Seeing the One: Jesus' Transformative Influence
Summary
In reflecting on the life and impact of Jesus, it's remarkable to consider how someone born into such humble circumstances could become the most influential person in history. Despite being born to poor peasants in a remote town, living in obscurity for 30 years, and never holding a position of power or influence, Jesus changed the world. His life was not marked by the trappings of modern fame or influence—no social media, no political office, no wealth. Instead, Jesus' impact came from his ability to focus on individuals, one at a time.
Jesus lived with a "zoom lens," where the person in front of him was the most important. This approach is beautifully illustrated in Luke 8, where amidst a crowd, Jesus noticed a woman who touched his cloak seeking healing. Despite the pressing crowd, Jesus stopped and acknowledged her, demonstrating the power of seeing and valuing the individual. This story challenges us to live with the same focus, to see and value the "one" in our lives, whether in our neighborhoods, workplaces, or families.
The challenge is to resist the pressure of societal expectations and instead focus on the individuals God places in our path. By praying for Jesus' eyes to see people as he does, we can begin to live lives of true influence and impact. This prayer, "Jesus, give me your eyes for the one," is a simple yet profound way to start each day, asking for the ability to see and love people as Jesus did.
Living with a zoom lens means being fully present with those around us, allowing everything else to blur into the background. It's about recognizing that each person has a story and a journey, and we are called to be part of that journey, one person at a time. This is how Jesus changed the world, and it's how we are called to make a difference as well.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Humble Beginnings: Jesus' life demonstrates that true influence doesn't require wealth, status, or fame. His impact came from his ability to connect deeply with individuals, showing us that our humble beginnings or current circumstances do not limit our potential to make a difference. [01:14]
2. Living with a Zoom Lens: Jesus' approach to life was to focus on the individual in front of him, giving them his full attention and love. This "one at a time" mindset is a powerful way to live, allowing us to make meaningful connections and impact lives deeply. [04:51]
3. Resisting Societal Expectations: The story of Jesus and the woman in the crowd teaches us to resist the pressure of societal expectations and focus on the individuals God places in our path. By doing so, we can live lives of true influence and impact. [06:03]
4. The Transformative Power of Being Seen: When Jesus noticed the woman who touched his cloak, he demonstrated the transformative power of being truly seen and valued. This story challenges us to see and value the "one" in our lives, recognizing their unique journey and story. [07:33]
5. Praying for Jesus' Eyes: A simple yet profound prayer, "Jesus, give me your eyes for the one," can transform how we see and interact with the world. By asking for the ability to see and love people as Jesus did, we can begin to live lives of true influence and impact. [09:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:14] - Jesus' Humble Beginnings
- [02:58] - The Secret to Jesus' Impact
- [04:51] - Living with a Zoom Lens
- [06:03] - Overcoming Societal Expectations
- [07:33] - The Power of Being Seen
- [09:38] - Praying for Jesus' Eyes
- [10:52] - Conclusion and Challenge
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 8:40-48
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 8, what was the reaction of the crowd when Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" and how did the disciples respond to this question? [06:03]
2. How does the sermon describe Jesus' approach to the people he encountered, and what metaphor is used to illustrate this approach? [04:51]
3. What specific action did the woman in Luke 8 take to seek healing, and what was Jesus' response to her action? [07:33]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the phrase "Jesus saw" in the Gospels, and how does it relate to the concept of living with a "zoom lens"? [10:52]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the story of the woman in Luke 8 teach about the importance of individual attention in a world full of expectations and pressures? [06:03]
2. How does Jesus' interaction with the woman in Luke 8 challenge societal norms and expectations, and what does this reveal about his character and mission? [07:33]
3. The sermon emphasizes the prayer, "Jesus, give me your eyes for the one." How might this prayer change a person's daily interactions and perspective on influence? [09:38]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that humble beginnings or current circumstances do not limit one's potential to make a difference? [01:14]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unnoticed or overlooked. How did that experience affect you, and how can it inform the way you notice others in your daily life? [07:33]
