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Luke Lesson 39 (2009)

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

Luke 11:29-36
Key Verse: 11:35, 36

“See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shine on you.”
How good is your eyesight? Some of you may have 20/20 vision. Some of you wear thick eye-glasses. One of the most common eye diseases in the world today is called “glaucoma.” It is caused by an imbalance between the production and draining of the fluid produced by cells behind the lens of the eye. People can lose their eyesight completely because of it. But since no pain is involved, and the loss of eyesight is so gradual, it may go unnoticed in a person until they become totally blind. It would be quite devastating to lose one’s eyesight. Helen Keller, an American writer, political activist and lecturer, became blind and deaf at a young age because of scarlet fever. How unfortunate was this situation! But she overcame her disability and saw beyond what most people failed to see. One of her books, “Light in My Darkness”, describes her faith. The original title of the book is “My Religion”, but it was later changed “Light in My Darkness.” Although people’s responses to the book are divided, everyone can agree that her life was an inspiration. She was once asked “What do you think the greatest calamity of life is?” She didn’t say, “The greatest calamity of life is to become blind.” She said, “The greatest calamity is to have eyes and not being able to see.” She might have been talking about spiritual blindness.
In today’s passage, Jesus deals with the spiritual blindness of the majority of the people in Israel who failed to see God’s coming kingdom. Even though they claimed that they could see, they were spiritually blind. (John 9:41) What about us? Are we spiritually blind too? How good is our spiritual vision? Do we see Jesus and his kingdom clearly? How can we restore and improve our spiritual vision?
In the previous passage, when Jesus healed the man who was not able to speak due to a demon-possession, the politically motivated Jewish leaders rejected Jesus by labeling him an agent of Beelzebub, Satan – the prince of demons. They treated Jesus as if he were a common magician. On the other hand, some skeptics tested Jesus by asking for a sign from heaven. (16) In verses 17-26, Jesus defended his identity and power by logic and warned them not to remain spiritually neutral by saying “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.” (23) Today’s passage, verses 29-36, is Jesus’ second response to their challenge, particularly to those who had requested a sign from heaven.
Look at verse 29a. “As the crowds increased…” This phase indicates that by this time the popularity of Jesus among the people in Israel had reached its highest point. More and more people continued to gather around Jesus. It does not mean that all those people put their faith in him. In fact, most of them had come to see some spectacular things through Jesus. Perhaps some of them considered Jesus to be one of the great entertainers, like Herod did. What did Jesus say to the crowds? He said to them, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”
What’s wrong with sign seeking? Didn’t Jesus perform many miraculous signs to reveal who he really was? Yes, he did. Throughout history God showed many miraculous signs and wonders in order to help His people put their trust in Him. What about the miraculous escape of the people of Israel from Egypt? After all, God had encouraged some people to ask for a sign. For example, King Ahaz of Judah was trembling in fear when the nation was being attacked by surrounding countries. God sent his servant Isaiah with the message of God’s protection. Yet, Ahaz didn’t trust in God. As a result, he couldn’t overcome his fear. So the Lord send his servant Isaiah again and said to Ahaz, “Ahaz, ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” See sometimes, we need to ask for a sign from God. But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” (Isaiah 7:10-12) Wow, he sounded as if he were a man of faith. But the fact was that he didn’t want to ask for a sign from God because he had his own plan. He didn’t want to trust God Almighty.
Then why did Jesus call the people of his time wicked because they asked for a sign? It’s because their unbelief and willful rejection of God. By nature, all of us are wicked. But Jesus was calling everyone wicked. Yet, if anyone willfully rejects the truth of God and follows evil, he is wicked, deserving God’s judgment. Romans 1:18 reads, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against al the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
These people asked for a big sign from heaven. But Jesus said that he wouldn’t give them any sign except the sign of Jonah. Look at verse 30b. “For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Around 800 BC, the Prophet Jonah was called by God to preach the message of repentance to Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, Israel’s arch enemy. Jonah refused to go there because he didn’t want his enemies to repent and be saved. While he was escaping on a Mediterranean cargo ship God caused a great storm. Jonah admitted his guilt and was thrown overboard and swallowed by a big fish. He was in the belly of the big fish three days and three nights, repenting his sin of rebelliousness. The big fish vomited him up on the shore. Jonah went to Nineveh, still filled with bitterness towards its people and preached the very simple message, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.”(Jonah 3:4) Even though he didn’t perform any miraculous signs, the entire people of Nineveh believed God and repented of their wickedness.
Jesus said, “For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” How can Jesus be the sign to us? What is the sign of Jonah? Luke didn’t include in his account what Matthew recorded, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Mt 12:40) The sign of Jonah is the sign of the Resurrection, which Jesus had been talking about to his disciples and others. For example, according John’s Gospel, at the beginning of his ministry Jesus went to the Temple and drove out all the Temple businessmen. Then the Jews were greatly offended and demanded of him, saying “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:19) He was talking about his resurrection from the dead. The sign of Jonah is the sign of the Messiah. Of all the signs and wonders in history, what can be the greatest sign? It’s Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection is not just an isolated event but the beginning of what will happen to all those who trust in him. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 reads, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” Rejecting Jesus and his message is a serious mistake.
