WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:10.620 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:21.120 It's better to be blind and see with your heart than to have two good eyes and see nothing. 00:00:22.080 --> 00:00:26.519 You know who said that? If you were here for the meditation, you would know who said that. 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:33.539 We put it up there earlier. It's one of the most famous Alabamians ever, but not a football coach. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:41.700 It's someone who is blind and deaf from the age of one. 00:00:42.700 --> 00:00:49.799 When she was asked how hard it must be to be blind, Helen Keller said, 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:57.959 It's better to be blind and see with your heart than to have two good eyes and see nothing. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:07.900 She said a lot of other very wise things, but that one I think will help us as we think about our next passage in Luke this morning. 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:12.039 Luke 18. We're going to start reading in verse 31. 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:17.940 Look out early for the blindness of people with two good eyes. 00:01:19.240 --> 00:01:22.920 Then we're going to notice a blind man who sees with his heart. 00:01:23.960 --> 00:01:27.240 And finally see where Jesus fits in. 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:30.000 This is God's holy word. 00:01:30.620 --> 00:01:36.480 As Ron and the rest of you well know, this is the bedrock of what we're built on. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:41.719 It's God's word given to us that we might know him. 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:45.659 Our creator, our redeemer, our father. 00:01:46.359 --> 00:01:48.939 And that as we know him, we might know ourselves more. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:49.719 Isn't that exciting? 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:53.359 We're going to read starting at verse 31 of Luke 18. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:55.960 Taking the twelve, Jesus said to them, 00:01:56.460 --> 00:01:58.020 See, we're going up to Jerusalem, 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:02.460 and everything that's written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 00:02:02.459 --> 00:02:08.900 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 00:02:09.699 --> 00:02:14.000 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise. 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:16.780 But they understood none of these things. 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:20.740 This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. 00:02:22.340 --> 00:02:26.620 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:30.519 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.200 And they told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:38.000 And he cried out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.360 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. 00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:46.760 But he cried out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:02:48.420 --> 00:02:51.700 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:54.680 And when he came near, he asked him, 00:02:55.140 --> 00:02:57.379 What do you want me to do for you? 00:02:57.379 --> 00:03:00.620 He said, Lord, let me recover my sight. 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:04.419 Jesus said to him, Recover your sight. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:06.299 Your faith has made you well. 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:12.060 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. 00:03:12.299 --> 00:03:17.560 And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. 00:03:18.259 --> 00:03:18.800 Let's pray. 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:27.660 Father, for your word, for your Son, we give you great thanks. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:32.600 Would you teach us of him this morning by your Spirit? 00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:37.320 That we might rest in him. 00:03:37.480 --> 00:03:40.400 That we might rejoice in him. 00:03:40.480 --> 00:03:43.580 Even more than when we walked in these doors this morning. 00:03:45.140 --> 00:03:46.160 Speak to us. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:46.979 May we hear you. 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:48.740 In Jesus' name. 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:49.460 Amen. 00:03:52.840 --> 00:04:01.599 At the beginning of this passage, Jesus explains yet again his laser focus on Jerusalem and the cross. 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:07.840 And we talked last week about how glorious it is that he knows what he's headed towards there. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:09.819 The suffering and shame. 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:13.680 And yet he goes willingly because he loves us. 00:04:13.680 --> 00:04:18.720 But maybe surprisingly, the disciples don't get it. 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:21.780 Look at verse 34 again. 00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:26.519 They understood none of these things. 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:28.600 The saying was hidden from them. 00:04:28.900 --> 00:04:30.980 They did not grasp what was said. 00:04:31.780 --> 00:04:33.280 Luke's being very clear. 00:04:34.280 --> 00:04:35.519 They didn't get it at all. 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:43.000 Which is remarkable considering they're the closest people to Jesus, aren't they? 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:46.139 Nearly three years now they've been with him. 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:49.359 This is the most important thing Jesus is telling them. 00:04:49.359 --> 00:04:52.799 He's told them at least three times in Luke to this point. 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:56.620 And still they don't grasp what he's saying. 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:00.399 He's telling them about the very reason he's there. 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:03.339 The very essence of his mission. 