A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them (the Pharisees and Sadducees) and went away... From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." - Matthew 16:4,21-23
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and the disciples all struggled with spiritual truth - 2000 years later and nothing has changed. We also struggle. The lost are incapable of understanding what is spiritual. Christians were made capable the moment they were saved and God, the Father, sealed us with the Spirit of God. Jesus referred to the Spirit as our Helper. But we still struggle with seeing the world and the affairs of this world from God's perspective. Oh, that we might be like the sons of Issachar, some of the mighty men of David.
"Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were expressly named to come and make David king. Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command." - 1 Chronicles 12:31-32
Everything has spiritual context. Even as the world embraces its own wisdom and what it deems to be right in the sight of man. God has spoken to that in His Word which is His spiritual revelation. We might be dismayed to see events play themselves out. We, without doubt, would rather the world see the truth and embrace it, turning away from the works of the flesh. The world is blind to spiritual truth.
"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-5
When Jesus gave sight to the blind - certainly it was good for the person who received sight, but it was metaphorical. A spiritual truth being revealed through the healing.
"And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him [Bartimaeus].” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way." - Mark 10:49-52
And just like Bartimaeus, we too were blind and hoped one day to see. It was faith that finally gave us sight.
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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