Eyes that Cannot See

History tells us that the Jews waited hundreds of years for their Savior to come. At last Jesus came to live with them and these very religious people could not see Him as their God. They had eyes but their mind refused to believe. The Jews were so used to doing what they thought was righteous that to change their religious ways was frightening. To believe in Jesus as their Savior was a leap of faith that most of them could not make.

Our resistance to the Savior is heart breaking after coming all the way from Heaven. After ministering to the Jews for a while He said this: The hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them. Matt 13:15 (NLT). Rejection of Jesus is lethal to every person. 

Isaiah is the favorite prophet of the Jews and he asked the people to listen to God. But the Jews would not obey God’s words and they lost their spiritual sensitivity. God warned that He would: Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing. Isaiah 6:10. Ignoring God is fatal. 

Spiritual seeing and hearing of the Bible is different than any other book. It means that to understand it we must apply the directions God is giving to us. In the previous verse it says that we turn to God by understanding “with our heart”. Most people are trying to approach God by using their mind to understand. This will never work because God is so much greater than we are. This is the reason that all of salvation must be by faith only. 

What Jesus says only has value to His faithful. It is really a waste of time to become an expert in the Scriptures if the person does not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. The prophet also gave us some good news: Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. Isaiah 55:3 (NLT). It is a fight but anyone can find God.

The leaders of Israel were held responsible for not warning their people. Isaiah said: For the leaders of my people— the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds— are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. Isaiah 56:10. We have seen leaders abandon their good intentions when they get power. It takes a man that is dedicated to God in order to help people understand what God wants. 

Men with great intellects are usually the blindest of all. Jesus did not use big words to bring people to spiritual understanding. He used simple stories to hide great spiritual truth. This is what Jesus said: I use these parables, For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. Matt 13:13 (NLT). People are spiritually blind until they accept the Savior into their heart. 

Today Jesus comes into us one person at a time. But in the future our Savior will come to save the Jews all in one day. The Scriptures say: In that day the deaf will hear words read from a book, and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness.  The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 29:18-19 (NLT). These will be the survivors of the great wrath of God in the near future.  

Thank the Lord; Christians will not go through this terrible time. Religious Laws blinded the Jews but Gentiles did not follow the Law. The spiritual blindness of Gentiles is caused when people control their own lives and do as they please. We must repent of selfishness and ask the Spirit to lead in our life. It is possible to have the eyes of faith and serve God today. The Spirit living in us can enable us to understand what God’s will is.

Resolution of Silence

Every human is born into the captivity of a sinful nature. These horrible chains only become tighter as we struggle to be free from our sin. People have tried every conceivable way to become free from their sinful nature with zero success. God has given us the only plan that, if followed, can lead us into eternal freedom. His plan is “centered” in Jesus Christ. God’s only Son had volunteered to become flesh. Jesus lived as a human who had no sin. 

At the age of thirty three, the sinful humans of His country decided Jesus had to be done away with. The Savior knew that his death would be a terrible way to die. But the Lamb of God had volunteered to die for our sins. Jesus was resolved to face His bloody end with silence. One prophet said: He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (NLT). 

We are talking about God sacrificing His Son in order to save humanity from eternal pain. Paul said: He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Rom. 4:25. What does an innocent man say as he pays the price for someone’s freedom from a dreadful prison? The rescuer could say many different things but rarely would a man say nothing at all. Our Savior came to pay the price for our freedom and he had resolved to do it in silence. 

David spoke for our Savior many times in his songs. Look what he said 1000 years before the Savior died. These are his words: …my enemies lay traps to kill me. Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me. All day long they plan their treachery. But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply… Psalms 38:12-15. Jesus said “I choose” not to hear or say anything. 

His resolution of silence was sorely tested by the hate of others. In spite of everything that happened, Jesus still loves us greatly. John said: But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 1 John 2:1-2 (NLT). Jesus would not talk to the worldly leaders but He is talking to the Father on our behalf. He is still saying “Father forgive them”.

The Jewish leaders hated Jesus and would say or do anything to get rid of Him. The most hurtful accusations must have been the true ones. For example they accused Jesus of saying that He was the Son of God. When telling the truth is against the Law we are in a very tough spot. The Jewish leaders had a variety of charges that confused the Roman Governor. But even this unbelieving man could find no fault with Jesus. The Savior was truly righteous. 

The Bible records: But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise. Matt 27:12-14 (NLT). The governor wanted to let Jesus go but the religious leaders wanted Him dead so badly that they screamed at the top of their voices. Eventually Pilate gave the order to put the silent Man to death.

Jesus had resolved to silently reach His goal of fulfilling the plan of God. He had to be strong because we are weak. Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But …God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever. Heb 7:27-28 (NLT). Jesus went on to win the eternal victory for all of us. His resolution of silence was the completion of the only perfect life ever lived.