Sight Takes Eyes; Seeing Takes Faith

INTRO

One of my favorite actors passed away a few years ago. He was the somewhat cross-eyed actor of the detective show that lasted on the tube for 32 years. I always wondered why he looked that way until I recently learned that Columbo actually had a glass eye. You see, when he was 3 years old, he had a cancerous tumor which had to be removed along with his eyeball. He lived the rest of his life with a glass eye.

One of my favorite actors passed away a few years ago. He was the somewhat cross-eyed actor of the detective show that lasted on the tube for 32 years. I always wondered why he looked that way until I recently learned that Columbo actually had a glass eye. You see, when he was 3 years old, he had a cancerous tumor which had to be removed along with his eyeball. He lived the rest of his life with a glass eye.

But he didn’t allow it to cramp his style nor take away his sense of humor. When he was in high school, he played baseball. Sliding into third one day, the umpire called him out when he knew he was safe. Without a hesitation, he pulled out his glass eyeball and handed it to the umpire. “Hey Mr. Ump,” he said, “You’ll do a better job with this!”

Ouch! He was telling that umpire that while sight takes eyes, many people have sight but they just can’t see.

Dr. Katrina Firlik was a neurosurgery resident at the University of Pittsburgh. In her last year of residency, she was already becoming a bit jaded to the tragedy of brain injury. One day she walked into the room of a new out of town patient. It was an 18 year-old patient with cerebral palsey. Her brain went on automatic and she was thinking “Alright, alright, I’ve ssen it all before. I just need to get a good history before the attending physician comes in.” She said, “I looked at the patient for a second: very skinny, special wheelchair, arms contracted, head support in place, mouth hung open. It was clear I wasn't going to get the story from him, so I turned to the parents, my back toward the patient, and started to take down the history.

When the attending physician walked in he introduced himself, sat at the table looked at the patient in the eye and asked, “So when did you graduate from High School?” The patient was wearing a large high-school ring, so large that it looked a little silly on his bony finger. His body, far more than his mind, had borne the brunt of his cerebral palsy. He was a proud, beaming high-school graduate, who used a specialized computer to help him communicate. For the remainder of the visit I sat in the corner, duncelike, humbled by the enormity of this ring now staring me in the face. It’s so easy to look without seeing. Sometimes, even when the truth is staring us in the face, we just can’t see.

Background

You see this happening in the text today. We’re in the second gospel in your New Testament: The book of Mark. It was written by a guy named John Mark who was probably a follower of Jesus who traveled with the Apostle Peter and heard him preach message after message. This gospel of Mark probably records the life of Christ from an Apostle who had walked with Him.

If you’ve been following along with us as we are reading through the gospels, you read this past week. In this chapter you find two very familiar stories: The feeding of the 5000 and the account of Jesus walking on the water. Though they seem to be disconnected stories when you first read them, there is a very strong link between them. The last part of v 51 says that, after Jesus feeds all of those people, walks on the water and even calms the wind, that they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure. That seems like a normal reaction on it’s face, but the text goes on to say that they were so amazed, v52, For they had not understood about the loves (watch this!) BECAUSE THEIR HEART WAS HARDENED. I think Mark is trying to tell us that the disciples, by this point, should have been EXPECTING Jesus to do things like this because they recognized that He was the Son of God. Instead, they were blown away. They should have seen that He was God, but their hearts were hardened.

Which teaches us this definitive truth: SIGHT TAKES EYES; SEEING TAKES FAITH. I say that because the disciples had observed all that had happened that day. They had looked, but they hadn’t really seen because their hearts were hard.

Need

And I know, I know, you’re probably saying, “That’s great, Rusty, but what does that have to do with me? Why should I listen to a message on two stories that are already so familiar to me?” I think the answer is very simple, really. I think this should matter to you because you might be looking for some change in your own life that just hasn’t happened yet. You know you’re supposed to belong to Jesus and your life is supposed to be different from what it used to be but it’s not. You that temper that haunts you and ruins your relationships should be under control because you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, but that just isn’t the case. You keep losing it and hurting the ones you love.

Maybe you’re carrying around a boatload of fear. You know that God’s promises have to be true because He made them to people like you, but it doesn’t help you take the risk you need to take some how. You’re still paralyzed by great fear.

Maybe you’re struggling with addiction. You know that Jesus is supposed to mean more to you than your bottle or your pipe, or your pictures but He seems so far away when you’re tempted. I don’t know what it is for you, but you know that following Jesus was supposed to bring life change that it just doesn’t seem to be bringing, and you’re getting really frustrated.

May I just make a suggestion? Maybe your problem isn’t about what you’re DOING; maybe your problem is about what you’re SEEING. Maybe seeing—really seeing—Jesus for Who He is would bring the change you can’t seem to work up.

