Parresia · Let’s Keep the Amazing in Grace, Session 10: “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Introduction

Welcome to the 10th and final session of “Let’s Keep the Amazing in Grace.” This session is entitled, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” When preparing this last message, I had alot of scriptures that I could have covered, but my heart instructed me to keep it simple and just talk about the peace that is our inheritance from Jesus and tell some stories about Him.

The more we look at Jesus, the more we will experience His peace. The more we look at Jesus, the more we will be transformed from the inside out. The more we look at Jesus, the more we are assured we are loved, cared for, and protected. 

Peace/Let Not

Beholding Jesus is the most practical thing we can do. It’s so important when we are facing challenges in life to see Him in His word, and to hear Him in our hearts. For instance, hear Him say – 

John 14:25-27 – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; [The Greek word for “leave” means to bequeath, to go away leaving something behind. Peace is our inheritance. “Give” means to supply. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to supply us with the peace to meet every one of life’s challenge]

Of all the things our Lord Jesus could have bequeathed us to, He left us with what He considered to be the most valuable and useful thing He had: peace.

He would have been speaking Hebrew to His Jewish disciples. He would have used the word “shalom.” According to Strong’s concordance, here are just a few of the definitions of “shalom”: 

• wholeness, safety, favor, completeness, soundness, health, prosperity, contentment, joy, and rest. Can you think of anything that is missing from that list?

John 14:27, cont – [Jesus said – My peace I give to you – ] not as the world gives do I give to you.

Not as the world gives – not a spa treatment or a beach trip (as wonderful as those are) or a good novel (to escape with), or a glass of wine (to dull the senses). Those only provide a temporary feeling of peace. but they don’t last – because you have to come back from vacation. 

The peace that Jesus gives, is strong, resilient, and long-lasting because it’s not dependent on our emotions or circumstances. 

John 14:27, cont – [Jesus said -] Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The only thing He wants us to do is “let not your heart be troubled.” We guard our heart. We guard the inside, and He will guard the outside. No one can “let not” for us. It’s an imperative. We’re the only ones who can guard our own hearts. All the troubles of come from the outside, but peace comes from inside.

He then said, “neither let it be afraid.” So “troubled” is the first step to being afraid. If our heart is not troubled, it can never be afraid with the fear that can be so paralyzing. How do we do it? Keep our eyes on Jesus.

And we need to remember that the peace that Jesus gives is a peace that begins in our conscience knowing we are right with God, and God is on our side – He proved that by sending Jesus – and God will see us through!

Romans 5:1-2 – Therefore, having been justified by faith, [made right with God by faith] we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ [We have peace in our conscience, knowing we are faultless, blameless, holy, redeemed through the blood of Jesus!], 2 through [Jesus Christ] whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, [We’re standing on grace ground – our foundation is Jesus’ finished work.]…

Restful Day in the Life of Jesus

One of the best ways to behold Jesus is to read the Gospels and just look at the way He lived His life. That one exercise will transform us effortlessly. 

So let’s start by looking at a couple of days in the life of Jesus in Mark 4 and 5. I chose these particular stories of Jesus to share with you today because, for whatever reason, they were the ones that touched me so deeply when was the revelation of grace was new to me, and it’s sentimental. And I’m only sharing the slightest of details in each story. When we start looking at Jesus in the scriptures, we can dig for treasure for the rest of our lives and always find more. 

In Mark 4 we see Him starting His day by preaching in parables to multitudes from a boat on the Lake of Gennesaret [ghen-nay-sar-et’], and then He went off with His disciples to go one by one through the parables He had just preached to explain them. Now That would have been enough for me in a day!

Afterwards when evening came, He and His disciples got in a boat to go to the other side of the lake. Jesus, of course, knew that the Gadarene demoniac would be there.

Storm at sea

Mark 4:35-39 – [Jesus said] “Let us cross over to the other side.” [We know the story that there are going to get caught in a storm, but there’s enough power in those words to ensure that they would make it to the other side.] 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He [Jesus] was in the stern, [He was tired so He fell – ] asleep on a pillow. [One of my all time favorite tidbits in the Bible – Jesus asleep on a pillow! They should’ve grabbed pillows themselves and taken a rest with Him.] And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” [Wow! They accused Him of not caring! When all this time they’ve been together, He’s been caring for them. But rather than rebuking them, – ] 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. [Jesus arose, not at the howl of the wind, but at the cry of His beloved – because He was WITH them in the storm.]

If Jesus is with us in the middle of our storms – and He is! – then we should yoke ourselves with Him, grab ourselves a pillow and rest. If He says we’re going to make it to the other side, we are going to make it to the other side!

Mark 4:40 – But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” [By now they’ve seen Him perform lots of miracles. How many miracles will God do in our lives before we trust Him? A storm doesn’t mean He dean’t care. Life is full of storms. It just means He’s going to intervene and do another miracle for us.]

