Jesus Gives Sight to His People, Part 2

Mark 7:31-8:33

Today, we invite you on a journey through Mark chapters 7 and 8, where we delve into the transformative moment in the Gospel where Peter identifies Jesus as the Christ. Pastor Colin shares insights on how Jesus gradually unveils His purpose to His followers, revealing how faith and understanding grow over time, sometimes requiring correction and guidance from God’s Word.

This episode examines the intriguing dynamics of faith, doubt, and clarity amongst Jesus’ disciples and what it means for us today. We explore questions about recognizing Jesus as the Messiah and learning how the Word of God corrects and guides us in truth. Whether you’re a seasoned believer or just beginning to explore your faith, there is something here for everyone.

100:00:00,820 –> 00:00:02,820I200:00:03,300 –> 00:00:09,340Wonder if you have come to a wonderfully decisive place in your own life of saying I300:00:10,260 –> 00:00:13,560Have reached this conclusion, and I take this stand400:00:13,560 –> 00:00:19,520This is my conviction and I stake my eternity on it that Jesus is the Christ500:00:20,440 –> 00:00:23,959Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick600:00:24,040 –> 00:00:26,920Glad you could be with us today and in the message700:00:26,920 –> 00:00:33,700We continued today to look at mark seven and eight about how Jesus gives sight to his people and Colin800:00:33,700 –> 00:00:37,480We’ve been hearing how Jesus slowly begins to reveal his purposes900:00:37,680 –> 00:00:41,759To his followers and we see Peter saying you are the Christ1000:00:41,980 –> 00:00:47,740Yeah, and this is the great moment in the center of marks Gospel. It’s like, ah, he’s got it the Eiffel’s got it1100:00:47,759 –> 00:00:55,360And the fascinating thing is that while the Holy Spirit has revealed that to Peter and it is the most marvelous confession1200:00:55,540 –> 00:01:01,020Jesus is the Christ the very next thing that happens. Is that Peter gets something completely wrong1300:01:01,020 –> 00:01:05,820He says to Jesus now. You’re not gonna go to the cross Christ has to correct him now1400:01:05,820 –> 00:01:13,919Here’s a fascinating thing what that means is that as a Christian in whom the Holy Spirit dwells I am going to need correcting1500:01:13,919 –> 00:01:21,839That’s true of every Christian and the way in which Christ corrects us is not by intuition and by impulse but by his Word1600:01:22,180 –> 00:01:23,239It strikes me1700:01:23,239 –> 00:01:28,419that is why we need to be in the Word of God every day not just to have warm feelings about you know a nice1800:01:28,440 –> 00:01:30,980devotional thought that made me feel better for the day or whatever1900:01:31,500 –> 00:01:34,800but so that I can place myself under the2000:01:35,279 –> 00:01:42,080discipline of the Word of God and be corrected where I need to be corrected. The Word of God’s profitable for rebuke, correction2100:01:42,500 –> 00:01:45,680training and righteousness and it’s given to us for this purpose.2200:01:45,680 –> 00:01:46,500It is.2300:01:46,500 –> 00:01:48,599So let’s get into the word today2400:01:48,599 –> 00:01:55,580and we’re in as I say Mark chapter 7 & 8. As we continue the message Jesus gives sight to his people.2500:01:55,839 –> 00:02:00,160Here’s Colin. Let’s follow the story very simply the disciples are in the boat2600:02:00,160 –> 00:02:05,279and they’re crossing the lake with Jesus and verse 14 Mark says they’d forgotten to bring bread2700:02:05,699 –> 00:02:10,800except for one loaf that they had with them in the boat one loaf 13 men not enough for lunch.2800:02:11,740 –> 00:02:19,460And verse 15 Jesus is using this opportunity of this quiet time on in the boat on2900:02:19,460 –> 00:02:21,820the lake with his disciples to teach them.3000:02:22,339 –> 00:02:26,419And he’s teaching them about the power of evil in the world.3100:02:26,419 –> 00:02:26,860Be very careful.3200:02:26,860 –> 00:02:33,179Verse 15 he’s warned them watch out for the yeast of the pharisees and that of herod3300:02:33,179 –> 00:02:38,479yeast is often used in the Bible as a figure for evil evil influence.3400:02:39,039 –> 00:02:43,300And so he’s saying watch out for the evil influence of the Pharisees and had it.3500:02:43,320 –> 00:02:46,500Watch out for evil in the religious world and in the political