“Picasso’s Revenge”
Mat.16:13-19; Lk.9:18-20
(10-18-2009)
"Who do people say the Son of Man is?"…
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"..
We know from Genesis that the Almighty Creator of all things did in fact create mankind in His own image. Ever since the fall of humanity it seems that we humans have been trying to re-create God in our own image or in the image of some other created thing. As seen in Matthew Jesus was asking a valid question: “who do people say I am?” A good question
How do you perceive Jesus, the son of man?
In your mental connections to who this Jesus is, how do you view Him. ‘tall, dark, and hansom’? I am so glad the typical statued portrayal of Buddha is an image that is never associated with Christ or Christianity. (yikes!) When you think about Jesus, your thoughts about him are strongly influenced by your world view. Your world view is shaped by your life experiences. (good or bad)
Those who grew up in an abusive environment might easily attribute their worldview of a loving parent onto their image and concept of who God and His Son Jesus might be like. The human tendency is to view all of our relationships through glasses formed by our past experiences. Even when we examine God. The good news is that God is bigger and greater and more wonderful that our vision of Him and His character.
We don’t see our fellow man in a truthful fashion either. Rather than see them for who they are on the inside, their heart and soul, their outsides weigh greater. If they are good looking we might think them good and if they are less than good looking we might judge them to be bad.
God would have us see with truth and righteousness. James warns to not judge by the external value that we see but rather look to the inner man. (1Sam.16:7; Jn.7:24; Lk.16:15; James 2:2-12) God through the Gospel of peace wants for men and woman to be able to see. There is a blindness that rests over the eyes of the lost. Satan has blinded and warped the abilities to see. (Acts 26:15-18; Titus 3:3; Rev.12:9) 2Thes.2:10 – “and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
The people of the world, the fallen masses of humanity, are held captive by the deceptions inflicted upon them. We too have not escaped the effects of these things. Unlike the world we who are Christians have sought healing from the only one who can restore sight to the blind. Jesus.
LK 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, LK 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."…. n 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus desires that His people would walk in freedom. His invitation to be His child includes sight restoration. In your prays ask Him to heal your blindness and remove the shackles of deception so you can be free.
Jesus still is calling the world unto Himself, Come!