00:05:03.339 --> 00:05:05.839 Dying. 00:05:07.179 --> 00:05:08.979 And then rising to new life. 00:05:09.139 --> 00:05:11.099 And they don't get it. 00:05:12.719 --> 00:05:18.319 I don't think they're the only ones who've ever been blind to what God was doing in their lives. 00:05:19.359 --> 00:05:19.919 Confused. 00:05:20.799 --> 00:05:21.759 Missing the point. 00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:26.839 Especially missing the part about down before up. 00:05:27.659 --> 00:05:30.399 Death before life. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:36.339 My whole last year of grad school I was looking for a job. 00:05:36.419 --> 00:05:38.259 Which is a good thing. 00:05:39.579 --> 00:05:44.199 Especially because we had a baby at the beginning of that last year. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.479 So I had a growing family to provide for. 00:05:46.599 --> 00:05:49.759 You know, of course God would want me to do that. 00:05:49.899 --> 00:05:54.019 So if I just looked around enough I'd find the right church soon. 00:05:54.019 --> 00:05:58.000 After all I was newly 25 myself. 00:05:58.939 --> 00:06:00.579 A lot to offer people. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:04.759 Well it didn't seem to go that way. 00:06:05.299 --> 00:06:08.199 As I had conversation after conversation. 00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:11.079 I began to do something I still do. 00:06:11.599 --> 00:06:13.819 And I'm still bad at doing. 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:18.659 Figuring out what God was going to do next. 00:06:18.660 --> 00:06:20.920 Oh I see. 00:06:21.200 --> 00:06:22.980 You'll protect me from this. 00:06:23.840 --> 00:06:25.160 You'll teach me that. 00:06:25.380 --> 00:06:26.020 Oh I see. 00:06:26.080 --> 00:06:27.760 You're going to open a door there. 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:30.200 Yet wrong. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.240 Virtually every time. 00:06:33.320 --> 00:06:34.980 And so we got close to graduation. 00:06:35.220 --> 00:06:36.980 And it narrowed down to one church. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:38.920 A really prestigious church. 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:40.260 In our denomination. 00:06:40.460 --> 00:06:41.460 And an interview set up. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:45.040 And so sure enough this seemed to be where God was taking us. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:47.720 And Christy and I went down and interviewed. 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:50.960 And we looked at each other. 00:06:51.260 --> 00:06:53.540 And no. 00:06:53.960 --> 00:06:55.939 God is not calling us here. 00:06:57.300 --> 00:06:59.100 We both knew that. 00:07:01.020 --> 00:07:05.920 But I just knew God wanted me to have a job at graduation. 00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:06.439 You know. 00:07:07.320 --> 00:07:09.680 Not only to provide for my family. 00:07:09.879 --> 00:07:11.780 But also to look good to my friends. 00:07:11.960 --> 00:07:15.000 Classmates were all talking about where they were going. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:16.319 At that point. 00:07:19.760 --> 00:07:22.240 I realized in that moment. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:24.100 Something I hadn't really considered. 00:07:26.140 --> 00:07:26.860 Graduating. 00:07:27.760 --> 00:07:28.480 Unwanted. 00:07:30.920 --> 00:07:32.600 Useless it seemed. 00:07:34.140 --> 00:07:35.840 Unattractive it felt. 00:07:37.520 --> 00:07:39.939 It was in those couple months of summer. 00:07:40.140 --> 00:07:43.200 That God began again in my life. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:44.199 A lifelong process. 00:07:44.199 --> 00:07:47.240 A lifelong process that I still often resist. 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:49.219 Of dying. 00:07:49.659 --> 00:07:53.939 To how wonderful and successful I was. 00:07:56.339 --> 00:07:59.659 The end of the summer was a church named Southwood. 00:07:59.719 --> 00:08:00.959 I guess y'all heard about that. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:04.639 And we're very grateful for that. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:08.199 But along the way. 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:10.979 That summer was a lot of time on my hands. 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:15.459 A lot of God opening my eyes to his greatness. 00:08:15.459 --> 00:08:18.299 Being better than my greatness. 00:08:18.300 --> 00:08:21.600 I had to confess that I was blind. 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:24.980 Because I didn't want to see that reality. 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:27.600 I didn't like it that way. 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:34.759 Maybe you've experienced the season or situation of blindness like that. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:37.039 Maybe for you it was when you got married. 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:40.720 And you thought it was supposed to be easy and make you feel good. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:45.480 And you had to have your eyes open to the sacrifice and struggle involved. 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:52.920 Maybe you thought going to church as a family meant that your kids would never struggle with any of the big things. 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:57.360 And you had to learn that wasn't true. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:04.720 Maybe you thought you could follow Jesus and not actually do any of the suffering and dying part. 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:09.600 The disciples had a hard time with that part. 00:09:10.300 --> 00:09:14.399 They often missed that that was part of the reality. 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:18.340 Peter could declare Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. 00:09:18.580 --> 00:09:21.759 And in the next breath say, but don't do that cross thing. 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:23.899 That's not okay. 00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:26.019 No, Jesus, no, there's a different way. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:27.680 Don't die. 00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:34.440 It's not the successful life we envision for ourselves, is it? 00:09:35.540 --> 00:09:41.420 Maybe your spiritual blindness comes from seeking to ignore Jesus your whole life any way you could. 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:47.680 Maybe the pursuit of wealth or success has blinded your eyes from anything else. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:49.379 Maybe you love control. 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:54.840 And when you can't explain what's going on in your life, 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:57.519 you just can't see anything clearly. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:03.940 The darkness of pain and suffering and brokenness has come into your life 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:07.740 and you're honestly still waiting for God to explain himself 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:10.740 before you'll trust him. 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:14.880 All sorts of blindness in our hearts. 00:10:16.180 --> 00:10:18.400 Walk with Jesus this morning. 00:10:18.540 --> 00:10:22.460 He wants to heal your blindness and give you sight. 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:28.139 But before we get to that, one other thing we need to see about our blindness. 00:10:29.280 --> 00:10:33.000 In the midst of it, we often miss Jesus' heart. 00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:34.720 His heart for others. 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:41.680 It happens here as Jesus and his followers approach Jericho in this blind beggar. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:45.379 And when he cries out for Jesus' attention, what happens? 00:10:45.540 --> 00:10:47.980 The leaders of the group shush him. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:54.540 The group traveling with Jesus, they hear this guy crying and they rebuke him. 00:10:54.540 --> 00:10:56.019 Verse 39. 00:10:56.420 --> 00:10:58.399 Telling him to be silent. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:02.519 They want to keep him away from Jesus, don't they? 00:11:03.559 --> 00:11:06.340 He's a distraction from the important place we're headed. 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:09.159 He's not worthy of the Master's time. 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:16.439 Interestingly, that word rebuke is the same word used when the disciples rebuke 00:11:16.439 --> 00:11:20.559 those bringing little children to Jesus earlier in this chapter. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:22.399 O for two. 00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:27.399 Jesus stops and engages this man too, doesn't he? 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:38.240 But we see again those right near Jesus actually hindering people from coming to Jesus. 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:43.340 I want us to stop and ask briefly, how might we be doing that? 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:54.019 Most of us could apologize to some child for snapping or glaring at them during a worship service 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:56.840 for, of all things, being children. 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.559 We think about this blind beggar. 00:12:01.240 --> 00:12:07.279 We have to ask ourselves if we have ever made someone feel like you don't look a certain way, 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:12.860 succeed at a certain level, or act in a certain decorum. 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:16.019 You can't really be a part of Jesus' company. 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:23.639 But I want to turn the question around to not just the negative, how have we hindered people, 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:26.919 kept them from Jesus, but what's the positive side of that? 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:29.879 Jesus with the little children says, don't hinder them here. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.759 He actually says, bring him to me. 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:39.879 If we're not hindering people, we are bringing them to Jesus, praying for them, 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:48.500 sharing the good news in your story with them, inviting them into Jesus' community to hear his word. 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:53.259 We have a long list of excuses. 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:56.200 That's inconvenient. 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:59.019 I don't have the time. 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:02.000 It's too hard. 00:13:02.639 --> 00:13:04.240 I don't have the answers. 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:08.200 They wouldn't fit. 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:14.220 He's not really the kind of guy who would be open to spiritual things. 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:21.620 But God has placed people in your path so that you can bring them to Jesus. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.300 That's all. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:25.100 Just point them to him. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.420 Some of you sit in the offices of CEOs and generals, 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:34.420 and you're one of few people who's seen them actually despair. 00:13:35.680 --> 00:13:40.700 And in those moments, the temptation is to butter them up and tell them how wonderful they are and they're great. 00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:41.759 Don't do that. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:44.419 Tell them there's hope in Jesus. 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:52.340 Others, if you walk with people through broken relationships and situations, 00:13:53.439 --> 00:13:56.200 don't try to explain their pain. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.319 Tell them there's hope in Jesus. 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:08.720 There's all sorts of people in your life that God's put you there to point them to Jesus. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:11.580 Y'all, this is why God has you in your family. 