Gaderene demoniac

When they got to the other side, Jesus stepped out of the boat by Himself to meet the most demonically possessed man in the Bible, the Gadarene demoniac. Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out and asked its name. He said, “Legion.” A legion was a military unit of thousands of soldiers. There were thousands of demons in this man! They begged to go in a herd of 2000 swine that were nearby, and Jesus permitted it. and then the pigs violently ran off a cliff and were drowned in the sea. 

Mark 5:15 – [Word spread, and the people -] Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, [now] sitting [a picture of rest] and clothed [his shame was removed] and in his right mind. [the kindest of the Lord leads us to repentance. Jesus is the kindest Person you will ever know]

This man was experiencing shalom. He’s a picture of what grace does. Grace does the impossible!   Now, he wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him –

Mark 5:19-20 – “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

After this, Jesus  got back in the boat with His disciples to return to the other side. They had gone all that way, through the storm and back, just so Jesus could deliver that one man. 

On the other side, they get out of the boat, and a multitude gathered around Him again, and This is when Jairus, the synagogue ruler came and begged Jesus to come heal his dying daughter.

Woman with the issue of blood

So Jesus was heading towards Jairus’ house, and this woman who had been bleeding for 12 years from an incurable disease comes up behind Him and touches His robe.She had spent all that she had on doctors, but only grew worse. Now she was broke and desperate. She had heard about Jesus – 

Mark 5:28-29 – For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” [This woman broke the rules that said she couldn’t be in public in her condition, that she was unclean, but she had nothing to lose.] 29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. [“be healed” there is the Greek word – iaomai, and it means cured] 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

Jesus stopped and turned around.  Here He was on His way to heal a little 12-year-old girl who was on her death bed, but He stopped.  Shouldn’t He keep moving? The situation demands that He not get distracted. But Jesus never operates under demand because He only does what He sees the Father do.

John 5:19 – “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”

So Jesus saw the Father in heaven healing the woman with the issue of blood, and then stop to talk to her. So that’s what He did. There is no need to worry that He will ever be late, no matter how hopeless the situation seems.

Mark 5:33-34 – the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. [She had broken the law!] 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, [this lawbreaker was only woman Jesus directly addressed as daughter] your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Why would Jesus say, “Your faith has made you well” and then say “be healed”? If she was well, why did she still need to be healed? Actually, the words “made well” and “healed” are two different Greek words.

The word translated “well” is the word “sozo.” Sozo simply means the blood dried up, and she was made well. of the disease. The disease was gone and would cause her no further trouble.

But the words “be healed” in this verse is the word “hygiēs,” which means to restore what was lost. This word is used in Matthew 15:31 – 

Matthew 15:31 – when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole [hygiēs], the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Maimed means to “lose a body part or be mutilated.” The words “made whole” – “hygiēs” – means the body parts grew back. This lady’s her body would be restored from whatever damage the disease had caused.

Jesus said to her, “go in peace” – the particular Greek word for “in” here is the word “eis” which literally means “into,” “go into peace” like going into a home: “Go into peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Everything she had lost  – perhaps the ability to bear children – would be restored as she went into peace, and shalom became her home. All the affects of the disease would be reversed, and she would be made whole.

I believe that God’s peace – the peace that passes understanding – can restore and make whole anything and anyone.

Mark 5:35-36 – While He was still speaking [to the woman], some [men] came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” [It’s too late] 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

When they got to the house, Jesus went in with just the parents and Peter, James, and John, and they passed friends and family who were wailing loudly. He touched the 12-year-old girl and said, “Little girl, arise.” And immediately she got up and walked. Amazing!

Jesus, Our Provider, the feeding of the 5000

In the next chapter of Mark, we find the account of Jesus feeding the 5000. This is the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four Gospels. [Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6.} That tells me that this story is significant. I believe there are many reasons for that, but maybe the most important is the picture it gives us of the cross: the broken body of Jesus providing a continuous supply of His abundant life.

In Mark 6, we see that there was a great multitude following Jesus again, and He was moved with compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. When it got late, the disciples wanted to send them away, but Jesus wanted to feed them. 

He is the Bread of Life, and I believe He wanted to demonstrate in this miracle that He has a heart of extravagant generosity towards us, that He is our source of unlimited supply for all our needs and desires, and that we can receive from Him as much of His life as we desire – with 12 basketfuls left over.

Mark 6:39-41 – Then He commanded [the disciples] them to make them all [the people] sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. [the Greek word for “ranks” literally means “garden bed.” The Message says, “they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass!”] 41 And when He [Jesus] had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them [the people]; and the two fish He divided among them all. [Notice that He took, blessed, broke, and gave the bread – those 4 verbs will come up again in a minute]

In the past I used to teach that when the disciples distributed the loaves and fishes, it multiplied in their hands. But actually, that wasn’t correct. If we look in the original Greek, we will see why.