world.3600:02:46,539 –> 00:02:47,419that’s what he’s saying.3700:02:49,020 –> 00:02:52,639Now think about the opportunity that the disciples have here.3800:02:54,100 –> 00:02:58,580They’re sitting in the boat a few feet from the son of God.3900:02:59,500 –> 00:03:04,240God in the flesh is so near that they could touch it4000:03:05,699 –> 00:03:14,539and he wants to teach them about how they need to beware of the spreading influence of evil within,4100:03:14,539 –> 00:03:20,699as it were, church and within society, within the religious sphere, and within the nation at large.4200:03:21,820 –> 00:03:26,240Now, you think of all the debates, all the questions, that have run through your mind perhaps and have run4300:03:26,639 –> 00:03:29,559through the mind of Christians over two thousand years,4400:03:29,559 –> 00:03:33,380that the disciples could have raised with Jesus at that moment.4500:03:33,380 –> 00:03:35,119What an opportunity!4600:03:36,240 –> 00:03:40,940But, instead of seizing that opportunity, what we find is that the disciples slide into4700:03:40,940 –> 00:03:44,800a rather pointless discussion about having no bread.4800:03:45,759 –> 00:03:50,279Verse 17, aware of their discussion, Jesus says,4900:03:50,360 –> 00:03:54,080Why are you talking about having no bread?5000:03:56,339 –> 00:03:59,100And then, I want you to hear the Scriptures here as they must5100:03:59,100 –> 00:04:02,179have heard it, surely, because from verse 17 on,5200:04:02,179 –> 00:04:06,339Jesus Christ really gives it straight to his disciples.5300:04:07,820 –> 00:04:09,740Look at what he says,5400:04:09,740 –> 00:04:13,039Do you still not see or understand?5500:04:13,039 –> 00:04:15,539Are your hearts hardened?5600:04:15,539 –> 00:04:17,019Do you have eyes but fail to see5700:04:17,019 –> 00:04:20,260and ears but fail to hear and don’t you remember?5800:04:20,260 –> 00:04:22,239When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000,5900:04:22,239 –> 00:04:26,239how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?6000:04:26,239 –> 00:04:27,980Twelve, they replied.6100:04:29,179 –> 00:04:31,140When I broke seven loaves of the 4,000,6200:04:31,140 –> 00:04:33,420how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick?6300:04:33,420 –> 00:04:35,679And the answered, Seven.6400:04:35,679 –> 00:04:39,760And he said to them, do you still not understand?6500:04:41,019 –> 00:04:44,260Well, I think there must have been a long silence6600:04:44,260 –> 00:04:47,100in the boat after that, don’t you?6700:04:50,459 –> 00:04:54,279Jesus is clearly rebuking his disciples here.6800:04:55,519 –> 00:04:59,220Now, praise God he never abandons us in that position.6900:04:59,220 –> 00:05:00,959The Lord Jesus Christ rebukes us7000:05:00,959 –> 00:05:02,359because he loves us and because7100:05:02,359 –> 00:05:04,679he wants us to move forward.7200:05:05,600 –> 00:05:08,059And if you feel that rebuke this morning,7300:05:08,059 –> 00:05:10,000then let’s follow with Jesus as to7400:05:10,000 –> 00:05:12,700where he takes the disciples after this.7500:05:12,700 –> 00:05:15,720Because in verse 27 through 30,7600:05:15,720 –> 00:05:19,459we find Peter’s great confession of faith7700:05:19,459 –> 00:05:23,160that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.7800:05:23,160 –> 00:05:24,640This is really the center point7900:05:24,640 –> 00:05:26,040of the whole of Mark’s gospel,8000:05:26,040 –> 00:05:27,140it comes right in the middle,8100:05:27,140 –> 00:05:30,160and it is of great importance.8200:05:30,160 –> 00:05:33,079They go verse 27 to Caesarea Philippi,8300:05:33,079 –> 00:05:34,380and Jesus asks the question now,8400:05:34,380 –> 00:05:35,440what are people saying about me?8500:05:35,440 –> 00:05:37,459Who do people say that I am?8600:05:37,459 –> 00:05:39,940And they give various answers,8700:05:39,940 –> 00:05:42,059and then Jesus asks the really important question,8800:05:42,059 –> 00:05:43,640now what about you?8900:05:44,559 –> 00:05:46,899Of all you’ve learned,9000:05:46,899 –> 00:05:48,440of all you’ve heard in the church,9100:05:48,440 –> 00:05:49,459perhaps over the years,9200:05:49,459 –> 00:05:52,540what is your conclusion about Jesus?9300:05:55,220 –> 00:05:57,799And Peter, faced with this question,9400:05:57,799 –> 00:06:00,339makes this most marvelous response,9500:06:00,339 –> 00:06:03,260and I hope that it is a response