Signs, Warnings and Faith April 27, 2014

The Demand For A Sign  Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees and they began to argue with Jesus.  They asked Jesus for a sign from heaven to tempt him.  Jesus was deeply grieved by their faithless request.

Jesus’ Response to Their Request 1)He told them that no sign will be given. 2) Jesus physically left their presence.

The Dangers of Living By Signs 1)We are not called to live by signs, we are called to live by faith. 2)The more signs we require the less faith we need in God. 3)Jesus cannot be seen through signs alone, he must be seen in and through faith alone.

Jesus and the Twelve on the Lake  Jesus and his disciples got into a boat and went to the other side of the lake.  The disciples forgot to bring enough bread, they only had one loaf with them.

Jesus’ Warning to His Disciples  Watch out, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod. His Meaning: They need to be aware of the evil and sin of the Pharisees, who are looking for a sign, because that evil can spread into the hearts of the disciples just as a little yeast spreads throughout the bread.

What Did His Disciples Hear?  Jesus is upset with us because we did not bring enough bread to eat.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 1)Why are you talking about bread? Implied Meaning: You are missing the point of my warning.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 2) Are you still not getting it? Implied Meaning: After all of this time together, you still do not understand my message or my mission.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 3) Are your hearts hardened? Implied Meaning: You do not understand because your hearts are hardened.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 4) Do you have eyes to see and yet remain blind? Implied Meaning: You have eyes but you remain spiritually blind.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 5) Do you have ears to hear and yet remain deaf? Implied Meaning: You have ears but you remain spiritually deaf.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 6) Don’t you remember what I have already shown you? Implied Meaning: You have forgotten what I have revealed to you and what I have done for you.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 7) In the miracle of the 5k, how many left over baskets of bread were collected? Implied Meaning: You have forgotten how I miraculously fed more than 5k people.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 8) In the miracle of the 4k, how many left over baskets of bread were collected? Implied Meaning: You have forgotten how I miraculously fed more than 4k people.

Nine Questions to Open Their Eyes 9) Do you finally understand? Implied Meaning: You still do not understand who I am and what I must do but soon you will.

Jesus’ Probing Questions to Us 1)Do you call yourself my follower while completely forgetting my message and my mission? 2)Is your heart hardening because you have forgotten what I have done for you?

Jesus Heals a Blind Man  The people bring a blind man to Jesus and they beg Jesus to touch the man.  Jesus takes the man by the hand and leads him out of the village away from the people.  Jesus then spits on the man’s eyes, lays his hand on him and asks him if he can see.  Jesus lays his hands on the man’s eyes again and the man’s sight was restored to perfect clarity.  Jesus tells the man to go home, and to not even enter the village.

Truths From The Healing of The Blind Man 1)We ought to come to God for healing power but we must not attempt to tell God how to do it. 2)Sometimes God performs partial miracles as a means of growing our faith in him – not because he lacks power. 3)We are all blind to the truth of God, without God’s help we will never ‘see’ Jesus for who he really is.