Kenneth Wuest, a renowned Greek theologian, wrote in his commentary on Mark 6:41: “The verbs [broke and gave] are in different tenses; the former [‘broke’] in the aorist, the latter [‘gave’] in the imperfect. The aorist implies instantaneous, [never to be repeated] the imperfect the continuous act.”

Jesus broke the bread once and He never broke it again. However, the giving of the bread was continuous. Do you see what this means? First of all, the multiplication of the bread took place in Jesus’ hands between the breaking and giving! All the disciples had to do was take it!

Luke 22:19 – [At the Last Supper, Jesus – ] He took bread, gave thanks [blessed it] and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; [1 Corinthians 11:24 – this is My body which is broken for you”] do this in remembrance of Me.” [Once again, He took, blessed, broke, and gave the bread – His body broken for us]

In the feeding of the 5000, Jesus was giving us a picture of what happened when His body was broken at the cross. That one act would never be repeated, but the life flowing from that one act is continuous!

Mark 6:42-44 – So they all ate and were filled. [John’s account says they ate “as much as they wanted.”] 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. [Matthews account says “besides women and children.” Add the women and children and you have about 20,000]

Interestingly, there is a detail in this story that is only given by John and is in none of the other three accounts – it’s the reason that they gathered the fragments:

John 6:12 – So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” [This is the sacred economy of Jesus. This instruction somehow illustrates the wisdom of God.]

But why would Jesus, who could multiply food be concerned with fragments left over? That’s your homework assignment for the next time we gather. Can you see that there is no end to learning about Jesus?

Road to Emmaus

With every story of Jesus, there are so many details that we could highlight. We could meditate on each word and find something we have never seen before. I have often thought how wonderful it would be to gather with a group of people on regular basis and just behold Jesus by going one story at a time – like an Emmaus walk. I believe our hearts would burn, just like the two that met Jesus on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection. They had been in Jerusalem and were on the 7 mile journey back home.

They were talking about all that had happened, and Jesus appeared to them on the road, but their eyes were restrained from recognizing Him. Jesus asked them why they were sad. They were shocked that He hadn’t heard. They explained to Him that Jesus of Nazareth had been condemned to death and crucified, but they had hoped He would be the redeemer of Israel. They had heard that His tomb was empty, and that angels had said He was alive, but they had lots of questions.

Luke 24:25-27 – Then He [Jesus] said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” [In other words, “All of this was predicted.”] 27 And beginning at Moses [Moses wrote the 1st 5 books of the Bible] and all the Prophets, [in other words, the entire Old Testament] He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 

He went through the whole Bible and showed them everything about Himself. Wow. And the whole time their eyes were restrained from knowing who He was. It was more important that they see Him in the word than it was that they see Him in the flesh. It’s no different for us! The Holy Spirit is still here to testify of Jesus on every page.

So as they neared Emmaus, they asked Him to come into the house and stay with them. 

Luke 24:30-32 – 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. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 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?” [and they “rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem” 7 miles back! – and they found the 11 and told them what happened with Jesus on the road, and in verse 35 -]   …[they told the eleven] how He [Jesus] was known to them in the breaking of bread.”

When Jesus broke the bread, their eyes were opened, and they had full understanding of who He was and they believed.

Those four verbs in verse 30 – took, blessed, broke, and gave are the same 4 verbs used in describing what Jesus did at the feeding of the 5000 and at the last supper.  When we have a revelation of the cross, the broken body and shed blood of Jesus for us, that’s when we will truly know Him, and our hearts will burn within us! And I know you know what I am talking about!

Personal touches

I wish I could take all the time in the world to tell you all the stories of Jesus that have touched me so deeply since my eyes were opened to His grace. I see every story differently than I did before. No longer am I looking for myself in the stories to see how I can make myself a better person.  I am looking at Him, and it changes me! Every story becomes so personal when we meditate on Jesus. 

For instance, in John 13, the Last Supper is a message for us. In verse 1 – He loves us to the end – to the end of our wondering and wandering, to the end of our faithlessness and betrayal, to the end of pride and independence. He stoops down to wash our dirty feet, soiled by the devil’s food – the dust of condemnation and lies, and He cleanses them with the washing of the water of the word, which is “He gave Himself for her” and then He wipes them with the linteon – the linen cloth, which represents the gift of His righteousness.

In John 10, He’s our Good Shepherd – He calls us by name and came to bring us zoe life – God life. The very next verse says that the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Did you know that the abundant life in verse 10 is a different Greek word than “He lays down His life” in verse 11? He laid down His psuche – His natural soul life – His human life, all of His emotions and desires, His will, so that we could have eternal zoe-God-life in union with God and experience life more abundantly than we could have ever imagined.