that you have made,9600:06:03,260 –> 00:06:06,760or if not, that you will make today.9700:06:06,760 –> 00:06:09,100He says, you are the Christ.9800:06:12,739 –> 00:06:16,140The word Christ means Messiah, or Savior,9900:06:17,019 –> 00:06:20,100the one who has come to deliver people10000:06:20,100 –> 00:06:23,519from sin and death and hell,10100:06:24,440 –> 00:06:26,739the one who can be trusted in all these things,10200:06:26,739 –> 00:06:30,040the one who brings change in human lives10300:06:31,100 –> 00:06:33,459one who ultimately will bring the new heaven10400:06:33,459 –> 00:06:36,540and the new earth in all of its glory10500:06:36,540 –> 00:06:39,279and usher his people into the joys10600:06:39,279 –> 00:06:41,179of eternity in his presence.10700:06:41,179 –> 00:06:44,859You are the Christ.10800:06:44,859 –> 00:06:46,339This is a marvelous moment.10900:06:48,500 –> 00:06:52,040Peter has been around Jesus for a long time.11000:06:53,579 –> 00:06:57,100Just like some of us have been around11100:06:57,100 –> 00:06:59,779spiritual things for a long time.11200:07:01,339 –> 00:07:03,859But actually, this is the first time in the Gospel11300:07:03,859 –> 00:07:06,059that we have Peter or indeed any of the disciples11400:07:06,059 –> 00:07:11,059making a clear-cut decisive confession of faith.11500:07:11,779 –> 00:07:15,880Finally, halfway through the Gospel, they get it.11600:07:17,559 –> 00:07:19,739And there’s something wonderfully decisive here.11700:07:19,739 –> 00:07:21,880I wonder if you have come to a wonderfully11800:07:21,880 –> 00:07:25,959decisive place in your own life of saying,11900:07:25,959 –> 00:07:29,959I have reached this conclusion and I take this stand,12000:07:29,959 –> 00:07:33,279this is my conviction and I stake my eternity on it,12100:07:33,279 –> 00:07:36,200that Jesus is the Christ.12200:07:36,200 –> 00:07:37,920Or that if you’ve not come there12300:07:37,920 –> 00:07:39,619you would come right there today12400:07:39,660 –> 00:07:41,179and take your stand with Peter12500:07:41,179 –> 00:07:43,440and every other Christian throughout history12600:07:43,440 –> 00:07:45,200and the whole Church of God12700:07:45,200 –> 00:07:49,579and declare Jesus to be your Christ,12800:07:49,579 –> 00:07:54,579your Savior, your Lord and your Master.12900:07:56,019 –> 00:07:57,980Mark has told us right from the beginning13000:07:57,980 –> 00:07:59,640that this is what the Gospel is all about,13100:07:59,640 –> 00:08:04,640Jesus Christ, the Son of God and now halfway through,13200:08:04,720 –> 00:08:08,859the leading disciple, finally, gets it.13300:08:09,739 –> 00:08:12,220And you know, it is a saving moment.13400:08:12,220 –> 00:08:15,440When you come to confess Jesus Christ,13500:08:15,440 –> 00:08:19,200Jesus, your Savior, when you come to trust Him,13600:08:19,200 –> 00:08:24,200to believe in Him, your whole relationship with God changes.13700:08:26,899 –> 00:08:29,739Now, remember, Peter had been around Jesus,13800:08:29,739 –> 00:08:32,400had made sacrifices for Jesus, all this stuff,13900:08:33,419 –> 00:08:35,460but being around Jesus,14000:08:35,460 –> 00:08:38,039making sacrifices for Jesus doesn’t save you.14100:08:38,880 –> 00:08:43,719You are not saved by anything that you do for Jesus.14200:08:43,719 –> 00:08:46,700You are saved by what Jesus does for you,14300:08:47,640 –> 00:08:52,479and His work in your life, His saving work in your life14400:08:52,479 –> 00:08:56,320will take place as you confess Him14500:08:57,159 –> 00:09:00,479to be your Savior, and your Lord.14600:09:00,479 –> 00:09:02,719It will be a saving moment for you14700:09:02,719 –> 00:09:04,700to confess Jesus Christ today,14800:09:04,700 –> 00:09:09,020and to take your stand with Peter.14900:09:09,020 –> 00:09:11,020Have you come to make this confession?15000:09:13,419 –> 00:09:16,940Have you come to see that it is Jesus Christ15100:09:18,179 –> 00:09:20,640in whom you will find peace with God?15200:09:21,799 –> 00:09:26,320That it is Jesus Christ from whom you will find power15300:09:26,320 –> 00:09:27,940to live a new kind of life?15400:09:29,219 –> 00:09:31,479And it is Jesus Christ on whom15500:09:32,479 –> 00:09:34,080all your hopes of heaven depend.15600:09:34,080 –> 00:09:35,340It all comes from him.15700:09:36,520 –> 00:09:39,539And if you have come to believe that about Jesus Christ,15800:09:39,539 –> 