Seeing Jesus: Overcoming Spiritual Blindness Through Faith
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound narratives found in Luke 18, focusing on the rich young ruler, the twelve disciples, and the blind beggar. These stories reveal different aspects of spiritual blindness and the journey to truly seeing Jesus. The rich young ruler, despite his adherence to the law, was blinded by self-righteousness and wealth. He approached Jesus with the question of eternal life but left saddened, unable to part with his possessions. This encounter teaches us that self-righteousness and material wealth can obscure our vision of Jesus and hinder our spiritual journey.
The twelve disciples, despite their close relationship with Jesus, were blinded by their expectations of a conquering Messiah. They struggled to comprehend Jesus' foretelling of His suffering and resurrection, illustrating how preconceived notions and lack of understanding can cloud our perception of Jesus' true mission. This reminds us that even as believers, we can be blinded by our own expectations and misunderstandings.
In contrast, the blind beggar, though physically unable to see, recognized Jesus as the Messiah, calling Him "Son of David." His faith, born from hearing about Jesus' miracles, granted him spiritual sight and physical healing. This story emphasizes the power of faith to open our spiritual eyes and recognize Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
As we reflect on these narratives, we are reminded of the importance of humility, faith, and the willingness to let go of worldly attachments to truly see and follow Jesus. We are called to open the eyes of our hearts, to see Jesus for who He truly is, and to embrace the gift of eternal life through faith.
Key Takeaways:
1. Self-Righteousness and Wealth as Spiritual Blinders: The rich young ruler's story illustrates how self-righteousness and attachment to wealth can blind us to the true nature of Jesus. Despite his adherence to the law, his inability to part with his possessions revealed a deeper spiritual blindness. We must recognize that our righteousness comes from faith in Jesus, not from our own deeds. [49:33]
2. The Danger of Misunderstanding Jesus' Mission: The disciples' struggle to understand Jesus' prediction of His suffering and resurrection highlights how preconceived notions can obscure our understanding of His true mission. We must be open to the full revelation of Jesus, beyond our expectations, to truly grasp His purpose in our lives. [01:06:54]
3. Faith as the Key to Spiritual Sight: The blind beggar's faith, despite his physical blindness, allowed him to see Jesus as the Messiah. This story teaches us that faith is essential for spiritual sight, enabling us to recognize Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Faith comes from hearing and embracing the Word of God. [01:12:38]
4. The Role of Humility in Spiritual Clarity: The humility of the blind beggar, who called out to Jesus despite being rebuked by the crowd, demonstrates the importance of humility in gaining spiritual clarity. We must approach Jesus with a humble heart, acknowledging our need for His mercy and grace. [01:11:45]
5. The Gift of Eternal Life Through Faith: Eternal life is a gift from God, not earned by our works but received through faith in Jesus Christ. We are called to accept this gift by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection, which assures us of salvation and eternal life. [57:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [39:06] - Introduction and Personal Reflections
- [40:18] - Prayer and Purpose
- [42:05] - Context of Luke 18
- [43:32] - Groups of People in the Study
- [44:46] - Three Key Questions
- [45:49] - The Rich Young Ruler
- [47:21] - Jesus' Response to the Ruler
- [49:24] - Self-Righteousness and Wealth
- [51:09] - Addressing Spiritual Blindness
- [52:17] - The Law and Righteousness
- [53:54] - The Rich Young Ruler's Dilemma
- [55:19] - The Possibility of Redemption
- [57:04] - The Gift of Eternal Life
- [01:05:31] - The Twelve Disciples' Misunderstanding
- [01:10:25] - The Blind Beggar's Faith
- [01:14:43] - Blessing and Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 18:18-43
- Ephesians 2:8-9
- Romans 10:9-10
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Observation Questions:
1. What question did the rich young ruler ask Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to him? ([45:49])
2. How did the disciples react to Jesus' prediction of His suffering and resurrection? ([01:05:31])
3. What was the blind beggar's response when he heard Jesus was passing by, and how did Jesus respond to him? ([01:10:25])
4. What did Jesus say about the difficulty for the rich to enter the kingdom of God, and what was the disciples' reaction? ([47:21])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of the rich young ruler illustrate the concept of self-righteousness and its impact on spiritual vision? ([49:24])
2. In what ways did the disciples' expectations of Jesus as a conquering Messiah affect their understanding of His true mission? ([01:06:54])
3. How does the faith of the blind beggar contrast with the spiritual blindness of the rich young ruler and the disciples? ([01:12:38])
4. What role does humility play in gaining spiritual clarity, as demonstrated by the blind beggar's interaction with Jesus? ([01:11:45])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where self-righteousness or material wealth might be blinding you to the true nature of Jesus? How can you address these areas? ([49:24])
2. Consider your expectations of Jesus and His mission. Are there preconceived notions that might be clouding your understanding of His purpose in your life? How can you open yourself to a fuller revelation of Jesus? ([01:06:54])
3. The blind beggar's faith was born from hearing about Jesus' miracles. How can you cultivate a faith that sees Jesus as your Savior and Lord, even amidst physical or spiritual challenges? ([01:12:38])
4. Humility was key for the blind beggar in gaining spiritual sight. How can you practice humility in your daily walk with Jesus, acknowledging your need for His mercy and grace? ([01:11:45])
5. Eternal life is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. Have you fully embraced this gift, and how does it impact your daily life and decisions? ([57:04])
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to let go of worldly attachments to follow Jesus more closely. What steps can you take this week to begin this process? ([49:24])
7. How can you actively open the eyes of your heart to see Jesus for who He truly is, and what practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him? ([01:14:43])
Devotional
Day 1: The Illusion of Self-Righteousness and Wealth
The story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18 highlights the spiritual blindness that can result from self-righteousness and attachment to material wealth. Despite his strict adherence to the law, the young ruler's inability to part with his possessions revealed a deeper spiritual blindness. This narrative teaches us that our righteousness comes not from our deeds but from faith in Jesus. The ruler's sadness upon leaving Jesus underscores the emptiness of relying on wealth and self-righteousness for spiritual fulfillment. We are reminded that true vision of Jesus requires letting go of worldly attachments and recognizing our need for His grace. [49:33]
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV): "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
Reflection: What possessions or achievements are you holding onto that might be blinding you from fully seeing and following Jesus? How can you begin to release these today?
