11/16/18

11/16/18 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Cor 5:17 NIV Prior Weeks: What does it mean to be “in Christ?” What do we let go of? What changes? We host God “in us!” 11/16/18

The Classic Second Chance 11/16/18 The Classic Second Chance Mt 26:34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

The Classic Second Chance 11/16/18 The Classic Second Chance Mt 26:72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. Peter denied Jesus just before Jesus went to the cross No chance for apology or forgiveness

11/16/18 John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

Start or Start Over We come to Jesus We are strong in the faith We sin 11/16/18 Start or Start Over We come to Jesus We are strong in the faith We sin We blow it We are ashamed Jesus calls us again We respond again

For those who require a second touch 11/16/18 For those who require a second touch The first time wasn't enough...

11/16/18 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Why did it take a second touch? 11/16/18 Why did it take a second touch? Was it because the man’s friends brought him to Jesus? Would it have been different if he had come to Jesus personally? Did he not have enough faith? Was there too much damage done to his eyes? Was the power of Jesus not strong enough?

Do some people require a second touch by Jesus? 11/16/18 Do some people require a second touch by Jesus? Or third, or fourth… Most likely his friends brought him because they could see the way to Jesus having heard of, or seen cures performed by him this way. This man is an emblem of such who are spiritually blind: he had no natural sight at all; he could see nothing; he had not the least glimmering of any thing, until he was touched by Christ: so men, in a state of nature, are quite dark, even darkness itself, until they are made light by the Lord: they have no sight, nor sense of themselves, of their sinful, lost, and dangerous estate and condition they are in; they know not because they are blind, that they are wretched, and poor, and miserable, and naked: they have no sight of Christ, neither of the glory of his person, nor of the fulness of his grace, nor of the nature, necessity, and suitableness of his salvation: they are quite blind as to any saving knowledge of God in Christ, the way of life and peace by him, and the work of the Spirit of God upon the soul; or with regard to any spiritual experience of the power of Gospel truths, or views of the glories of another world: and as this man seemed to be unconcerned himself about the cure of his blindness, only his friends were affected with his case, and brought him to Christ, and solicited a cure, so it is with unregenerate men, they are insensible of their case, and so thoughtless of it, and unaffected with it, and do not, of themselves, seek for a deliverance out of it; nor do they make use of means for that purpose; but it becomes their friends, relations, and acquaintance, that are spiritual, who know their case, and their need of Christ, and his grace, to bring them to him under the means, and pray unto him, that he would put forth the mighty power of his grace upon them, and give them spiritual sight to see in what a lost condition they are, and their need of him. 10

Do some people require a second touch by Jesus? 11/16/18 Do some people require a second touch by Jesus? Or third, or fourth… Most likely his friends brought him because they could see the way to Jesus 11

Start or Start Over A second touch Unsure why Sin Didn’t take 11/16/18 Start or Start Over A second touch Unsure why Sin Didn’t take Didn’t get it Drifted Roots didn’t go down deep

11/16/18 The Turning Point Story of the blind man is literally at the center of the book of Mark. Next comes a crucial story Who do you say Jesus is? 13

11/16/18 The Crucial Question Mk 8:27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Sadly, we live in a time and a culture in which many churches are filled with people just like the disciples in Mark 8. Our American churches are filled with people who like Jesus, are fascinated with Jesus and are familiar with the things He has done. Yet, they do not know Him, nor do they see Him clearly. Many of them, just like the disciples in Mark 8, have created their own picture of Jesus. As a result we find ourselves surrounded by people who call themselves Christians, yet they fail to see that you cannot inherit the promises of Christ without trusting the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Instead of trusting in Christ, they trust in thousands of personal experiences. Instead of trusting wholly and completely in the atoning, finished work of Christ on the cross, they see Jesus from afar, acknowledge the great things He has done, yet never personally trust His death as the all­ sufficient means by which they must be saved. They see Him, but they do not see Him clearly. J. Josh Smith, Southwestern Journal of Theology 14

11/16/18 Jesus continues to heal our spiritual blindness until we see Him clearly 15

Who is this Jesus? Who He is not… Who Jesus is… Our servant Our butler 11/16/18 Who is this Jesus? Who He is not… Our servant Our butler Our genie Curt Cloninger: CHIC Who Jesus is… God in the flesh Crucified Resurrected Lord (boss)

Start or Start Over We come to Jesus 11/16/18 Start or Start Over We come to Jesus We see Jesus as someone who will meet our needs It sometimes takes a second experience to accept Jesus as the crucified Lord We submit to HIM A Clearer understanding of Jesus

So What? Jesus offers a second chance to people who have let Him down. 11/16/18 So What? Jesus offers a second chance to people who have let Him down. Jesus offers a second chance to people who have not understood the commitment required. Jesus offers a second chance to the person for whom sin took over. Jesus offers a second chance. Who do you say Jesus is?

11/16/18