1. Eye Surgery
Rose Crawford had been blind for 50 years. Then she had an operation in a hospital in Ontario, Canada. In response to the effectiveness of the surgery as the doctor lifted the bandages from her eyes she said, "I just can't believe it," She wept - when for the first time in her life - a dazzling and beautiful world of form and color greeted her eyes and she could now see.
The amazing thing about her story, however, was that twenty years of her blindness was unnecessary. She didn't know that surgical techniques had been developed to treat her condition and that an operation could have restored her vision at the age of 30.
The doctor said, "She just figured there was nothing that could be done for her condition. Much of her life could have been different."
2. Jesus repeatedly performed miracles which were "signs" of who he was (Isaiah 35.5-6)
a. Blind
b. Deaf
c. Lame
d. Mute
e. Lepers
f. Even the Dead
3. A Puzzling Passage -- Mark 8.22-26
I. Surprising Sightings
A. Pharisees (Should have known Jesus but didn't) -- Mark 7.1-23
Mammoth Cave is in Western Kentucky. Some of the interesting things to see while on the tours in the cave are the blind creatures who live in that cave system. There are blind grasshoppers -- with no wings and extremely long antennae, blind and colorless crayfish (crawdads), and blind fish. These creatures live in the complete darkness that comes from being so far underground.
One of the things that tour guides pointed out was that any person who lived in total darkness for just a few months would become irrevocably blind. Darkness doesn't just hinder your sight. It causes you to become blind.
B. Pagan Woman (Knew but shouldn't have) -- Mark 7.24-30
In ancient Greece it was customary for peddlers who walked the streets with their wares to cry out, "What do you lack?" The idea was to let people know they were in the vicinity, and also rouse the curiosity of the people. Coming out of their houses they would want to know what the peddler was selling. It might be something they lacked and needed, or simply something they desired.
C. Disciples Only Had Glimpses
1. Confusion Over Bread (8.14-21)
2. After Feeding the 4000+ (Gentiles) in 8.1-10
II. An Insightful Story (8.22-26)
How many of us remember a cartoon character named Mr. Magoo? He was a man short in stature but wealthy and retired. He got into a lot of sticky situations because of his nearsightedness. The situations were always compounded by his stubborn refusal to admit his problem. That's our problem as well. Not only can't we see, but we can't see that we can't see.
Josh McDowell, in his book Answers to Tough Questions, tells about when explorers first went to Australia that they found a mammal which laid eggs; spent some time in water, some on land; had a broad, flat tail, webbed feet, and a bill similar to a duck. Upon their return to England, they told the populace of this, and all felt it was a hoax. They returned to Australia and found a pelt from this animal and took it back to England, but the people still felt it was a hoax. In spite of the evidence, they didn't believe in the platypus because they didn't want to believe.
A. A Strategic Relocation
1. Out of Bethsaida
a. "House of Fishermen"
b. One of the cursed towns -- Matthew 11.20-24
20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."
2. Healed and sent away from village
a. Sometimes Jesus sends us to family and friends (Demoniac -- Mark 5.1-20 -- v. 19:
"Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
b. Sometimes Jesus takes us away from people to show who he is
* Abram had to leave Ur
* Noah had to leave behind an unbelieving world
* Lot had to leave a wicked Sodom and Gomorrah
* Moses had to leave Pharaoh's household
* The Israelites had to leave an oppressing Egypt
* The disciples had to leave their families and trades to follow Jesus
* Paul had to leave his Status as a Pharisee
* Jesus had to leave his place in Glory, Humble himself to come down and dwell with folk like us.
B. A Stage by Stage Restoration of Health
1. Jesus was capable of healing instantly
2. He Taught his legitimacy as the Son of GOD -- The people of the second temple period were well aware of a tradition of the Sages which proclaimed that the saliva of a legitimate, first born heir would have healing properties against injury or disease. Once the disputed son's saliva anointed the affected member, healing was expected to miraculously take place if he was legitimate.
3. Teaching a lesson of growing faith
a. Darkness = No Faith/sight
b. Some Sight = Some Faith
c. All Sight = Clear Faith -- note Mark 8.27-30 cf. Matthew 16.19
4. Applications:
a. Disciples
b. Pharisees -- Nicodemus; Joseph; Gamaliel?? (Priests would even believe)
c. US!!!!!
5. We can't take it all in at once -- Moses seeing only the hind parts of God
1. Disciples were often Distracted from Seeing Jesus Accurately
a. Side tracked by lunch -- even though Jesus fed 9000+ in two settings -- with food leftover
b. Trapped by petty concerns and unable to see the kingdom of God and all of his generosity
2. Seeing Involves Recognizing Jesus' Actions/Signs -- John 20.30-31
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
3. Signs Tell Us Things
Sign on a retail store door in Stevens Point, WI:
"PUSH.
If it doesn't open, PULL.
If it still doesn't open, WE ARE CLOSED."
Sign at a dentist's office:
"Patient parking only. All others will be painfully extracted."
4. Dust Storm
On November 30, 1991 fierce winds from a freakish dust storm triggered a massive freeway pileup along Interstate 5 near Coalinga, California. At least 14 people died and dozens more were injured as topsoil whipped by 50 mile-per-hour winds reduced visibility to zero. The afternoon holocaust left a three-mile trail of twisted and burning vehicles, some stacked on top of one another 100 yards off the side of the freeway. Unable to see their way, dozens of motorists drove blindly ahead into disaster.
5. What is your vision of Jesus?
