Do We Want To See?
I. CONTINUING the flow of the TEXT. (Lk. 18:9-30)
A. Jesus’ TEACHINGS and ACTIONS draw a line. (15:1-2)
B. The NEEDY and WEAK are welcomed. (18:9-16)
C. The POWERFUL and PRIVILEGED resist. (18:17-30)
Luke consistently portrays certain aspects of Jesus, both in His actions and His teaching. It is important that we see this thread and allow Luke to shape our own perceptions of Jesus is a world that too often wants to remake Him as they want Him to be.
1. What has stood out to you as we have followed Luke’s telling of the story of Jesus?
2. How would you describe Jesus as Luke portrays Him? What has surprised you?
II. Two STORIES, shared TOGETHER. (Lk 18:31-43)
A. HARD words for the DISCIPLES. (18:31-34)
B. A blind BEGGAR who BELIEVES. (18:35-43)
Once again, we have to remember that the gospel writers are selectively choosing these accounts of Jesus interactions and laying them side by side for a reason. The disciple’s reaction to Jesus words and the healing of the blind man are related, if we only have eyes to see.
3. Kid’s Question: When has someone had bad news to tell you? What was that like? How did you feel when you heard it?
4. Put yourself in the disciples shoes. How would you have reacted? When have you been confronted with news that you didn’t want to believe?
III. The IRONY is OBVIOUS.
A. The ONES who should see, DON’T. (18:34)
B. The one who CAN’T see, DOES. (18:38-39)
C. The struggle of FAMILIARITY and AGENDA. (Jn. 9:24-34)
As is often the case, those who have a preconceived notion of how things have trouble shaking it. We come into situations with a pre-determined idea of how things should go. This often blinds us to what is actually happening.
5. How can you tell if your “familiarity” with Jesus is limiting your perspective on what He is doing?
6. Does surrounding ourselves with people who think just as we do limit our own perception and thinking? How can we live with greater awareness there?
IV. Having our eyes OPENED to the TRUTH. (v.42-43; 1 Cor. 2:14)
A. A REALITY centred around JESUS. (v.38-39; Col. 1:15-20; Heb. 2:8)
B. A DESIRE (and a WILLINGNESS) to SEE. (v. 34; Ez. 12:2, Mt. 13:15)
C. The blinders of STATUS, POWER, and CONTROL. (v. 34; Jn 9:24-34; Rev.3:17)
D. ADOPTING a posture of HUMILITY. (v.38-39; Micah 6:8; Ps. 25:9)
So how can we “have eyes to see”? There are some basic things that our text points to that can help us lay down what we think is supposed to be there and to open our eyes to see what Jesus is actually up to. It’s not impossible, but it takes practice.
7. What does Col. 1:15-20 say to your current situation? How can you live into that in the coming weeks?
8. If Jesus was to say to you, “What do you want me to do for you?” what would you say?