Spiritual Myopia (New Years Day)
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Text: Mark 8:22-26
Illustration:
Myopia. I learned the word when I was 10 years old from the optometrist who checked my eyes and told my parents that I was nearsighted. I didn't know I was nearsighted. I thought everyone saw everything the way I saw it. Trees were green blobs, the landscape blurred into blotches of pink, green, brown and blue, like an Impressionist painting. (Maybe Monet was near sighted and created Impressionism by painting what he saw.) I have to admit I wondered how other kids could catch and hit a baseball. I never saw the ball until it was on top of me. I could see some vague arm motion in the distance and then, wham! The ball was in my face.
Myopia is not only physical. It is spiritual. We are all born spiritually nearsighted. Like my childhood years, we think we see things clearly, but we don't. We are unaware of what we don't see.
The only person who ever had perfect vision was Jesus. That is why he said,
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
When the prophet Elisha and his servant were surrounded by an enemy army at Dothan, the servant was gripped with fear. But Elisha told him,
"Do not fear. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." When God opened the servant's eyes, he saw that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6).
We are born with spiritual nearsightedness so we only see things close up, our own self interests. As a result we are often filled with fear, doubt, anger, resentment and despair. When we turn from our sins and place our faith in Christ, he is able to touch us so we see clearly and walk in the light. Only Christ can cure the spiritual myopia that afflicts us from birth and enable us to see the world as God sees it.
We Can Miss His Greatest Works
(vs. 11) And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
Bethsaida – this was not on Jesus’ list of top 10 favorite towns.
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Here the people looked for a sign. Jesus had done many miracles here. They were amazed by him, but still missed who he really was him. They saw – but they didn’t really see.
The people of Bethsaida are blind to who he really is.
We Can Miss His Greatest Messages
(vs.18) Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
The disciples are even struggling. Jesus asks them in verse 27 – who do men say that I am? In verse 29 – who do YOU say? Peter – “The Christ”. Then in verse 32, Peter begins to rebuke him, and Jesus has to say
(vs. 33) But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Problem #1 – everyone has a pre-conceived notion of Christ. But He somehow refuses to fit into our molds.
In this account – we’re going to talk about a man that went from being blind to seeing clearly. The story shows us that sight does not always come instantly. In truth, God reveals Himself progressively.
It is safe to say that those who brought this man to Jesus had a pre-conceived notion of what happened when Jesus touched someone. Look at vs 22. - they actually begged Jesus to "touch him".
Jesus reached out his hand… Everyone held their breath …......... Nothing happened.
Except that Jesus led the man out of town.
Problem #2 - Inordinate concern for the thoughts of others.
The truth is – it may not happen for me like it happened for others. What Jesus wants to do in my life is unique. The questions “How are others doing it?” and “How did it happen in the past” will cause us to serve too small a god.
How frightening must it have been for this man to walk out of town with a total stranger. There is no record at this point that the man has had any part in this. He has not asked to be healed.
Problem #3 - Life so safe that Jesus can’t lead or protect.
We pray that God will keep us safe what we mean is that God will protect us from anything that we haven’t thought of.
We have foam padded the Christian life
Routine, Ritual
Next year we are going to preach a series called “Safe and Sound?” because you may be safe but that does not mean you are sound. Sometimes being right with the Savior means we risk some.
Even after Jesus had not healed him instantly – he trusted Him enough to let Jesus lead him.
Then Jesus did something very strange. After he had the man alone, he spit on the man’s eyes. I looked at this throughout the scriptures. There wasn’t anything polite, or complimentary about this… It was then, just like it is today – a sign of disdain.
Problem #4 - Getting our feelings hurt.
Illustration: Syrophonecian woman.
The question here is – will you be around for the real miracle? I think the biggest problem for most people – the reason that they do not receive the miracle, is that they give up on Jesus too soon.
Because if I get offended, I may leave – right before God does what he really wants to do!
All things work together for good… Rom 8:28
Jesus touched the man, and a miracle took place. But it was only a partial miracle. Jesus asked him the question, “Do you see anything”?
Jesus knew the answer. He just wanted the man to talk to him.
Problem #5 - We wait around hoping God will do it for us.
These words may or may not be the first words this man spoke to Jesus. They are the first recorded words.
I looked at other instances in the Bible where Jesus healed blind men. In the instances that he healed them instantly – they themselves had worshipped him and asked him to. In the instances where he healed them gradually (2) – someone else had done the asking.
But Jesus wants me to be involved in the process…
That’s why Jesus says “I know what you need before you ask” – but he still says “Ask”.
Problem #6 - God doesn’t let us in on the whole miracle.
I see men as trees.
There is a strength that lies in understanding that God uses time in revealing his person, his plan.
When things don’t happen as quickly as we think they should – we have a tendency to:
- second-guess our own value
- become disillusioned and give up
- compare ourselves with others, seek the commendation of others
- try to convince ourselves that we have it all (that men actually look like trees)
In all of these – there is a danger that we will:
- turn our back on him in anger and leave
- become satisfied and stay where we are
But I believe, with all my heart – that God has something more for me. For this church. So I’m going to forget about what other people expect from me. I don’t know where I’m going, but I know that He is holding my hand, and I’m going to trust him. And I’m going to be honest in my relationship with Him.
I’m not what I was – nor am I what I will be…
I only have HALF of the miracle I expect…
I SEE MEN AS TREES WALKING!