00:09:41,979then you may want to come to God, even today.15900:09:41,979 –> 00:09:44,580And simply to make this kind of prayer to him,16000:09:44,580 –> 00:09:48,599you may say Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Christ.16100:09:49,599 –> 00:09:52,280I believe that you’re the only Savior and therefore,16200:09:52,280 –> 00:09:55,020I believe that you are ready to be my Savior16300:09:55,020 –> 00:09:56,719and I ask you to be my Savior.16400:09:57,599 –> 00:10:01,760I ask you to give me peace with God through your shed blood.16500:10:03,020 –> 00:10:06,219I ask you to give me power to live a new and different life16600:10:06,219 –> 00:10:08,900that I don’t have of myself but you can give me that,16700:10:08,900 –> 00:10:10,599I believe that by your spirit.16800:10:11,820 –> 00:10:15,599And I ask you to walk with me from this day through my life16900:10:15,599 –> 00:10:19,700and then bring me safely into your presence in heaven17000:10:19,700 –> 00:10:23,159and I’m gonna trust you for these things17100:10:23,159 –> 00:10:26,479because you are the Christ and this is what I believe17200:10:26,479 –> 00:10:31,239and I put my trust in you as my savior today.17300:10:31,239 –> 00:10:36,239Now, if you will do that it will be a saving moment for you17400:10:37,679 –> 00:10:39,020and it will be the beginning17500:10:39,020 –> 00:10:42,880of a whole new relationship with God17600:10:42,880 –> 00:10:45,719and a whole new direction in your life17700:10:46,760 –> 00:10:51,760as Jesus Christ is your Lord and your savior.17800:10:52,299 –> 00:10:53,140Savior.17900:10:55,239 –> 00:10:59,619Now, let’s go back to the story of the blind man18000:10:59,619 –> 00:11:00,859and pick up the thread.18100:11:03,239 –> 00:11:05,799Remember that there were two stages in the miracle.18200:11:07,200 –> 00:11:10,900There’s a man who doesn’t see, then he sees in part,18300:11:11,940 –> 00:11:15,200then when Christ touches his eyes a second time18400:11:15,200 –> 00:11:16,799he sees clearly.18500:11:18,679 –> 00:11:20,679Now, we said that Jesus is using this18600:11:20,719 –> 00:11:23,520to illustrate what is happening in the disciples.18700:11:24,599 –> 00:11:25,840When they’re in the boat with Jesus,18800:11:25,840 –> 00:11:27,500clearly they’re just not seeing.18900:11:29,080 –> 00:11:30,919When they make this great confession19000:11:30,919 –> 00:11:34,159that Jesus is the Christ, where would you place them?19100:11:35,799 –> 00:11:38,340Would you say that at this point in verse 2919200:11:38,340 –> 00:11:40,460they are seeing in part,19300:11:41,640 –> 00:11:44,599or would you say that they are seeing clearly?19400:11:46,619 –> 00:11:48,119Let’s expand the question.19500:11:48,119 –> 00:11:51,619When you come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,19600:11:51,619 –> 00:11:53,280where would you put yourself?19700:11:55,219 –> 00:11:56,979Would you put yourself when you come19800:11:56,979 –> 00:11:59,239to saving faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ,19900:11:59,239 –> 00:12:01,299would you put yourself in the position20000:12:01,299 –> 00:12:04,000of someone who sees in part?20100:12:05,580 –> 00:12:07,700Or would you regard yourself20200:12:07,700 –> 00:12:10,659as being someone who now sees clearly?20300:12:11,739 –> 00:12:13,900This is a very important question,20400:12:13,900 –> 00:12:17,359and it has huge practical outworkings20500:12:17,359 –> 00:12:20,400as we’re going to see in just a moment’s time.20600:12:20,400 –> 00:12:24,359You’re listening to The Message Jesus gives sight20700:12:24,359 –> 00:12:25,599to His people.20800:12:25,599 –> 00:12:28,320It’s Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith20900:12:28,320 –> 00:12:30,919and if you’ve missed any of The Message today21000:12:30,919 –> 00:12:33,119or if you’ve missed any of the earlier messages21100:12:33,119 –> 00:12:35,599in the series, don’t forget you can always21200:12:35,599 –> 00:12:37,760go to our website and listen back21300:12:37,760 –> 00:12:40,500to any of the previously broadcast messages.21400:12:40,500 –> 00:12:45,320Our website address is OpenTheBible.org.UK.21500:12:45,320 –> 00:12:46,400Back to The Message now,21600:12:46,520 –> 00:12:49,359we’re in Mark seven and eight, here’s Colin.21700:12:49,359 –> 00:12:52,000I have to say I look at Peter’s great confession here,21800:12:52,000 –> 