Look at verses 31-32. “The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.” The Queen of the South’, mostly known as “The Queen of Sheba” was a woman of exceptional beauty, wealth and intelligence. But when she heard about King Solomon’s wisdom and wealth, she went on a long journey to see him. Perhaps, she wanted to compete with Solomon. But when she heard of Solomon’s wisdom, she was so moved and humbled. She recognized that Solomon’s wisdom was the wisdom from God. She believed in God. She wasn’t like those skeptics who rejected God’s truth in order to brag about their intelligence. She was a seeker of God. Isn’t it amazing that both the Ninevites and the Queen of the South were Gentiles? The Jews heard the message from the one who was far greater than Jonah and Solomon, yet, they rejected him and his words.
In verses 33-36, Jesus gave the people an illustration of the lamp in order to bring them to enlightenment. Look at verse 33. “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden or under a bowl. Instead he puts in on its stand, so that those who come in many see the light.” The purpose of a lamp is to illuminate the room. So lamp is placed on top of, not under, the table. What Jesus was trying to say here is that his message and ministry were not done in secret but openly. His light was brightly shining for all men so that people might see the light and come to him and receive salvation. Yet, the majority of the people in Israel rejected him and his message although he appeared to be popular among them. What’s the problem? Why did people fail to accept Jesus the light of the world? Why do people seem to follow Jesus and fail to accept him and his teachings? And what is the consequence of failing to accept his messages?
Look at verse 34. “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.” Here, Jesus refers to our eyes as the lamp of our body. Some people have good eyesight and others have bad eyesight. Those who have good eyesight are full of light and those who have bad eyesight are full of darkness. Likewise, good and healthy spiritual eyesight will allow the full light of Jesus to flood into our inner person. Bad and unhealthy spiritual eyesight will keep us in darkness.
According to one study, nearly 80 million Americans are at risk of eye disease that can lead to bad vision and even blindness. So can we prevent eye disease or improve our vision? Yes. Let me give you several tips. First, eat lot of fruits and vegetables. If you like, mix a cup of blueberries with a cup of yogurt for breakfast tomorrow morning. Second, wear sunglass whenever you leave the house because too much exposure to the sunlight is not good. Third, walk fast four times week for forty minutes. Well, these are only suggestions. I hope they are helpful. But how do we improve our spiritual eyesight?
Read verses 35-36. “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shine on you.” Jesus is the light that shines on everyone. The question is not about Jesus the light himself. It’s about our spiritual eyesight. If we intentionally close your eyes or have bad eyesight, we can’t see anything no matter how good it is. What can damage or completely take away our spiritual eyesight? It could be anything. In the following verses, 11: 37-54, Jesus challenged the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, saying to them, “Now, then you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.” Actually, many things can damage our spiritual eyesight and make us spiritually blind, such as greed, malice, pride, jealousy, envy, lust, fear, and doubt. If our minds and hearts are occupied by so much garbage, we cannot have good and healthy spiritual eyesight. We should clean our minds and hearts by removing them and fill our minds with the noble and good things of heaven.
Our minds and hearts are the eyes of our body. If our minds and bodies are filled with all kinds of evil, we cannot have good and healthy spiritual eyesight. Even Christians whose minds are occupied with many other things cannot have good spiritual eyesight. As long as we have poor and unhealthy spiritual eyesight, we cannot grow spiritually in the image of Jesus. WE become stuck in our old selves. We cannot become a new creation in Christ.
That’s why Paul said in Romans 12:2, “Do not confirm any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Let’s also read Philippians 4:8 in New Living Translation. This verse also teaches “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
The Jewish religious leaders in Jesus’ time and those who rejected Jesus might appear to be good, but inside they were full of greed, envy, jealousy and pride. So are some of us today. We might look good outwardly, but the important thing is what is inside of us. Although some of us might think that they have good spiritual eyesight, they actually are fixed in their old views and blinded by them. What really made the spiritual eyesight of the Orthodox Jews so poor was their extreme legalism. As long as they remained in their old view based on legalism, they could not see Jesus.
We might have poor spiritual eyesight. But we can improve our spiritual eyesight. How? We can clean our lenses through repentance. The word “repent” mean to “change one’s mind” or to “turn away from sin to God.” Repentance is not a negative thing. Repentance is the best cure for our souls. That’s why Jesus proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the good news.” (Mk 1:15) As disciples of Jesus, we must have strong desire to see Jesus. We should ask Jesus for his healing.
One day, as Jesus came to Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, with a large crowd of people traveling with him, a blind man, named Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”
One of the major points of Jesus’ discipleship is to be able to see Jesus in his fuller image and glory. In order to see Jesus as he is, we need to have good spiritual eyesight. We need a better and fuller view of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must think about what hinders us from truly seeing Jesus? Do we really want to see and know him more? Our spiritual eyesight has to be renewed day to day. And when we see Jesus in his glorious beauty, our life as his followers will be renewed day by day. May the Lord bless us with a 20/20 spiritual vision as we continue to pay attention to him and his words.