Trans

So here’s the question: What does it mean to really see Jesus? Well, let’s look at these two stories and try to answer that question. In the first place:

Seeing Means Seeking

ILL

ILL

Some of you might remember a guy who came to this church over 10 years ago now. His name was Rick Alonzo. He was a Kung Fu Artist. He combined marital arts with painting. (Don’t try to figure it out—just go with it!) The only thing I really remember the whole thing was a technique he used. He would paint and paint and you’d be looking at it thinking, “This dude has no clue what he is doing,” then, at the end, he’d turn the painting over and it would be a picture of great meaning. (If you have pics show them) This (pic one) would become this (pic 2). That’s kind of what is going on in the feeding of the 5000.

EXP

says,

So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.

If you’re just reading along in the gospel of Mark, you might be tempted to think that this feeding is just an accidental thing, but I believe Jesus is painting a picture with this miracle. Follow me: Where did the Israelites go immediately upon leaving Egypt? Into the Wilderness. That’s where Jesus goes.

And what did God do for the people of Israel in the wilderness? He provided rest for them from their slavery. Jesus takes the disciples into the wilderness for rest. What else did God provide? He gave them manna for food every day. In this account, Jesus also provides food for the people.

Hey! Jesus is drawing a perfect picture for people if they will just see it. He is fulfilling the prophecy Moses gave in when he is about to leave the leadership of the people. He said,

“Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” And He was also fulfilling the prophecy of Ezekiel where God promised: I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

You see this is no accidental miracle. Jesus is drawing a perfect picture for the disciples: He is the great Shepherd who was coming to feed the sheep, yet Mark says in v52 that the disciples did not understand about the bread. Their hearts were hard.

Application

And here’s the point: God is constantly revealing Himself in a thousand different ways if we will just open our eyes and see Him. He longs to be known by us. He longs for us to experience His presence and be changed by Him, but we must be open to what He is revealing. We must be willing to see Him as He is and for what He reveals, not for as we want to see Him and wish He was.

Some people seem to expect things from God that He has never promised. His revelation comes in His time, in His way, to those who are really seeking Him.

Transition

If we want to be changed through our relationship with Christ, we must see Him for Who He is and seeing—really seeing—means looking for what He is revealing. But there’s something else that really seeing Him means.

Seeing means Feeling

EXP:

Occasionally you will run across a verse as you read scripture that just amazes you especially when it talks about how much Jesus loved and showed His love to others. is one of those verses. It says

Occasionally you will run across a verse as you read scripture that just amazes you especially when it talks about how much Jesus loved and showed His love to others. is one of those verses. It says

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

Those verses amaze me not only because of who Jesus is, but also because of the circumstances Jesus was in. After some exhausting ministry He is stealing away with His disciples for rest. But, when He arrives in the wilderness for some R and R, He finds the desolate wilderness to be a mini-metropolis. Over 5000 await His arrival. So what does He do?

What did Jesus see?

Well, that’s a good question but, asked alone, it cannot explain what happens. V34 tells us that, before Jesus acts to help the people, something happens in His heart. It says that He is moved with compassion for them. Now the reason He shows such compassion is because they were like sheep who do not have a shepherd. And His compassion moves Him to act. He begins to teach the people and, even though He and the disciples are exhausted, He teaches them all day.

What did the disciples see?

But the disciples didn’t see the people that way. Instead of seeing people whom they could help, they were overwhelmed. After all, they were tired and there were just way too many people here for them to do anything to meet their needs. Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t so what did they do? Well, nothing. They just wanted to send the people away.

Now what was the problem here? The problem was that they were not seeing as Jesus was seeing and, since they were not seeing what Jesus was seeing, they were not feeling what Jesus was feeling. Mark it down! You and I will never want to genuinely help others until we see what Jesus sees and feel what Jesus feels. We’ll always send away our opportunities until we see as He sees.

ILL -

Mary Poplin discovered the difference it makes to see what Jesus sees. It happened during an extended visit with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. Dr. Poplin was trying to care for a five-month-old infant who was deformed, constantly sick, and often miserable. Because the infant was so unattractive and needy, Dr. Poplin always found ways to avoid feeding this child, but one day it was unavoidable. She writes:

Mary Poplin discovered the difference it makes to see what Jesus sees. It happened during an extended visit with Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity. Dr. Poplin was trying to care for a five-month-old infant who was deformed, constantly sick, and often miserable. Because the infant was so unattractive and needy, Dr. Poplin always found ways to avoid feeding this child, but one day it was unavoidable. She writes:

When feeding time was over, the babies were falling asleep in their bassinettes, and I was getting ready to go …. I glanced at the infants on my way out [the door] and noticed that undigested formula was dripping out of this child's bassinette. He had thrown up what must have been the entire eight-ounce bottle. Looking around for someone to tell as I left [the room], I saw no one in the infant area, and the few adults in the room had their hands full with other children.