00:12:54,979You are the Christ, and I thought,21900:12:54,979 –> 00:12:56,520oh this is marvelous, he sees clearly.22000:12:56,520 –> 00:12:58,859I want to put him in the see clearly category.22100:13:00,440 –> 00:13:02,859But then let’s read on just a few verses22200:13:02,859 –> 00:13:05,340and we’ll see where the truth lies.22300:13:05,340 –> 00:13:09,460Verse 31, Jesus began to teach them22400:13:09,460 –> 00:13:12,840that the son of man must suffer many things.22500:13:12,840 –> 00:13:16,119Verse 32 he spoke plainly about this22600:13:16,200 –> 00:13:18,780and Peter took him aside,22700:13:18,780 –> 00:13:20,659and Peter began to rebuke him.22800:13:22,080 –> 00:13:24,159When Jesus turned and looked at his disciple,22900:13:24,159 –> 00:13:25,320he rebuked Peter.23000:13:25,320 –> 00:13:26,400Get behind me, Satan.23100:13:26,400 –> 00:13:30,140He said, you do not have in mind the things of God,23200:13:31,400 –> 00:13:32,979but the things of men.23300:13:32,979 –> 00:13:34,780It’s kind of a great let down, isn’t it?23400:13:34,780 –> 00:13:38,719This marvelous confession of saving faith.23500:13:40,539 –> 00:13:42,239And then immediately he goes and23600:13:43,640 –> 00:13:46,059tries to correct Jesus and blows it23700:13:46,700 –> 00:13:50,219and shows us, he doesn’t see that clearly at all.23800:13:52,119 –> 00:13:54,219So I think it’s very obvious here23900:13:54,219 –> 00:13:55,960that what we have in these verses24000:13:55,960 –> 00:14:00,479is Jesus correcting disciples who really only see in part.24100:14:01,479 –> 00:14:03,119And that is the position that Peter is in,24200:14:03,119 –> 00:14:05,700and that is the position that you and I are in24300:14:05,700 –> 00:14:08,960throughout our lives in this world.24400:14:08,960 –> 00:14:11,119Peter has been given this wonderful light24500:14:11,119 –> 00:14:13,559of knowing that Jesus is the Christ.24600:14:14,539 –> 00:14:18,380He feels so confident about his new understanding24700:14:18,380 –> 00:14:19,820that he now thinks he’s in a position24800:14:19,820 –> 00:14:21,580to tell Jesus what to do.24900:14:23,659 –> 00:14:25,820And of course the first lesson that he learns here25000:14:25,820 –> 00:14:28,219is that, having trusted Jesus as his savior,25100:14:28,219 –> 00:14:30,780he must take Jesus as his teacher.25200:14:31,859 –> 00:14:35,260The spirit is indeed at work in his life,25300:14:35,260 –> 00:14:39,859but he needs to be guided by the word of Christ.25400:14:39,880 –> 00:14:44,020He needs to be guided by the word of God.25500:14:45,840 –> 00:14:48,400And for anyone who becomes a new Christian,25600:14:48,400 –> 00:14:49,840this is one of the most important25700:14:49,840 –> 00:14:51,979early lessons for us to learn.25800:14:52,880 –> 00:14:54,320When you become a new Christian,25900:14:54,320 –> 00:14:56,659you say, everything seems wonderfully new.26000:14:56,659 –> 00:14:58,760Boy, I’ve suddenly got this understanding,26100:14:58,760 –> 00:15:02,059this light of faith, I’ve come to be one of God’s people.26200:15:02,059 –> 00:15:05,159I’ve been converted, the Holy Spirit lives within me.26300:15:05,159 –> 00:15:07,580And you can easily slide into thinking26400:15:07,580 –> 00:15:09,960that every impulse and every thought that you have26500:15:09,960 –> 00:15:11,219therefore comes from God.26600:15:12,200 –> 00:15:15,159Trust your gut, your gut will never take you too far wrong.26700:15:15,159 –> 00:15:16,260Well, often it will.26800:15:17,299 –> 00:15:21,640And that’s exactly what we learn from Peter here.26900:15:22,520 –> 00:15:26,419He needs to be guided by the word of God.27000:15:26,419 –> 00:15:28,619He needs to submit all his ideas27100:15:28,619 –> 00:15:30,520about what God ought to be doing,27200:15:30,520 –> 00:15:32,559and he has many ideas about that,27300:15:32,559 –> 00:15:35,520to the word of the Lord Jesus Christ27400:15:35,859 –> 00:15:38,580who will tell him what is true.27500:15:39,919 –> 00:15:43,559See, when you come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,27600:15:44,919 –> 00:15:49,919you see some things, but you don’t see all things,27700:15:51,900 –> 00:15:54,200and it’s very important to grasp that.27800:15:55,760 –> 00:15:57,140Paul makes it clear to us27900:15:57,140 –> 00:15:59,719in Second Corinthians chapter five and verse seven.28000:15:59,719 –> 00:16:01,500Do you remember what he says