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:16.100 In your neighborhood, in your office, in your school. 00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:21.159 He's put you there so that you can point others to him. 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:24.580 That you might bring people to Jesus. 00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:27.139 That you might reflect his heart for them. 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.580 Don't miss his heart. 00:14:28.580 --> 00:14:34.620 No matter who they are or what it costs, show them Jesus. 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:45.200 The blindness of those near Jesus is evident here as it all too often is for us. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:51.840 Two good eyes, but not seeing the sacrificial mission required. 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:54.960 Or the benevolent heart of Jesus. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:15:00.540 But there's a man whose heart sees clearly, isn't there? 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:07.160 Let's walk with Jesus as he shows his disciples some things they must see. 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:09.379 Verse 35. 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:14.899 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:19.059 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:21.899 And they told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:25.860 And he cried out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:30.159 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:34.559 But he cried out all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:15:35.559 --> 00:15:36.259 Can you hear him? 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:41.740 This blind man clearly sees his need, doesn't he? 00:15:44.219 --> 00:15:45.539 He's crying out. 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.659 He's desperate. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:51.860 Even when they shush him and they try to put him off, he cries out all the more. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.339 And for what? 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.259 Mercy. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.659 Mercy. 00:15:58.659 --> 00:16:00.899 Later he says, let me see. 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:04.340 I don't know how long he'd been there begging. 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:10.360 But needless to say, he felt the weight of his desperate situation. 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:17.939 And he also had time to consider the things he'd heard about this Jesus of Nazareth. 00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:22.360 And he saw clearly who Jesus was. 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:25.179 The solution to his situation, right? 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:27.739 Son of David. 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.559 A title. 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:34.159 Identifying Jesus as the promised Messiah King. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:36.159 The rescuer of God's people. 00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:39.519 The one announced in Luke 4 from the prophet Isaiah. 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:42.559 Would proclaim recovery of sight for the blind. 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:45.599 Would preach the good news to the poor. 00:16:45.719 --> 00:16:47.679 Would proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.240 This is that guy. 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:53.500 Don't miss the divine healing miracle here, right? 00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:58.320 Where Jesus speaks and immediately the blind man sees, doesn't he? 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:01.159 All the people know. 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:05.279 Only God works like this. 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:07.460 See what Jesus is doing? 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.380 As he's stopped to talk to this guy. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:11.500 He's pulling back the curtain for his disciples. 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:16.480 He's saying, you're struggling with who I am and where I'm headed. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:18.319 Look at who I am. 00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:21.940 It's important for you to hear it from the blind man. 00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:23.140 Listen to him. 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.339 He'll tell you who I am. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.940 How people should respond to that. 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:31.860 I am the divine Messiah, Jesus says. 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:35.860 The blind man sees who is here. 00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:38.779 Jesus, son of David. 00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:41.639 I know you're full of mercy. 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:44.779 Don't leave without blessing me. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:47.859 It doesn't matter what they might do to me. 00:17:48.159 --> 00:17:49.319 You're my only hope. 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.359 Save me. 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:59.779 See, these two things, seeing our need and seeing Jesus, go together, don't they? 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:03.859 I love the way Roy and Revel Hessian say it. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:05.719 It's a bit long, but really helpful. 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:16.019 To see Jesus is to apprehend him as the supply of our present needs and believingly to lay hold on him as such. 00:18:16.939 --> 00:18:20.240 The Lord Jesus is always seen through the eye of need. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:25.059 He is presented to us in the scriptures not for our academic contemplation and delight, 00:18:25.439 --> 00:18:28.699 but for our desperate need as sinners and weaklings. 