In Matthew 8, there may come a time when we’re like Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed, sick with a fever, and Jesus touches our hand, and heals us. I love that word “touch” – “haptomai,” on of the definitions is “to set on fire.”  He set her on fire with divine healing. In that account, it says “when evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill.” Verse 17 says, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases.” That’s a quote from Isaiah 53 about the Great Exchange. In 1995, at a conference at our Presbyterian church, in Lookout Mountain, TN, a leader from Nashville read that verse when we prayed for Mark for healing from MS – which he had suffered from for 8 years. This was the passage that did it for me.  After that, I just knew that I knew that I knew. And here he is in good health are 28 years later. 

In every story, we can see ourselves, right there with Jesus. 

In John 4, He revealed Himself to the outcast woman at the well as the Savior who knew everything about her and loved her anyway. He knows everything about us and loves us anyway.

In Matthew 15, the Syrophoenician Gentile woman came to Jesus asking for deliverance for her daughter. She called Him “Son of David” as if she was an Israelite. We don’t need to come to Jesus acting like something we’re not. He can see right through it. And He wouldn’t have it. He called this woman a dog – a name for a Gentile. With all pretense removed, she came as she was, and said, “Even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” And He said, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once. We’ll never know how much we’re loved until we take the masks off with Jesus. When someone loves you, warts and all, that’s when you know you’re truly loved.

In Matthew 8, He touched the untouchable – the leper who said to Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; [that’s who I am!] be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

In Mark 6 “As many as touched Him were made whole.”  ALL of them!!!! not just those who were prayed up, confessed up, well-behaved, and up-to-date on their tithing. Because Jesus is good and only good and only has good to give.

Do you have a child who needs healing in his soul, but you can’t get him to Jesus? Ask. In John 4, He healed the Nobleman’s son from afar.

Do you have a child who is lost and spiritually dead? Ask. In Luke 7, He raised the widow of Nain’s son from the dead. One day you will be like the father in Luke 15  who said, “this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”  (Luke 15:24)

In Luke 15 – Jesus told three stories: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. He doesn’t stop till He finds His lost ones. He goes after the least, the lost, the last, and the losers and brings them home to a great celebration of friends, family, and even angels rejoicing.

In Matthew 13, Jesus is like the man who found a pearl of great price in a field and sold everything he had so he could buy a whole field for that one pearl. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) What is the treasure in Jesus’s heart? You are the pearl of great price. He gave everything to purchase your freedom. If you had been the only one, He would have died just for you.

In Matthew 18, He cursed anyone who would cause little His ones who believe in Jesus to lose their faith and sin. He said it would be better if a millstone were hung around the neck of the abuser than for him to get what he deserves.

In Matthew 23, He called the hypocrite pharisees white-washed walls that look beautiful on the outside, but are filled with dead men’s bones and uncleanness. In John 8, He said they were “of their father, the devil,” who is the father of lies.

In Luke 22, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him 3 times but the best part is that He told the end of the story first: “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

In Luke 10, He taught His dear friend Martha a lesson for all of us. He would much rather we stop slaving for Him and getting all “worried and troubled about many things,” and just do the “one thing needed”: sit at His feet and hear His word.

In Mark 10, Jesus knew that Bartimaues was blind, but He still asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He’s still asking that question of us today. There is something in answering his question.

In Acts 9, Jesus appeared to Saul on the Road to Damascus and told him it was useless to kick against the goads and go against His plan. The hound of heaven will not let up! Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

In Luke 4, the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus and anointed Him to bring Good News to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and set the oppressed free. And to proclaim the year of His Grace. (from Luke 4:18-19)

In John 20, the first person who saw Jesus alive after the crucifixion was a woman that Jesus had delivered from seven demons and healed of many infirmities. When she saw Him outside the empty tomb, she thought He was the gardener. She didn’t know it was Him until He said her name, “Mary.” It’s so personal. Out of billions of people on the earth, He knows your name!

Isaiah 43:1-3 – “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

In John 20 do you know what Mary Magdalene saw when she looked into the empty tomb? She saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Never before do we see angels sitting in the scriptures. They were seated because the work is finished. Jesus has risen! Why are we weeping?!

In John 21 – What does the resurrected, glorified Jesus look like? He’s still supplying a boat-sinking, net-breaking load of 153 fish. And then He makes breakfast for His disciples on the beach. He’s still a servant. The King of kings and Lord of lords is still a servant. He’s is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

John 20:30-31 – And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

As we end this series, “Lets Keep the Amazing in Grace,” I want to leave you with a scripture that I sang growing up. It was on an album that Mama brought home in the 70’s called “Sweeter than Honey.” I had no idea then how much I would need this verse down the road.  It’s a life verse for me now.

Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep him in perfect peace, [literally shalom, shalom in the Hebrew – double shalom] whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Copyright info: All scriptures in the New King James Version unless otherwise noted. New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.