Upon Further Review

Upon Further Review

Opening Illustration:

"Best known for his iconic optical illusions, impossible constructions defying logic and his prints playing with patterns and symmetry, Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelis Escher’s lithographs, mezzotints, woodcuts and wood engravings express a high level of technical expertise and meticulous attention to detail. His images of upside-down staircases and infinite structures appear on posters, album covers and sci-fi books, although people most likely do not know their origin. Escher remained a relatively unknown figure in the art world and students of geometry and crystallography are more likely to have encountered him than students of art history." (https://magazine.artland.com/the-impossible-worlds-of-escher/

Analyzing Escher's art takes effort and more than a simple glance. Most of the things that truly matter in life take time to understand. Our relationship with God takes time and reflection. There are things that at first do not seem clear, but if we will stay the course everything will become clear.

Mark 8:22-26 ESV

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Upon Further Review things seemed different to the man who was healed. I want to encourage you today to take a second glace, a deeper dive, watch the instant replay through a new lens.

Upon Further Review:

TEXT:

Mark 8:22 ESV

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him {Jesus] a blind man and begged him to touch him.

Everyone needs friends like these. True friends have their own flaws, but they don't let their flaws keep them from helping you with yours. The Pharisees could not see their own flaws and in their blindness, they kept people from getting to Jesus.

Matthew 23:13 NIV

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

Matthew 7:3-5 NIrV

“You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend’s eye. But you pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye. How can you say to your friend, ‘Let me take the bit of sawdust out of your eye’? How can you say this while there is a piece of wood in your own eye? You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend’s eye."

Matthew 23:26 NIV

"Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Blindness is a part of the human condition. We cannot see our own face without the aid of a mirror. We cannot see our backs. The hardest thing for us to know is what we don't know that we don't know. Everyone needs friends like these. Friends who will hold up the mirror and help us see our need of Jesus. Friends who truly have our backs.

True friends help me see, because they also see themselves.

Proverbs 18:24 NLT

"There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother."

Everyone needs friends like these. True friends will bring you to Jesus.

When we read the stories of Jesus disciples they don't all get speaking parts. But, sometimes actions speak louder than words. The apostle Andrew has one part. In John 1:41, he finds his brother Peter and brings him to Jesus. It was Andrew who brought the boy with the five loaves and two fishes to Jesus (John 6:8-9). And long before Peter preached to the household of Cornelius or Paul evangelized the gentiles, Andrew brought Greeks to see Jesus (John 12:20-22).

Real friends realize they don't have all the answers, but they know that if they can just get you to Jesus... Everyone needs friends like these.

Real friends realize they aren't the miracle worker, but they know that if they can just get you to Jesus... Everyone needs friends like these.

Everyone needs friends like these. True friends will pray to Him for you. They interceded on their friend's behalf.

James 5:16 NLT

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."