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:35.240 The acknowledgement of need and confession of sin, therefore, is always the first step in seeing Jesus. 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:39.080 Then, where there is acknowledged need, 00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:48.700 the Holy Spirit delights to show to the heart the Lord Jesus as the supply of just that need. 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:58.279 The blind man sees his need and sees Jesus as the supply of that need. 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:01.420 What the blind man shows here, 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:06.620 what the Hessians call seeing Jesus through the eye of need, 00:19:06.740 --> 00:19:10.299 what Helen Keller calls seeing with your heart, 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:13.620 it's a beautiful image of faith. 00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:16.919 Faith, as Jesus calls it in verse 42. 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:24.199 Faith is how you respond when you see your need and you see Jesus. 00:19:25.199 --> 00:19:26.939 It's not complicated. 00:19:28.459 --> 00:19:34.000 You simply receive and rest on Jesus, as we said earlier. 00:19:34.139 --> 00:19:36.359 But let me give you a picture of faith. 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:43.439 When my family went deep into Mammoth Cave in Kentucky last year, 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.799 we got to that spot. 00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:47.679 Many of you have been to places like this in caves before, 00:19:47.959 --> 00:19:49.659 where all the lights go out. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:52.099 Where you can't see anything. 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:54.279 You can't even wave your hand in front of your face. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:55.339 You don't know it's there. 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:58.159 It's the closest I've ever felt to being blind. 00:19:59.839 --> 00:20:01.839 We knew it was coming at some point, 00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:03.979 so I was holding our five-year-old. 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:06.599 But they didn't tell us exactly when, 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:09.440 and so when all of the sudden the lights went out, 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.480 I felt two things very quickly. 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:15.460 The first was an absolute death squeeze on my upper body. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:21.299 The second was a death squeeze on my leg. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.779 Christy was terrified. 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.720 No, no, no, no. 00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:26.160 We have two other girls. 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:30.980 And I felt both of those in that same moment. 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:36.019 That clinging to dad is faith. 00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.860 Why did they do that? 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:43.799 Well, simply because they felt their need in that moment. 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:45.480 Hopeless on their own. 00:20:47.099 --> 00:20:51.700 And they had learned that I was safe to trust to care for them. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:55.839 They didn't have everything analyzed or figured out. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:21:00.619 They didn't know exactly why they couldn't see all of a sudden. 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:05.019 They didn't know exactly what my skills in navigating through darkness were. 00:21:05.339 --> 00:21:06.740 They certainly didn't know that. 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:10.439 But they clung to me. 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.779 That's faith. 00:21:14.179 --> 00:21:16.899 We all have faith in something. 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:25.280 Very simply, it's what you cling to when the lights go out and your life is on the line. 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:27.740 What do you cling to then? 00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:31.740 Your own intellectual prowess? 00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.820 Your success? 00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:37.259 Someone else's stability? 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.980 Universal karma? 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.079 Huh? 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:50.140 The question is, the object of your faith, will it really hold? 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.599 Will it come through? 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:53.579 Will it save you? 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:59.839 Jesus says this, if he is the object of your faith, yes, he will. 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.279 In fact, he doesn't just say that. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:02.839 He shows it, doesn't he? 00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:04.319 He shows the blind man. 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.599 He heals him. 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.200 Your faith has made you well. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:14.980 It's a word for holistic healing for both physical and spiritual healing. 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:20.059 And I was thinking this week, did the blind man understand all that lay ahead? 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:27.080 When as an exercise of his faith, he followed Jesus to Jerusalem? 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.880 I doubt it. 00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:35.340 Did you know why he'd been blind all those years? 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:38.400 And what God was doing in his life? 