Sabbath: Seeing People Through Jesus’ Eyes
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Mark 8:22-26; John 4:3-34; John 1:40-41; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 23:39-43; Acts 8:26-38.
Memory Text: “Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19, NKJV).
Jesus is the master soul winner. By watching the way Jesus worked with people, we learn how to lead others to a knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ. Journeying with Him through the crowded streets of Jerusalem, the dusty paths of Judea, and the grassy hillsides of Galilee, we discover how He revealed the principles of the kingdom to seeking souls.
Jesus saw all men and women as winnable for His kingdom. He saw each one through the eyes of divine compassion. He saw Peter not as a rough, loud-mouthed fisherman but as a mighty preacher of the gospel. He saw James and John not as quick-tempered, fiery radicals but as enthusiastic proclaimers of His grace. He saw the deep yearning for genuine love and acceptance in the hearts of Mary Magdalene, the Samaritan woman, and the woman with the issue of blood. He saw Thomas not as a cynical doubter but as one with sincere questions. Whether they were Jew or Gentile, male or female, a thief on the cross, a centurion, or a demon-possessed mad man, Jesus saw their God-given potential and viewed them through salvation’s eyes.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 18.
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Have you ever been guilty of saying, "They would make good Adventists!". I know I have at least had that filter in the back of my mind when dealing with students. We tend to judge people and react towards them based on our judgment. And sometimes that judgement stops us from seeing the potential in others. In my classroom, I can remember several students who I would call "real ratbags" That is an Australian term with a wide range of meanings, but in this context, it means a cheeky student with a discipline problem. If there was a disturbance in the classroom, they were at the centre of it. And they often knew how to ensure that they appeared guileless so that the innocent got into trouble. When you teach in the Church system for as long as I have it is wonderful to see these ratbags again, often as teachers doing their work with passion and understanding. I have even had the privilege to say to the grandkids of some of them that I remember teaching their grandparents when they were naughty students in my class. (How many teachers remember the naughty students better than the good students?)
Jesus saw the potential in everyone and he acted on that. Tax collectors, publicans, gentiles, prostitutes, the mentally ill, and academics were all invited to follow him. No filters.
"Go ye into all the world!"
Two phrases in this lesson impacted me.
By watching Jesus:
We learn how to lead others to a knowledge of salvation through Jesus
and
We discover how He revealed the principles of the kingdom to seeking souls
These two points will guide me in my interactions with others, I will share how and why Jesus has changed my life and wants to change their lives.
I also learned from watching Jesus that first He showed He cared for them and then He shared the knowledge that would change their lives.
He wants us to be caring lightbearers for Him!
Since God is not a respecter of persons.. how can one outreach other than hand out tracts or knock on doors sharing literature or your faith? Can you think of ways one person can reach hundreds/thousands with no cost?
CLUE: What opportunities does the internet offer to share the gospel, 3 angel's message?
Fear thou not; for I am with thee....Isa 41:10
On social media. Connect with other SDA or start your own site with discussions.
Knowing God is fascinating.
Experiencing God is life changing.
Matt.6:22 - The light of the body is the eye; if therefor thine eye be single (resting in Jesus only) the whole body shall be full of light (all living will be filled by and with His Light).
Heb.4:12-16 - Jesus saw the necessity for a clear, spiritual segregation of the believer from the teachings of this world.
If we truly believe that it is the God of Heaven that leads us in our life here on earth, we can trust *HIM* that He is able to lead the Truth Seeker even out of Babylon.
Eph.4:11-15 - (13) 'until we all come into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ':
Could it be that we have become somewhat mentally/spiritually detached when using religious buzzwords (phrases) in communications with each other? Could they trigger an automatic, superficial understanding in our minds, and if not carefully checked, engage the not yet renewed part of our heart, mind and soul?
Eph.2:2; 2Cor.4:4 - The Holy Spirit wants to always/constantly renew all that defines us.
When using our spiritual 'eyes', we want to make sure that we 'see' with the renewed mind and heart and no longer using the same patterns of thought which used to guide the old, uninspired mind.
As an example - 'Leading others to Christ' is one of those phrases. The writer of today's lesson uses "God given potential". Everyone understands this - there is no further explanation needed - or is there?
What was Jesus' 'potential' and "how did He work with the people to 'win' them to Himself"? And what is 'our' potential?
John15:1-12 - We want to first understand fully the difference of the spiritual 'source/identity' of the new nature versus the spiritual 'source/identity' of the old nature.
Jesus' 'potential' was fulfilled through His Faith - flesh died to give birth to His fully divine 'Self'. He lived the potential of His Identity without fail when He lived His life here with us - 'becoming the Savior and voice of God to the fallen world'.
Because and for the sake of uninspired/unbelieving men, God's Spirit in visible form demonstrated to all that Jesus was HIS Son, and that He, His Father, authorized His commission. God and Jesus knew it, but the unregenerate eyes had to see it to believe it.
When the people heard His teachings, their 'prepared' hearts and minds moved/drew/attracted them to follow Jesus. Now, God's Holy Spirit is 'taking our hand' to keep us whiles we follow the road build by Jesus' Light.