2. Identify one person in your life who might feel like they are part of the "crowd" and not seen. What specific action can you take this week to make them feel valued and noticed? [06:03]
3. The sermon challenges us to resist societal expectations. What are some expectations you feel pressured by, and how can you focus more on the individuals God places in your path? [06:03]
4. Consider the prayer, "Jesus, give me your eyes for the one." How can you incorporate this prayer into your daily routine, and what changes do you hope to see in your interactions with others? [09:38]
5. Think about a situation where you were fully present with someone, allowing everything else to blur into the background. How did that impact your relationship with that person, and how can you create more moments like this? [04:51]
6. Jesus' life demonstrates that true influence doesn't require wealth or status. How can you use your current circumstances to make a meaningful impact in your community or workplace? [01:14]
7. What practical steps can you take to live with a "zoom lens" focus, ensuring that you are present and attentive to the needs of those around you? [04:51]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Humble Beginnings
In reflecting on the life of Jesus, we see that true influence does not require wealth, status, or fame. Jesus, born into humble circumstances, demonstrated that one's beginnings do not limit their potential to make a difference. His life was marked by deep connections with individuals, showing us that our current circumstances are not barriers to impacting the world. Jesus' story encourages us to embrace our humble beginnings and recognize the potential for influence in our everyday interactions. By focusing on the people around us, we can create meaningful change, just as Jesus did. [01:14]
"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a situation where you feel limited by your circumstances. How can you use your current position to make a positive impact on someone today?
Day 2: Living with a Zoom Lens
Jesus' approach to life was to focus on the individual in front of him, giving them his full attention and love. This "one at a time" mindset allowed him to make meaningful connections and deeply impact lives. In a world filled with distractions, Jesus' example challenges us to be fully present with those around us, allowing everything else to blur into the background. By living with a zoom lens, we can recognize the unique stories and journeys of each person we encounter, becoming part of their journey and making a difference one person at a time. [04:51]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs your full attention today. How can you intentionally focus on them and show them love and care?
Day 3: Resisting Societal Expectations
The story of Jesus and the woman in the crowd teaches us to resist the pressure of societal expectations and focus on the individuals God places in our path. Jesus noticed the woman who touched his cloak, demonstrating the power of seeing and valuing the individual. This story challenges us to prioritize the people in our lives over societal pressures, allowing us to live lives of true influence and impact. By focusing on the individuals around us, we can resist the distractions of societal expectations and make a meaningful difference. [06:03]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What societal expectations are you currently struggling with? How can you shift your focus to the individuals God has placed in your life today?
Day 4: The Transformative Power of Being Seen
When Jesus noticed the woman who touched his cloak, he demonstrated the transformative power of being truly seen and valued. This story challenges us to see and value the "one" in our lives, recognizing their unique journey and story. By acknowledging and valuing the individuals around us, we can create a sense of belonging and worth, just as Jesus did. This transformative power of being seen can change lives and create lasting impact, encouraging us to be present and attentive to those we encounter. [07:33]
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone who may feel unseen or undervalued. How can you acknowledge and affirm their worth today?
Day 5: Praying for Jesus' Eyes
A simple yet profound prayer, "Jesus, give me your eyes for the one," can transform how we see and interact with the world. By asking for the ability to see and love people as Jesus did, we can begin to live lives of true influence and impact. This prayer encourages us to seek Jesus' perspective, allowing us to see the unique stories and journeys of those around us. By praying for Jesus' eyes, we can cultivate a heart of compassion and love, making a difference in the lives of others one person at a time. [09:38]
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Begin your day with the prayer, "Jesus, give me your eyes for the one." Who is the first person that comes to mind, and how can you show them love and compassion today?