there?28100:16:01,559 –> 00:16:06,559We walk by faith and not by, not by sight, not by sight.28200:16:11,419 –> 00:16:14,520We do not see everything clearly in this world.28300:16:16,419 –> 00:16:20,340Or, First Corinthians in chapter 13 and verse 12.28400:16:20,340 –> 00:16:21,760Remember Paul says there,28500:16:21,760 –> 00:16:26,760we see, but a poor reflection in a mirror.28600:16:27,900 –> 00:16:31,340Only then, when Christ comes,28700:16:31,340 –> 00:16:34,619will we see face to face.28800:16:34,619 –> 00:16:38,260But right now he says, here’s what our sight is like,28900:16:38,260 –> 00:16:42,960it’s like looking in a first century bad mirror,29000:16:42,960 –> 00:16:45,280which would give you a very poor reflection.29100:16:48,419 –> 00:16:51,039That’s what our experience is like in this world.29200:16:52,659 –> 00:16:55,080Paul says I know in part,29300:16:55,080 –> 00:16:57,500the Apostle Paul with all the revelation given to him,29400:16:57,500 –> 00:16:59,099he says I know in part,29500:16:59,400 –> 00:17:01,260but only then shall I know fully,29600:17:01,260 –> 00:17:04,040even as now I am fully known.29700:17:04,040 –> 00:17:07,000So a proper grasp of the gospel29800:17:08,020 –> 00:17:11,239will give you both the confidence29900:17:11,239 –> 00:17:14,800to know that you can trust Christ in all things,30000:17:14,800 –> 00:17:18,500and the humility to recognize there are many things30100:17:18,500 –> 00:17:21,140that he has not yet revealed.30200:17:21,140 –> 00:17:25,339And we need both faith’s confidence and faith’s humility.30300:17:25,339 –> 00:17:26,819Without faith’s humility,30400:17:26,819 –> 00:17:29,920we become arrogant and nobody will listen to us.30500:17:30,859 –> 00:17:33,579Without faith’s confidence, we become agnostic30600:17:33,579 –> 00:17:35,400and we don’t have anything to say.30700:17:36,599 –> 00:17:40,459So let us have great confidence in what God has revealed.30800:17:40,459 –> 00:17:45,459Jesus is the Christ, I know whom I have believed.30900:17:47,619 –> 00:17:49,979I know that my Redeemer lives.31000:17:51,339 –> 00:17:54,459There is an affirmation of faith31100:17:54,459 –> 00:17:56,780that is sufficient for life.31200:17:56,780 –> 00:18:00,420That is given to us through what God has revealed31300:18:00,420 –> 00:18:01,500in the scriptures.31400:18:01,500 –> 00:18:06,099But please, let us not for a moment imagine31500:18:07,319 –> 00:18:11,280that God will reveal all things to us.31600:18:13,180 –> 00:18:15,380See, if you think that you’re going to be able31700:18:15,380 –> 00:18:18,300to work out how every pain and every suffering31800:18:18,300 –> 00:18:22,180and every trauma and every evil31900:18:22,180 –> 00:18:24,800that God permits within the world32000:18:24,800 –> 00:18:28,160how all of this is being worked together to God’s glory,32100:18:28,160 –> 00:18:30,300if you expect to see all of that right now,32200:18:30,300 –> 00:18:32,400you will be desperately disappointed.32300:18:34,020 –> 00:18:36,040We do not see all things clearly.32400:18:37,979 –> 00:18:41,719The promise is, that one day we will32500:18:42,699 –> 00:18:46,339when Christ comes in power and in glory.32600:18:46,339 –> 00:18:47,599Then we will see clearly.32700:18:48,579 –> 00:18:51,939Until that day, we walk by faith not by sight32800:18:52,920 –> 00:18:56,680putting our confidence in what Christ has revealed to us,32900:18:56,680 –> 00:18:59,199but exercising humility to say33000:18:59,199 –> 00:19:03,119that there is so much that we do not yet know.33100:19:04,239 –> 00:19:06,239And that is why just like the disciples,33200:19:06,239 –> 00:19:11,239we need to be constantly corrected by the word of God.33300:19:11,880 –> 00:19:13,319That’s what Peter needed here33400:19:14,219 –> 00:19:16,760and thought he knew more than he did33500:19:16,760 –> 00:19:19,160and he needed the word of Christ to correct him.33600:19:20,060 –> 00:19:24,459Here’s a question worth pondering just for a moment.33700:19:24,459 –> 00:19:28,000Are you living in the word of God enough33800:19:28,000 –> 00:19:30,520to be corrected by it?33900:19:30,520 –> 00:19:33,400You say, how much do I need to be in the word of God?34000:19:34,359 –> 00:19:37,579Amongst other things, you need to be in the word of God34100:19:37,579 –> 00:19:39,719enough to be corrected by it.34200:19:41,880 –> 00:19:46,260Enough so that