John6:44 - Jesus says: 'No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me DRAW him: and I will raise him up at the last day'.
The Father draws and Jesus saves/sanctifies the believer and to raise him through HIS faith 'at the last day'. This clearly shows that we cannot on our own decide to follow Jesus, generate our 'own' faith, or can expect this from those we meet.
John 8:12 - 'Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.
John 1:9 - 'That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John1:5 - And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Jesus' commission is to introduce/define/demonstrate that NEW Light to lead the Seeker of Truth to the One who is drawing him. The man living by the light of this world is unable to comprehend the Light of God without being drawn by Him.
Whiles we go patiently about our Father's business, He will draw the hearts to Him. We humbly and prayerfully submit our heart, mind, and soul daily to stay within God's Light.
Rom.12:2 - We are given the heavenly, spiritual Light so 'we may prove the Will of God' - know, personalize within our new nature the WILL OF GOD. Jesus' eyes are God's eyes and desire to see through our eyes.
What they see is not the 'potential' of man's old, fallen nature/state to be improved unto doing good works, but to oversee its DEATH. They desire that the NEW man becomes the vessel of *HIS Light* to a world that is perishing.
To meet His goals, He will employ all our physical/emotional talents/gifts whenever He perceives a need. THIS IS THE POTENTIAL THAT GOD SEES IN US!
1Cor.2:9 - But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
Brigitte, what you are saying makes much sense but looking at Jesus' life and humans, we are different? But Jesus desires that we become like him in his character. But how does one have the character of Jesus?
For example, have you ever seen a person who was demon-possessed? Yes/No. Anyone who is demon-possessed(takes possession of) does not do anything of their own will because the demon/s is the one who does everything. When they open their mouth to speak, the demons speak. When they try moving, it is the demons who move them, etc. Look at those in the bible who were demon-possessed and as we study their lives we will see why Jesus had compassion on them. It was a life wholly taken over by another force.
So it is with those who the Holy Ghost is dwelling in. Whenever they speak, it is not they who speak but the Holy Spirit who speaks through them. He takes possession of their surrender minds and conformed their minds to his. Their good works are not based on feelings or show. The Holy Spirit dwelling in them is love, so love begat love.
the song says- Not I but Christ, be seen be known be heard. This is in every aspect of our lives. The opening and enlightening of one's mind is done by the Holy Ghost. As he opens our minds and shows us what is our mission, he tells us what to do and he does the good works in us. It may look on the outside that we are using all capabilities whether physical/emotional talents/gifts, but it is the power of the Holy Spirit working through us. We are not capable of doing such. I realized at times I did not know the answer to somethings asked, but suddenly the Holy Spirit brought the answers to my mind just at the right time.
Yes, Lyn - the Holy Spirit will transform our hearts and minds if we give Him access to us. Many who believe they are 'good enough' and do not need to change anything or much at the time of their conversion/surrender, might not fully grasp that their surrender does not take place and showes through actions only, but first and foremost in the heart and mind of the living soul. This is what I am trying to point out.
The demoniac showed the outward signs of a spirit possession of the most dramatice type and everyone could see the chaines that bound him. All mankind, including Christians, have to recognize the spiritual attachments to this world. They are as real as the air we breath, but are to most of us not visible to the eye. This also includes spirits invading our minds and heart with their deceptive, worldly influences. These spirits can be dectected by the Holy Spirit, though.
1Peter1:2-9; 1Peter1:13-16; - we are called to vigilantly maintain our Faith. This includes that we continously make ourselves availble to the Holy Spirit for the renewing of our heart, mind and soul.
All our physical/emotional talents/gifts are the same and carried over into the new life, but the source of the motivation has shifted their use from serving 'Self' to serving the spiritual aspect of the needy by pointing out to them that Jesus is the source of the love that is reaching out. To God be the Honor, Glory and Praise!
Follow me and I will make you Fisher of Men. Matt 4:19
Both Andrew and Peter were followers of John the Baptist, both were seekers of truth, both were at the Jordon river at Jesus' baptism. Now Jesus came by and called them to follow him. It was now somewhat easy for these men who were looking for the Messiah to follow Jesus.
'Andrew sought to impart the joy that filled his heart. Going in search of his brother Simon, he cried, “We have found the Messias.” Simon waited for no second bidding. He also had heard the preaching of John the Baptist, and he hastened to the Saviour. {DA 139.5}'
In our present day, some have heard the voice of Jesus but allowed Satan to harden their hearts. Let us allow the words of Jesus to soften our hearts as we become like the disciples.
If we let the holy spirit in our hearts definitely we shall convert many souls to Christ. we should change ourselves first in order to change others
Happy sabbath brethren and sisters
I havent posted here know a very long time ,life has been busy and alot has happened and changed but we thank Gods grace for our protection
After going through this weeks lesson particularly on Sabbath afternoon in simple terms I want to comment by using a very cliche "saying"
"Jesus doesnt call the qualified but he qualifies the called"
Truly he does and I pray that we also view people in the eyes of salvation ..
May we grow in Christ and continue hanging on to his teaching perhaps one day we will be more like Jesus