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.640 I doubt it. 00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:51.559 He knew Jesus was the safe one to cling to, to rest in, to shape his life around. 00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:53.519 There was no one else for him to follow. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.559 His heart saw that clearly. 00:22:56.980 --> 00:23:03.059 Not all the answers and explanations, but the one that he could trust. 00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:07.099 That's where this passage takes us. 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:21.039 From the blindness of seeing people, to the sight of the blind man, and finally to the one who cures all blindness. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:23.039 To Jesus himself. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.539 To Jesus himself. 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:28.339 Jesus, with a word, heals the blind man. 00:23:29.639 --> 00:23:38.079 It's a picture, again, we've seen it over and over in Luke, of the restoration that Jesus is bringing to all of creation. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:40.419 It's remarkable. 00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:42.500 Healing a blind man. 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:48.399 But notice briefly just a couple remarkable details in this story. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:24:00.159 This man cries out in desperation, but ignoring him, Jesus continues steadfastly toward Jerusalem as he just reminded his disciples that he must do and that's where he must go. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.220 No. 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.019 No. 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.680 Verse 40. 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:13.640 Jesus stopped. 00:24:15.600 --> 00:24:19.140 He hasn't been doing that on the way to Jerusalem, has he? 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:22.259 Jesus stopped. 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:28.660 His magnificent mission is never so grand. 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.660 He's never so grand. 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:31.800 That it overlooks the least. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:36.779 Jesus is never rushing by you. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:43.860 He's never, he's never looking past you. 00:24:45.320 --> 00:24:52.279 Even on his way to the cross, he's not losing sight of you. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:55.860 You're on his heart. 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:58.420 He stops. 00:24:58.660 --> 00:24:59.660 He stops. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.660 He stops. 00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:03.660 And then he asks this remarkable question. 00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:08.259 What do you want me to do for you? 00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:17.480 He dignifies this man by allowing him to express his need, but what a question. 00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:27.480 The divine Messiah says, what do you want me to do for you? 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.960 Save me. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.120 Rescue me. 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:40.539 Remove the blindness of my eyes or perhaps today of my heart. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:52.539 The point of seeing who Jesus is here is that he heals. 00:25:52.539 --> 00:26:07.599 His kingdom breaks in and reverses the brokenness of the world, lifting up the lowest, giving yet another proof that he is the one who can heal whatever the blindness or the brokenness is. 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:27.679 In other words, if you're here this morning and you see any of your spiritual blindness, then Jesus, the promised solution to your problem is stopping for you. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.680 Jesus is showing you. 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:35.680 Jesus is showing you that you can trust him, that you can cling to him. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:43.840 And your confusion, your darkness, your doubts are safe with him. 00:26:43.840 --> 00:26:47.340 He wants us all to see him. 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:50.159 That's why he's walking with us. 00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:56.959 That's why he's asking us to come along with him as he heals this blind man and talks to him about who he is. 00:26:57.240 --> 00:27:02.240 Today, Jesus is asking, what do you want me to do for you? 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:05.419 And he's already got the answer for you too. 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:08.980 He's already gone to the cross. 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:16.779 Jesus, willingly entered into your darkness and purchased your healing. 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:22.180 He is restoring this whole broken world. 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:26.599 He alone can heal what ails you. 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:34.860 And he stops today to offer you hope in your despair. 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:39.619 To offer you help in your need. 00:27:42.619 --> 00:27:56.479 As I was reading this story this week, one thing that the Holy Spirit really impressed on my heart was the urgency that this blind man felt in his situation. 00:27:56.939 --> 00:27:58.639 And I say this, I want to be very careful. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:09.640 I say this not to manipulate you, but rather to encourage you to consider seriously what Jesus asks and offers to you today. 00:28:10.800 --> 00:28:15.940 The blind man cries out to Jesus and can't be silenced. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:18.360 Why do you think that is? 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:27.699 He heard who this was and he knows well that Jesus is not coming to hang out for a few weeks outside the gates of Jericho. 