SIGHT REQUIRES CHRIST
John
14:7-11
I don’t know
about you, but I find it’s
absolutely amazing sometimes that we can be so familiar with something or
someone and yet somehow be ignorant or insensitive to things and people around
us. It seems so contradictory
to know, and yet not to know, at the same time. How often
have we heard the statement, “I thought I
knew everything there was to know about that person? But I've discovered I
really didn't know them at all.” That
statement simply reveals that it is possible to know a person, and yet not
really notice all of the complex qualities of their personality; just as so many people do when you think of Jesus Christ. Maybe you
struggle with who Jesus is? Maybe, you've
said this statement “I
thought I knew everything there was to know about that person? But I’ve
discovered I really didn’t know them at all.” Maybe you
felt that way? I thought I knew him, but I really didn’t. Maybe we’re
not so different to Phillip and the gang when he spoke out to Jesus. I want you
think about this statement and see if this is you at times. The statement
is found in Phillip’s comment to what Jesus has already said in (v8) “Philip said to Him,
"Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Maybe you’re
the type of person that needs to see more in order to believe? Maybe you’re
the type of person who waits for signs and wonders to make you believe? I think Odd
Thomas said it best when it comes to this type of thinking in Humble Beast's song
"Signs & Symbols"
http://www.humblebeast.com
Odd Thomas said.......Sometimes
what we believe to be true
from our
supernatural pursuits
Is actually a
fluke,
a series of
events used to distract you from truth
But I'll give
you a sign thats obvious
One of the
most supernatural acts
is that God
through his word
Has actually
revealed everything pertaining to life and godliness
There's this
idea that an individual
is somehow
more spiritual
If he see
these so signs and symbols
And takes
what's normally invisible and make it simple.
But I say the
mark of a mature man
Is the one
who reads Gods word and understands
And allows
that, to govern his decisions and perspective plans.
These men
have been with Christ for 3 years, and to their defence they were men who’s knowledge
was small and limited at best! They knew
very little before the
crucifixion and resurrection compared to what they knew after the day of Pentecost. Look at how
Jesus responds to this group of men, who J.C Ryle described as “children in understanding” Children, as
described when Paul penned these words “When I was a child, I spoke as a child,
I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put
away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” 1 Cor
13:11-12. So Jesus responds
as always with a loving, comforting tone to His child like disciples. Look what
Jesus says (v9-v11) Have I been
with you this long and you still need more proof to who I claim to be Phillip? (v9). Have you
forgotten already the supernatural work that I have done since I’ve been with
you? For instance:
- I turned water into wine at the wedding you attended with me Phillip.
- Have you forgotten that I knew where you friend Nathanael’s secret alone place was when I called him?
- I calmed the storm with a command while we were in the boat together.
- I feed you and thousands of others with only a small portion fit for one boy.
- I casted out demons that knew who I was.
- I walked on water to you and the rest of the disciples.
- I gave sight to the blind, even from birth, and made the lame to walk again.
- I healed people by my touch, without my touch and from a distance, remember the nobleman’s son?
See, this
must have grieved the heart of God, to know that
His disciples hearts were still unsettled about what was going to happen and to
who Jesus claimed to be GOD incarnate. Jesus poured
His life into these men, day in and day out. These men had
the privilege to walk, witness, fellowship with the God who created them for
His glory! These men
walk with the “image of the invisible
God”. The same God
who walked with Adam and Eve in the coolness of the day before sin came. The same God
who provided a sacrifice for Abraham and Isaac. The same God
who wrestled with Jacob the night his name was changed to Israel. The same God
who was born of a virgin to save us from our destruction. Jesus in His
incarnate form displayed for us the truth that Paul penned to the church. Col 1:12-16 “giving
thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of
the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and
conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that
are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and
for Him.”
The same truth
the Hebrew writer was trying to proclaim in the early part of his letter. Heb 1:1-3 “God,
who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by
the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has
appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being
the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding
all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins,
sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” the disciples
didn’t fully understand or could possibly comprehend this truth until later
when the Holy Spirit came into their lives.
See Phillip
didn’t ask this question as if this is the first time meeting Jesus. This is the
final hours the disciples will be with Jesus, before His arrest and death on a
cross. But we need
to understand! The question or statement that Phillip asked or demanded is no different than many of us today in our society ask….even
people in the church! we just ask or demand in a different way……….
- Where is your God, reveal Him to us?
- Why do bad things happen to good people?