where you’re thinking is off,34300:19:47,140 –> 00:19:51,760God may speak to you and bring you back online by His Word,34400:19:51,760 –> 00:19:53,599it is for this purpose it’s been given,34500:19:53,599 –> 00:19:55,479for teaching, rebuking, correcting,34600:19:55,479 –> 00:19:56,900and training in righteousness.34700:19:58,939 –> 00:20:03,079And if you are a disciple who is not in the word of God,34800:20:03,079 –> 00:20:04,319here’s what will happen.34900:20:04,319 –> 00:20:05,880You’ll just trust all your instincts,35000:20:05,880 –> 00:20:07,000you’ll assume that they’re all God35100:20:07,000 –> 00:20:08,239speaking to you and leading you,35200:20:08,239 –> 00:20:10,280and you will end up a long way off track35300:20:11,920 –> 00:20:14,619because you’re operating as if you see everything clearly35400:20:14,619 –> 00:20:16,119and you don’t.35500:20:16,939 –> 00:20:17,839None of us do.35600:20:19,520 –> 00:20:22,079We need the correction of the word of God35700:20:22,079 –> 00:20:25,040throughout our pilgrimage in this life.35800:20:25,920 –> 00:20:28,520So there’s a rebuke for disciples who don’t see,35900:20:28,520 –> 00:20:31,199there is correction for disciples who see in part,36000:20:31,199 –> 00:20:35,900and need to remember that we only see in part,36100:20:35,900 –> 00:20:38,540but then there is a wonderful promise,36200:20:38,540 –> 00:20:40,400and this just in this last moment,36300:20:41,760 –> 00:20:45,719for disciples who will, one day, see clearly.36400:20:45,719 –> 00:20:48,339And it comes right at the end of the chapter here,36500:20:48,339 –> 00:20:51,300when in verse 38 Jesus speaks of the day36600:20:51,300 –> 00:20:53,300when the Son of man will come36700:20:53,300 –> 00:20:57,060in his father’s glory with all his holy angels.36800:20:57,060 –> 00:20:59,000And then he says in chapter nine in verse one,36900:20:59,000 –> 00:21:00,660I tell you the truth,37000:21:00,660 –> 00:21:03,420some of you who are standing here37100:21:03,420 –> 00:21:05,680will not taste death before they see37200:21:05,680 –> 00:21:08,060the kingdom of God come with power.37300:21:09,819 –> 00:21:13,180Now Jesus is referring here to the transfiguration,37400:21:13,180 –> 00:21:16,959where Peter, James and John saw his glory,37500:21:16,959 –> 00:21:19,459but of course the whole point of the transfiguration37600:21:19,459 –> 00:21:22,140is that they had a glimpse37700:21:22,140 –> 00:21:26,180of what every believer will one day see37800:21:26,180 –> 00:21:28,780when Christ comes for his people37900:21:28,780 –> 00:21:33,560and his glory is wonderfully revealed.38000:21:33,560 –> 00:21:38,260Now we see in part.38100:21:39,140 –> 00:21:45,699Now, there are some questions to which you have no answers.38200:21:45,699 –> 00:21:50,040Now there are issues where you say,38300:21:50,040 –> 00:21:52,599I believe that God works in all things for good,38400:21:52,599 –> 00:21:56,800but I just can’t see how he’s doing it here.38500:21:56,800 –> 00:21:59,140That’s what it is to walk by faith and not by sight,38600:21:59,140 –> 00:22:00,939if you could see how he’s doing it here,38700:22:00,939 –> 00:22:05,219you wouldn’t need faith anymore.38800:22:05,219 –> 00:22:08,800But the promise is that a day is soon coming38900:22:08,800 –> 00:22:11,459when faith will be turned to sight39000:22:11,459 –> 00:22:13,160and we will not simply believe39100:22:13,160 –> 00:22:15,400that he works in all things for our good.39200:22:15,400 –> 00:22:18,979We will see that it was so.39300:22:21,420 –> 00:22:25,839Don that day, every question you have ever had for God39400:22:25,839 –> 00:22:28,859as a Christian believer will be answered.39500:22:28,859 –> 00:22:30,660On that day, the Bible says,39600:22:30,660 –> 00:22:34,280God will wipe every tear from your eyes.39700:22:34,280 –> 00:22:36,900And on that day when he does it,39800:22:36,900 –> 00:22:41,900you will say now I see clearly.39900:22:45,119 –> 00:22:48,579And when you see clearly with all the people of God,40000:22:49,719 –> 00:22:52,180we will rejoice and praise Him40100:22:53,359 –> 00:22:57,319that he has done everything well.40200:22:58,859 –> 00:23:00,640You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith40300:23:00,640 –> 00:23:02,339on Open the Bible and the message40400:23:02,479 –> 00:23:05,479called Jesus gives sight to His people.40500:23:05,479 –> 