Seeing, but Blind (I)

“Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:13, New King James Version).

This is the key Bible verse for our “Come and See” devotional today.

There are different degrees of blindness. Some people are partially blind while others cannot see at all.  In addition to physical blindness, we often encounter spiritual blindness. One example of this is a remarkable event that happened after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thus, although Jesus Christ had been with the disciples for three years, they could not recognise Him just three days after his death. The Bible records that on the road to Emmaus, many people whom He met along the way showed total mental or spiritual blindness: “So it was, while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.” (Luke 24:15-16, New King James Version).

If the ‘eyes’ of our minds are opened, then our physical eyes will be able to recognise and see important things. Thus, Jesus Christ is everything good: he provides opportunities because He is the Way; clearness because He is Truth; and enlightenment because He is the Life. It is often easier to treat or cure a physically impaired eye than it is to treat a spiritually blind or defective mind; here the example of Doubting Thomas comes to mind because he wanted to see before believing.

However, Jesus did succeed in opening the eyes of the disciples:  “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?””’ (Luke 24 verses 30-32, New King James Version)

We should understand that the bread broken in this scenario by Jesus Christ represents the Word of God, for He had earlier declared: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6 verse 35, New International Version). The Word of God will open our minds to see what God wants us to see and how He wants us to see it. God’s Word is Light: “Your Word is lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105, New International Version). You can never stumble as long as you walk in the light of God’s Word.

When our spiritual eyes are opened, we will begin to see in the way that God sees; we will know our purpose in life and never be thirsty for divine revelations. If you open and read the Scriptures, He will open your mind at the same time. Thus : “He said to them, ‘this is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24 verses 44-45, New International Version).

Let us pray: “Father, open the eyes of my understanding to know the purpose of my calling and the riches of the glory of my inheritance in Christ Jesus,” in Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

This message was brought to you by Evangelical Ministries International (EMI). We know this message has been a blessing to you. Please share your testimonies with us by visiting our website www.evangelicalministries.org or contact us on info@evangelicalministries.org. God bless you!