So I decided, with no little struggle, to stay and clean up the mess. I put on my apron again, lifted the baby out of his bassinette and helped him on my shoulder as I began to gather the dirty sheets together and use them to wipe up the mess. As I was cleaning, I heard a muffled sound from the infant in my arms. Tears were pouring out of his eyes, and the only sound he could make was a convulsive sob.

As I looked at him, I saw in myself what Jeremiah called "the desperate wickedness of the heart." I realized I had approached this task with a spirit of resistance and impatience. I had thought very little, if at all, about this child and his needs, other than to be clean. As I threw the sheets into the laundry pile, I began to bathe his little misshapen body and change his clothes. Afterward I held him to me tightly as I … looked at him, rocked him, and prayed …. In a short time, he was asleep ….

I must tell you that the moment I saw him weeping and realized the wretchedness in my heart, I knew it was sin. There was no doubt in my mind that this is what Christ meant when he said, "Out of the heart come evil thoughts." I asked Christ to forgive and change me. In those moments as I rocked the baby, I could feel Christ's work inside my spirit just as surely as if he were sitting next to me.

TRANS: If we want to be changed through our relationship with Christ, we must see Him for Who He is and seeing—really seeing—means looking for what He is revealing and it means feeling what He feels. But there’s something else that really seeing Him means.

When feeding time was over, the babies were falling asleep in their bassinettes, and I was getting ready to go …. I glanced at the infants on my way out [the door] and noticed that undigested formula was dripping out of this child's bassinette. He had thrown up what must have been the entire eight-ounce bottle. Looking around for someone to tell as I left [the room], I saw no one in the infant area, and the few adults in the room had their hands full with other children.

So I decided, with no little struggle, to stay and clean up the mess. I put on my apron again, lifted the baby out of his bassinette and helped him on my shoulder as I began to gather the dirty sheets together and use them to wipe up the mess. As I was cleaning, I heard a muffled sound from the infant in my arms. Tears were pouring out of his eyes, and the only sound he could make was a convulsive sob.

Seeing means depending

As I looked at him, I saw in myself what Jeremiah called "the desperate wickedness of the heart." I realized I had approached this task with a spirit of resistance and impatience. I had thought very little, if at all, about this child and his needs, other than to be clean. As I threw the sheets into the laundry pile, I began to bathe his little misshapen body and change his clothes. Afterward I held him to me tightly as I … looked at him, rocked him, and prayed …. In a short time, he was asleep ….

The disciples had an impossible job.

I must tell you that the moment I saw him weeping and realized the wretchedness in my heart, I knew it was sin. There was no doubt in my mind that this is what Christ meant when he said, "Out of the heart come evil thoughts." I asked Christ to forgive and change me. In those moments as I rocked the baby, I could feel Christ's work inside my spirit just as surely as if he were sitting next to me.

EXP: At one level, you can’t really blame the disciples for a lack of willingness to provide for the people. After all, their resources were really limited. You see that in their answer to Jesus’s question. He asks them in v38 “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” In John’s account the disciples ask the obvious question, But what are these among so many. They had a dilemma: They had been given a command by their Master and they don’t have the resources to perform it. They are given an impossible job.

An Impossible job becomes an incredible opportunity.

EXP: But that impossible job becomes an incredible opportunity! Jesus wants to use their inadequacy to show them Who He is. And you want to know the most incredible part of this? It is that question He asks: How many loaves do you have? Now, don’t miss this truth. The One asking the is the one that John would later wrote created everything. Hey, get this straight! Jesus really didn’t need their help! He could have created lobster and T-bone on the spot and fed all of these people many times over, but He still asks the question: How many loaves do YOU have? Notice, He doesn’t ask them for what they DON’T have, but for what they DO have. He knew their resources were limited, but He, in the great mystery of His grace, was asking them to JOIN HIM in meeting this need. They didn’t have to meet the need, they only had to surrender their resources to Him and watch Him meet the need through them. Wow! That’s awesome!

When I depend on Him my impossible job becomes His incredible opportunity.

APP - Do you see the incredible implication of this? Jesus invites us into His work. He’s got the power. He’s got the answer. He has the resources, but He takes our five loaves and two fish and uses it, which just means one thing: If I am to see lives change through His power, I must learn to depend on Him and not on myself. My impossible job can be my incredible opportunity if I cooperate with Him; my limited resources can connect with His limitless grace if I will just depend on Him. And when He takes my little bit and infuses it with His grace, it isn’t just the people around me who are impacted. It changes my life too! And it all begins with simply seeing that what He is after is not for me to figure out how to fix this world. What He is after is for me to put all of me on the table for Him and then let Him multiply it. Seeing means depending!