Sunday, March 3, 2013

“What do you want?” “I want to __!” "何がしたいですか " "私は__が欲しい!"



      Eyes have always interested me.  You might remember this photo of a young woman who’s eyes captivated the world.  What beauty and yet what sorrow.  Those eyes were asking so many questions and yet, her life almost did not change when that photo was taken until now.  What did she want?  Could she even put the answer into words?  In the Chapter we are looking at today, Luke 18 tells us about the Parable of the Persistent Widow, the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, The Little Children and Jesus, the Rich Ruler, Jesus Again Predicts His Death, and then this one~~the Blind Man Receives His Sight.
Jesus was going to His death and He knew it.  Yet He still had some work to be done.
Seeking out FAITHful people.
One such person was the blind man (seeing early in life). He sought out Jesus. Luke 18:35-43
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?
Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
He knew who Jesus was and called Him “Jesus, Son of David!  Not what He was called but in saying this, the Blind man KNEW Whom he was talking to!
Have MERCY on me!  What a cry!  What need!  He was blind and he KNEW that only the MERCY of God could change that for him!
Jesus stopped.  Always willing to help…but He asked the man: 41 What do you want Me to do for you?"あなたに何をしてほしいのか?"
Note that the crowd was not on the man’s side.  BE QUIET!  Rebuked him.  He was a blind man—even though he was well known, he had NO social status at all.  He was under them and they wanted to keep him there.
But—Jesus asked that they bring the man to Him.  They became part of it—forced to be active in this story.  Do you need such an invitation?  Come and bring people to Jesus.  When was the last time you brought a friend to Church?  If you felt that it would be better that they stay away—wake up!
Jesus asked him a simple question: 41 His answer was simple.  Lord, I want to see, "私は_____をしたい。"
Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”  あなたが求めているものを受け取る。   I think it was a little strange that Jesus asked such a question.  Jesus—look at him!  He is blind!  You can see that!  Look at his eyes!  But Jesus needed the man to tell Him what he wanted.  Same as in our prayers.  Oh, I don’t want to bother Jesus with my needs.  He knows them already, so why even bother saying it?  Because Jesus wants us to!   41 “What do you want Me to do for you?”    Well, I want this and that and that… But what do you REALLY WANT?  Deep down inside your heart of hearts, what is it that you really want Him to do for you?  Ask and it shall be done unto you.  We need to be THAT close to Him so that we can hear Him ask 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?

Wouldn’t it be great?
~1 Immediately he received his sight
~2 and followed Jesus, 
~3 praising God.
   He sought out the Lord… He cried out… He asked… Jesus responded with what he requested… healed… joy… followed/ became a disciple.  Resulting with the crowd who wanted the blind man to shut up, now joining in with their own praising. 
Make application to our situation today  
Need to recognize our need clearly.  Identify it.   Call on the Lord—even cry out to Him.   Know Whom we are talking with.
Declare our need.  Receive our answer.  Follow Him after and forever.
Others will praise God and the Mercy of God would be seen by others and it will be understood.  Others will believe with us when they see the Living God working in your life.
He followed Jesus—into Jerusalem and saw how men treated Him: the King had come close enough to be spit on, beaten, and nailed to the Cross. If He had not come that close to him, He might not have come near enough to hear a blind man’s cry.
The King’s character never changed.  王の性格を変えたことない Mercy.
The road to entry 入る道は... into the kingdom lies much tribulations.  Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. His location: 彼の場所をOutside city—outside view
His cry: 彼の叫びを...No trouble hearing-cried out to the Son of David.  Have Mercy on me!
His Faith: 彼の信仰Throws away his beggar’s robe/garment. It was not much but it was all he knew!  Phil 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ He sprung up to go with Jesus
His Desire: 彼の欲っするところHe could see before but he lost sight. Recovered his sight—once again. Wants to see again!
His Salvation: 彼のYour faith has saved you.  Ps 146:8 the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.
詩篇146:8主は盲人の目をあけ、主はかがんでいる者を起こされる。主は正しい者を愛し、
Isaiah 29:18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
イザヤ29:18その日、耳の聞こえない者が書物のことばを聞き、目の見えない者の目が暗黒とやみから物を見る。
He could see spiritually before the new sight was given.
His Direction: 方向He followed Jesus.  Left it all behind—granted-not much but it had been his whole life. Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  
Once whatever it was that blocked his vision of God—was out of the way---so that he AND now you and I can see Jesus!
Are we any different?  Has He touched us and given us LIFE?  Gave us vigor, intelligence, financial resources? If Jesus has your heart, then He has everything you are. 
Her name is …Gula…Believers, what do you believe? Creed.
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem when this encounter happened with the blind man.  He was on His way to be crucified for the sins of all of us—all of mankind.  Soon, it will be Palm Sunday.  Will you welcome Him as The Son of David or as a historical figure?  Is He really Lord?
He has indeed called us to follow.  And He has called us to remember Him as well.  
Matthew 26:17-30