Quotes
Sure, here are the 12 quotes from the transcript:
"You look back on it now and his impact seems obvious. But when Jesus was born, it just didn't seem like he was put in a position to have that kind of impact. It didn't seem like things were in his favor to be a person with that kind of influence. I mean, just think about it. Jesus was born the child of poor peasants. He grew up in this remote podunk town, lived in obscurity for 30 years, did some work as a carpenter, never ventured more than a few hundred miles." [00:01:14] (30 seconds)
"Jesus didn't have, you know, thousands of Facebook friends or millions of Instagram followers. He wasn't TikTok famous, didn't have a YouTube channel. He never tweeted. I don't think he did. He never even had his own podcast. He was a homeless preacher. He spent a few years traveling around preaching. He was arrested and he was sentenced to die a common criminal's death and yet here we are a couple of millennium later and he is time magazine's most impactful person in the history of the world and so the question for us is how did he do it i mean what was the secret i'd like to know because i'd like to have influence and impact and i want it to be in the way of jesus i know i'm not the only one right like i'm sure you and i have things um that are different about us different personalities different gifts and interests but one of the things that we have in common is that we want to make a difference with our lives we don't want to just be uh space takers we want to be difference makers" [00:02:58] (64 seconds)
"And the conclusion I came to is one at a time, one at a time, like that's it. Jesus did life with a zoom lens. When someone stood in front of him, time stopped. Everything else in his life, all of his concerns and his agenda and his plans, his goals, his schedule for the day seemed to just be put on pause. Everything seemed to just blur into the background. the only thing that mattered was the person standing in front of him, and Jesus changed the world one person at a time. This is the way of the gospel." [00:03:39] (34 seconds)
"They are built for the purpose of zooming in and staying focused on something that you wouldn't see if you're not looking through it. And I would just say one at a time living starts with a zoom lens. It starts with learning how to focus on the one. One at a time happens when we learn to live life with this kind of a focus. One of my favorite one at a time stories comes from Luke chapter 8. And we read in Luke chapter 8 that Jesus was returning from where he'd been, and there was a large crowd that welcomed him. And it says specifically that they were all expecting, they were all expecting him." [00:04:51] (40 seconds)
"I think for many of us, this is one of the biggest obstacles to the one at a time living, is that we are constantly trying to live up to the expectations of people around us, like without meaning to. allow our lives to be dominated, to be determined by the landscape of expectations. And it's hard to take time for the one when you're constantly feeling the pressure of the many." [00:06:03] (31 seconds)
"Luke says a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years. but no one could heal her. Luke says she came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak and immediately her bleeding stopped. And when it happened, Jesus said, who touched me? And everybody around denied it. And Peter said, master, people are crowding and pressing against you. Mark also tells the story and he tells us that the disciples asked Jesus in disbelief, Jesus, you are surrounded by a crowd and yet you're asking who touched me." [00:06:20] (33 seconds)
"the one. But Jesus said, someone touched me. I know because power has gone from me. And so this is the zoom lens way of Jesus, that Jesus seemed to look at the world and notice the one. That's what happened in Luke 8. He's looking for the person who touched him. And then there's this beautiful verse that really impacted me and my understanding of influence and impact. It says, the woman seeing that she could not go unnoticed. I love that. This woman recognizes that Jesus is not going to let her go unnoticed, not even if she wants to. I mean, surrounded by these crushing crowds, she knew the eyes of Jesus would not let her go unseen. And living a life of true influence and impact means that you learn to see people" [00:07:33] (56 seconds)
"What would it look like if you looked at those different environments, if you went into those different spaces and you were always looking through a lens that zoomed in and focused on the one? For Jesus, everything else in his life in that moment blurred into the background. He was fully present with her. Here's what happens next. Luke 8 says, trembling and fell at the feet of Jesus and in the presence of all the people she told why she had touched him and that she had been instantly healed and then he said to her daughter your faith has healed you go in peace it's the way he referenced her that tells you how he saw her he called her he called her daughter one at a time is the way that Jesus changes the world it's the way he has called us to change the world and so the question is how can we learn to live that way and in this series" [00:08:33] (63 seconds)
"we're going to be talking through some different examples of Jesus and how he impacted people one at a time. But I would say it just needs to begin with a commitment to pray a simple prayer. And this is my challenge for you. Just to pray the prayer, Jesus, give me your eyes for the one. Help me to see people the way you see people." [00:09:38] (20 seconds)
"Jesus, help me to see what you see." [00:11:11] (13 seconds)
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