00:23:08,760It’s part of our series, The Gospel According to Jesus,40600:23:08,760 –> 00:23:10,219and if you ever want to catch up40700:23:10,219 –> 00:23:12,239with one of the messages that you might have missed40800:23:12,239 –> 00:23:13,780or go back and listen again,40900:23:13,780 –> 00:23:16,260you can do that online at our website,41000:23:16,260 –> 00:23:17,459openthebible.org.uk.41100:23:20,020 –> 00:23:22,579Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners,41200:23:22,579 –> 00:23:24,619that’s people just like you,41300:23:24,619 –> 00:23:27,920and we’re very grateful for the support you give us.41400:23:27,920 –> 00:23:29,699If you’re thinking about supporting41500:23:29,699 –> 00:23:31,699Open the Bible in this way,41600:23:31,699 –> 00:23:34,020we have an offer for you this month.41700:23:34,020 –> 00:23:36,540If you’re able to set up a new direct debit41800:23:36,540 –> 00:23:39,420in the amount of five pounds per month or more,41900:23:39,420 –> 00:23:42,339or give a one-off gift of £50 or more,42000:23:42,339 –> 00:23:43,920we’d love to say thank you42100:23:43,920 –> 00:23:47,619by sending you five copies of Pastor Colin’s new booklet,42200:23:47,619 –> 00:23:49,760What Jesus says to Skeptics.42300:23:49,760 –> 00:23:51,459That’s one copy for you,42400:23:51,459 –> 00:23:54,560and four copies to give away to your friends and family.42500:23:54,560 –> 00:23:55,380Colin,42600:23:55,380 –> 00:23:57,119who is this booklet for?42700:23:57,119 –> 00:23:58,400Well, people have always42800:23:58,400 –> 00:24:01,060had very different reactions to Jesus.42900:24:01,219 –> 00:24:02,540Some are committed followers,43000:24:02,540 –> 00:24:05,260others are hardcore opponents.43100:24:05,260 –> 00:24:06,420But there’ll be many people43200:24:06,420 –> 00:24:08,540who are listening to the programme today43300:24:08,540 –> 00:24:10,479who would identify with neither of these things.43400:24:10,479 –> 00:24:12,300You’re not particularly committed to Jesus,43500:24:12,300 –> 00:24:14,060you haven’t rejected Him, either.43600:24:14,060 –> 00:24:16,140You do have questions.43700:24:16,140 –> 00:24:18,260And this booklet is for you.43800:24:18,260 –> 00:24:20,099And for others listening,43900:24:20,099 –> 00:24:22,459there will be a skeptic in your life.44000:24:22,459 –> 00:24:25,140There’ll be someone you know and love44100:24:25,140 –> 00:24:26,660who has real questions.44200:24:26,660 –> 00:24:28,819They’re not yet committed to Jesus.44300:24:28,819 –> 00:24:30,300But this booklet44400:24:30,339 –> 00:24:32,300really gives an opportunity44500:24:32,300 –> 00:24:35,619to listen to what Jesus has to say to sceptics.44600:24:35,619 –> 00:24:38,500Well, we’d love to send you five copies of this booklet44700:24:38,500 –> 00:24:39,939as our way of saying thank you44800:24:39,939 –> 00:24:42,979for setting up a new regular monthly direct debit44900:24:42,979 –> 00:24:45,500of five pounds per month, or more.45000:24:45,500 –> 00:24:49,420Or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.45100:24:49,420 –> 00:24:51,420If you value Pastor Colin’s teaching45200:24:51,420 –> 00:24:53,140on the radio and online,45300:24:53,140 –> 00:24:54,900you’ll be helping to keep it here45400:24:54,900 –> 00:24:57,459and to support the work of Open the Bible.45500:24:57,459 –> 00:24:59,060Full terms and conditions45600:24:59,060 –> 00:25:01,099about this offer are on our website,45700:25:01,099 –> 00:25:04,459openthebible.org.uk.45800:25:04,459 –> 00:25:06,900For Pastor Colin Smith and Open the Bible,45900:25:06,900 –> 00:25:07,900I’m David Pick,46000:25:07,900 –> 00:25:10,300and I hope you’ll join us again next time.46100:25:15,619 –> 00:25:19,339You’re probably familiar with this advertising formula,46200:25:19,339 –> 00:25:21,260maximize the benefits,46300:25:21,260 –> 00:25:22,739minimize the risks,46400:25:22,739 –> 00:25:25,979and put all the costs in the fine print.46500:25:25,979 –> 00:25:28,380Find out what formula Jesus uses46600:25:28,380 –> 00:25:30,380next time on Open the Bible.

Details

Sermon Series
Date

Monthly Offer

Get your free copy of ‘The Advent of Glory’ by R. C. Sproul when you set up a monthly gift of at least £5, or a one-off gift of at least £50…

Donate

Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

Linked resources

No linked resources found.

Search

Search

Header Submit Search