cannot see.
Elisha’s Servant
Elisha’s Servant
When Elisha’s servant saw
they were surrounded
by a huge army.
His physical eyes
saw the data!
But there was more
to the story!
Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Suddenly,
they young man
was able to see
with the eyes of the heart.
He was able to see
the massive army of Syria
was not match for
God’s chariots of fire!!!!
God is calling us
to see Him
with new eyes today.
About 350 years ago a shipload of travelers landed on the northeast coast of America.
The first year they established a town site.
The next year they elected a town government.
The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness.
In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway?
Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town.
They had lost their pioneering vision.
Lynn Anderson.
Road to Emmaus
Road to Emmaus
One of my favorite stories
Road to Emmaus.
Jesus had just
been murdered
on a cross.
But recent rumors
angels at the tomb
saying that Jesus
is resurrected.
They are
sad
depressed
confused.
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel...
They are broken hearted.
They are dejected.
But they don’t
know what to believe
about this supposed
resurrection of Jesus.
They continued
to walk and talk
for 7 miles.
This disguised stranger
begins to explain
OT prophecies
about role of Messiah.
They had been so confused.
They believed Messiah
would come to
overthrow Romans
establish earthly kingdom
Rule on David’s throne.
They were ready
go to war.
But Jesus never gave
the command to
take up arms
now he was dead.
(or was he)
But this stranger
who they walked with
helped them to
see Jesus in
a whole new way.
It was His calling
to be the suffering servant
lamb that was slain.
There was no
earthly kingdom
to plan for.
Their eyes were
being opened
to see the Messiah
correctly.
They said:
They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
It was the eyes of their hearts
that had seen Christ
anew that day.
The time passed quickly.
The 7 miles ended
before they knew it.
Suddenly,
they arrive to Emmaus.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
They unpack a little
set stuff down
prep for supper
talk some more.
Finally sit down
to eat supper.
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
In a personal moment, remember a time you were fooled by a trick—perhaps it was a friend pulling a prank or a surprise birthday party. Initially, there was shock and disbelief, but once the truth was revealed, laughter and joy followed. Much like our faith journey, God’s plans can often seem hidden until the moment of revelation arrives. Sometimes we must accept the unseen before we can truly appreciate the seen.
For hours
they walked with Jesus
as he explained the scriptures.
Their physical eyes were veiled
so their spiritual eyes
could be opened.
Once they were seeing
correcting spiritually,
God also opened
their physical eyes
and they recognized him.
How often are we
in the same position?
How often are we
going though life blind?
We see the mountain
of problems and issues
that lay before us.
They seem like
insurmountable obstacles
never ending list of duties.
We see our own
imperfections
failures
inadequacies.
And some days
we feel like
giving up
seeking distractions
running from reality.
What we may need
is to open
they eyes of our heart
and get a new glimpse
of Jesus!
If this past week
has made you feel
down and out
don’t give up.
Open your eyes
to see Jesus anew.
Doubting Thomas
Doubting Thomas
I’m sure you remember
the words of
doubting Thomas.
Jesus had resurrected
and appeared to 10 disciples.
Thomas was gone.
Thomas couldn’t
bring himself to believe
what they were saying!
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
He had seen
other miracles of Jesus...
lepers cleansed
paralyzed walking
demon possessed free
dead raised!!!!
But he would not believe
Jesus was alive!
He had seen
with his physical eyes.
But he refused to see
with the eyes of His heart.
How foolish!
How ignorant!
How human!
But Jesus had grace...
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
Jesus allowed him
to see with his physical eyes
so he could see with
his spiritual eyes.
Finally he believed
the word of
his companions.
But Jesus gives him
a gentle rebuke...
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
So often we
demand to see
end from beginning
before we trust God.
God rarely shows us
how he will provide for us
through the dark times.
He has proven
Himself enough times
in the past
and He expects
us to trust and obey.
Today God is asking us
to see with spiritual eyes.
to trust Him!
Keith
I have nothing
to help him...
All I can offer
is a prayer for peace.
to see God
in a dark place.
Appeal
Appeal
Don’t depend upon
physical sight
it will lead your wrong.
Depend upon
eyes of your heart
eyes of faith!