- God wouldn’t let this happen in my life?
- How could a God like that allow so much death and destruction?
- How could you follow a God you haven’t seen?
See the logical
answer to Phillip’s question is…….. To see God physically is to look upon person
of Christ. But like
Phillip and the rest of the disciples they didn’t get it! They were very much
like their ancient generations of old. They too didn’t
get it, or the big picture. St. Augustine
put this beautifully when he pointed out that the eyes of faith were still
being formed in the disciples and they were at this point unable really to see
at all. He said “Why wasn’t he seen?
Because the eye he could be seen with was not yet whole. As for the Lord’s
body, which could be seen with these eyes, it was not only the one who revered
him who saw him but also the Jews who crucified him. So if he wanted to be seen
in another way, it means he was requiring other eyes.” In other
words, the physical eyes of man could look upon Jesus and either love and
worship Him or hate and crucify Him.
We see this
today. Some people
look at Jesus and love Him. Some people
look at Jesus and hate Him. Do you
realize it’s possible to look at Jesus, but not really see who He is? But to eyes
of faith, however, Jesus reveals more than what the physical eyes see. To eyes of
faith, Jesus reveals nothing less than God the Father. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Again Jesus
is giving His disciples another gentle answer to encourage the troubled heart
of Phillip and the rest of the disciples. See we need
to understand when Jesus answers with “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” What Jesus is
saying is that He makes things known, He uncovers, and He unveils. Jesus is
revelation. Jesus shows us God.
- To see Jesus is to see the Father.
- To see Jesus heal is to know that God is a healing God.
- To see Jesus forgive is to know that God is a forgiving God.
- To see Jesus reach out to the outcast is to know that God is the God who loves outcasts.
- To see Jesus tell His disciples to forgive and forgive again, is to know that God’s mercies are ever new.
- To see Jesus weep is to know that God cares.
- To see Jesus die…is to know that God will do whatever it takes to save lost humanity.
- To see Jesus rise again is to know that God wins!
Isn’t that
amazing and humbling all at the same time as New Testament Christians? Doesn’t that just
change your perspective and outlook on who Jesus, truly is. God who came
in the form of man to save man from himself. How do we
know that’s true? The proof is found in your transformed life who loves and
believes Jesus even though you never saw Him physically. The question
is………Do you
believe this to be true? Is it
possible that Jesus is asking you the same question he spoke to Phillip, this
morning?
“have I been with you for
so many years[add your
name] and you still struggle to know Me?”
Have you
forgotten that…….
- I was there when you were conceived.
- I was there when you gave your first breath.
- I was there when you feel off your bike and scrapped your knee.
- I was there when you cried out to Me in genuine repentance and faith.
- I was there when nobody else was.
- I was there when you fell in love with the one I chose for you.
- I was there when you lost someone close to you.
- I was there when you fell into sin.
- I was there to pick you up and restore you.
- I was there and will always be God.
Do you
believe this even though you never saw Him or touched Him? Do you
believe even though you never saw the burning bush? Do you
believe even though you never saw the glow of Moses face when he ascended Mount
Sinai? Do you
believe even though you never saw the cloud by day and a pillar of fire by
night? Do you
believe even though you never saw Him hang on the cross? Do you
believe even though you didn’t see the empty tomb for yourself? Do you
believe even though you can’t see Heaven from where you are? Do
you believe? See we don't need to see something supernatural in order for us to put our faith in trust in Jesus Christ! See, every one of us live a Ruth story! What do I mean by that? Our lives are very much like Ruth, plain, boring that has no special or supernatural event to make people follow by faith. Just like the story of Ruth we see our lives as......A typical
life with no excitement or seeing any supernatural moments. A life of
tragedy and sorrow. A life of
hard work and not knowing what lies ahead. A life of
daily struggles and fighting the flesh. A life that
each and every one of face….day in and day out. The one thing
we all have in common with Ruth and everyone else in the bible is that Jesus is Lord and He
will always be with us, just as He was with Moses, Elijah, David, Hosea, the
disciples and the church! And if that’s
not enough! As Jesus said in (v11) “believe …..for the sake of the works themselves.” What is that
work? What I’ve [meaning Jesus] has accomplished in His earthly ministry and most of all! Your
transformed life……..you are not who you used to be. That's a MIRACLE! We are God's representatives to a lost and broken world who desperately need Jesus Christ; which is the amazing
and unbelievable supernatural work found in Christ and the gospel.
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