Day 2: Misunderstanding Jesus' True Mission
The twelve disciples, despite their close relationship with Jesus, struggled to understand His foretelling of suffering and resurrection. Their expectations of a conquering Messiah clouded their perception of Jesus' true mission. This narrative illustrates how preconceived notions can obscure our understanding of Jesus' purpose in our lives. As believers, we must be open to the full revelation of Jesus, beyond our expectations, to truly grasp His mission. This requires a willingness to let go of our own ideas and embrace the unexpected ways Jesus works in our lives. [01:06:54]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What expectations do you have about Jesus' role in your life that might be limiting your understanding of His true mission? How can you open yourself to His unexpected plans today?
Day 3: Faith as the Key to Spiritual Sight
The blind beggar in Luke 18, despite his physical blindness, recognized Jesus as the Messiah through faith. His belief, born from hearing about Jesus' miracles, granted him both spiritual sight and physical healing. This story emphasizes the power of faith to open our spiritual eyes and recognize Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Faith is essential for spiritual sight, enabling us to see beyond our circumstances and trust in Jesus' power and love. By embracing the Word of God, we can cultivate a faith that transforms our vision and deepens our relationship with Jesus. [01:12:38]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to exercise faith to see Jesus more clearly? How can you actively cultivate this faith through prayer and engagement with Scripture today?
Day 4: Humility and Spiritual Clarity
The humility of the blind beggar, who called out to Jesus despite being rebuked by the crowd, demonstrates the importance of humility in gaining spiritual clarity. His willingness to acknowledge his need for Jesus' mercy and grace opened the way for his healing. This narrative reminds us that approaching Jesus with a humble heart is essential for spiritual clarity. By recognizing our own limitations and dependence on Jesus, we can experience His transformative power in our lives. Humility allows us to see Jesus for who He truly is and to receive His guidance and love. [01:11:45]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility in your relationship with Jesus today? How might this humility lead to greater spiritual clarity and growth?
Day 5: Embracing the Gift of Eternal Life
Eternal life is a gift from God, not earned by our works but received through faith in Jesus Christ. The story of the rich young ruler and the blind beggar in Luke 18 highlights the contrast between self-reliance and faith. We are called to accept the gift of eternal life by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. This assurance of salvation and eternal life transforms our perspective and priorities, inviting us to live in the light of God's grace and love. By embracing this gift, we can experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers. [57:04]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: How can you more fully embrace the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus today? What changes might this bring to your daily life and priorities?
Quotes
The young man thought that he was good and a better person because he obeyed the law since he was a boy. So God, Jesus addressed the problem rather than answering his question directly. He is a good teacher. He is a master teacher. We always amazed on the way Jesus answered the question. He addressed the problem first. [00:50:10] (28 seconds)
So that's why we need to put our faith in Jesus. We need to accept Him in our life so that His righteousness will become our righteousness. And that's how we become righteous. We become a pleasing to the eyes of God by receiving Jesus in our hearts because He alone fulfilled the law. [00:53:07] (22 seconds)
Eternal life is a free gift. You cannot do anything about it to inherit eternal life. That is the message for today. So I welcome everybody, including those online. If you have not received this gift, to receive eternal life, I encourage you to do so right now. To open your eyes, to see Jesus who he really is. [00:57:04] (27 seconds)
Because if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we, you will be saved. It doesn't say you may be saved. It's a guaranteed promise. You will be saved if you confess, if you believe. [00:57:53] (22 seconds)
Christianity is a free gift from God, made possible by Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. All we have to do is to accept this gift by faith. Amen? Praise the Lord. Okay, let's jump. Let's go to the second group of people, the 12 disciples. [01:05:31] (22 seconds)
The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about. Kind of sad. These are the disciples of Christ, and even though they walked with Him, ate with Him, and they were very close with Him for three years, there's a point that they are blinded to see Jesus who really is. [01:05:37] (24 seconds)
We need to see Jesus who He really is. We need to open our eyes. We need to open the eyes of our heart. So, Satan, who is the God of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the good news. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. [01:08:00] (31 seconds)
He called Jesus the son of David. When the Jews shouted or called Jesus or called somebody, son of David, they are calling the Messiah because that was promised by God to them that the Messiah will come from the descendants of David. So, we need to read what happened to the blind. [01:10:35] (28 seconds)
By the news that He heard, for three years, Jesus performed miracles after miracles. So, I'm sure this blind guy have heard the news about Jesus, and He put faith in this Son of David. So, so then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. [01:12:38] (23 seconds)
May the Lord lift up His face, His countenance upon you and give you peace. May the Lord open the eyes of our hearts so that we may see and behold Jesus as our Lord and Savior, as our Redeemer and Deliverer. So that we may see ourselves in desperate need of a Savior, in desperate need of Jesus, so we may trust Jesus more, so that we may serve Him more, so that we may love Him more. This is the cry of our heart. [01:14:58] (33 seconds)
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