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:30.479 Jesus is passing by, isn't he? 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:36.519 The blind man, this is a guy he's heard about and never encountered. 00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:39.819 And this is now his one chance. 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:48.339 The Savior is here asking him, what do you want me to do for you? 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:55.200 And none of us knows if we will hear him ask us that again. 00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:01.000 None of us is guaranteed our next breath, are we? 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:03.740 We don't control that. 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:10.620 Our hope for eternity is walking by this morning. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:18.019 And we don't know if we'll have an opportunity to have him walk by us like this again. 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:21.579 He's asking, what can I do for you? 00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:26.859 Maybe you've been hanging around Jesus a long time and you've been blind to his heart. 00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:34.879 Or maybe this is the first time you've ever come face to face with Jesus and really considered who he is. 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:38.899 If you've never seen him for who he truly is. 00:29:39.159 --> 00:29:48.019 If you've never thrown yourself upon him and clung to him desperately as the Savior and Lord that you can't live without. 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:52.899 Then don't leave here this morning without crying out to him. 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.339 Have mercy on me. 00:29:55.339 --> 00:30:04.119 Don't leave here today without saying, Lord Jesus, I don't even know who you are, but I need you. 00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:06.500 Help me. 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:12.039 Come and talk to a friend next to you. 00:30:12.839 --> 00:30:14.480 Come to the prayer room after the service. 00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.619 Talk with one of our elders. 00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:17.119 Come grab me. 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:20.399 You can cry out to him on your own. 00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:22.199 Talk to him right where you are. 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:24.879 But don't leave today. 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:26.000 Don't leave today. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.339 Don't leave today. 00:30:26.339 --> 00:30:26.839 Don't leave today. 00:30:26.839 --> 00:30:35.000 Without meeting with Jesus who's here by his spirit through his word saying to you, what do you want me to do for you? 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.459 And we need him. 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:44.679 Say, Jesus, give me faith to trust you when I don't know. 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:47.639 When I don't understand. 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:50.880 When I want to give up. 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:50.900 When I want to give up. 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:56.380 Jesus, give me eyes to see. 00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:58.640 To see you. 00:31:01.140 --> 00:31:04.060 Father, that is what we need. 00:31:07.060 --> 00:31:12.580 Would you by your spirit have scales fall from our eyes? 00:31:12.579 --> 00:31:12.679 Jesus. 00:31:13.679 --> 00:31:20.539 We all need Jesus and we don't like being needy. 00:31:23.419 --> 00:31:25.839 Would you show us that this morning? 00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:29.519 Would you show us how safe it is? 00:31:31.399 --> 00:31:33.879 To bring needs to you? 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:39.100 Because Jesus meets all of our needs. 00:31:42.700 --> 00:31:43.900 Come Holy Spirit. 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:49.900 Show us Jesus in his glory and beauty. 00:31:50.540 --> 00:31:51.640 Give us faith. 00:31:53.100 --> 00:31:55.360 That we don't have on our own. 00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:57.860 Teach us to trust him. 00:31:58.040 --> 00:31:59.380 Teach us to rest. 00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:03.960 Teach us to cling to him when we don't understand. 00:32:05.260 --> 00:32:10.680 Because he's shown us that he is safe to trust. 00:32:13.340 --> 00:32:16.140 Work in our hearts, we ask in Jesus' name. 00:32:16.840 --> 00:32:17.120 Amen. 00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:25.120 For more information, visit us online at southwood.org. 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.460 Peace. 00:32:30.540 --> 00:32:31.220 Peace. 00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:33.020 crews of timer física. 00:32:34.300 --> 00:32:34.380 Episode 3 00:32:35.020 --> 00:32:36.520 People who have heard 00:32:37.260 --> 00:32:37.980 from the lips are high okay. 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.260 Finally, give me the music to the mercy. 00:32:40.260 --> 00:32:41.200 地方 00:32:41.280 --> 00:32:42.400 Biates Oari. 00:32:42.600 --> 00:32:43.320 To be continuedilateralism. 00:32:43.320 --> 00:32:44.260 anonymously here again. 00:32:44.260 --> 00:32:45.240 seem on mute. 00:32:46.520 --> 00:32:46.880 People have heard nothing. 00:32:47.060 --> 00:32:47.880 If we know where you are going toapa demand, 00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:48.800 they became the guest. 00:32:49.140 --> 00:32:50.200 That we can specify in the cup of time. 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:51.060 For more Matthew do statements, 00:32:51.580 --> 00:32:52.620 people should be shared with you. 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:54.220 Before we tell, 00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:55.840 lots of people have Gardaña精 00:32:55.840 --> 00:32:56.620 from Desi. 00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:57.420 Most people have become the guest. 00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:59.140 Welcome to the guest.