S10E6 - Eyes to See

What does it mean to see with spiritual eyes?

Because we are created in God's image we have body, soul, spirit, heart, mind, and conscience. From this amazing mixture comes our ability to live out His greatness. When Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord God we dishonored Him. Our inherent greatness would now become a millstone of self-perpetuation and arrogance. We would no longer see the world through our God-eyes. Paul summarized this well:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures."  Romans 1:18-23

In Isaiah 6:1-3 we find the prophetic backdrop for all Jesus did to rescue mankind. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord..."

In the prophets we find the root reason and purpose for the miracles of Jesus.  "Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see; who have ears but do not hear. Do you not fear Me?’ declares the Lord. Do you not tremble in My presence?"  Jeremiah 5:21-22  

"Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house."  Ezekiel 12:1,2

God wants us to have open spiritual eyes and ears. 

Notice that the only two-step miracle of Jesus occurs in context of this same "eyes and ears" quote from the prophets in the book of Mark:

And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him. Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”  Mark 8:22-26 

Now return to Isaiah 9: "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land - the light will shine on them...For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His dominion or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."

What does all of this mean?

√   Jesus explains to His disciples why He speaks in parables.  (Matthew 13:10-17/He wants us to see and hear)
√   He gives the parable of the sower so we can understand the "big picture."
√   He then explains the mysteries of the Kingdom: (sower), wheat and the weeds, the mustard seed, the leaven, the treasure, the magnificent pearl, and the fishing net
√   Jesus discusses this in Revelation 2-3 as He explains Kingdom connection to the Church.

At the end Jesus asks a key question for all of us:

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”  Matthew 13:51-52

We will return to this passage as we complete our series (in a few weeks :)

These Kingdom parables are huge. We must understand them. Meditate upon them. Integrate our lives into the truths Jesus presents in them.

Simple yet complex. Understandable yet so deep. A gift to the sons of Adam and Eve - a gift to you!

The Sower Went Out To Sow
The Song of the Wind

Here's to open eyes to see and ears to hear for ourselves and our neighbors!
Dave and Burnadette