We Would See Jesus
Wednesday, July 01, 2015
“To see Jesus is to apprehend Him as the supply of our present needs and believingly to lay hold on Him as such. The Lord Jesus is always seen through the eye of need. He is presented to us in the Scriptures not for our academic contemplation and delight, but for our desperate need as sinners and weaklings. The acknowledgement of need and the confession of sin, therefore, is always the first step in seeing Jesus. Then, where there is acknowledged need, the Holy Spirit delights to show to the heart the Lord Jesus as the supply of just that need.” – Roy and Revel Hession, We Would See Jesus
In last month’s post, I encouraged us as leaders to focus this summer on our following – on seeing Jesus for ourselves. So, how’s that going for you? Has life stayed busy and your vision of Jesus remained less than clear? I want to bring us back there one more time in this final post of the summer (side note: you know something’s wrong when summer only lasts two months!), and encourage us one more time to see Jesus.
I love the way the Hessions describe Jesus being presented in God’s Word: He’s not merely an object of our interest and curiosity but rather an object of our desperation and deliverance! If you’re struggling to see Jesus, that’s a good place to start: admit your struggle, weakness, or need for him. That’s the first step in seeing him because our pride, self-sufficiency, and pre-occupation with the things of the world turn our eyes from his glory.
Isn’t that true in the gospels? Who are the people who are longing to get to Jesus? Isn’t it people like the blind beggar, the tiny tax collector, the “sinful” woman, or the paralyzed man? They all longed to see Jesus because they all knew they needed him – weak, broken, sinful, unable to heal themselves.
If you feel you haven’t really gazed on Jesus lately, ask yourself if you really feel that you need him. Where in life are you overwhelmed? Where has his Word convicted you of your sin? Where have your weaknesses and failures disappointed yourself or someone else? Where do the circumstances of life seem more than you can manage on your own? Be honest with God. Are you scared, confused, doubting, worried? Tell him how you feel and cry out for Jesus to be “the supply of just that need.”
Don’t let your pride, your busyness, or your idols keep you from crying out to see Jesus. He is glorious. He is enough. He will provide. “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
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Recommended Reading
You'll find most of my recommended books available in the Guest Center at Southwood.
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How do we mortify sin? How do we address the sin in our lives that reignite like a trick birthday candle we thought we had already blown out of our lives? This is a careful and thoroughly theological book that is hopeful without avoiding honesty. It is practical without being legalistic. It gets to the root of the sinful areas of our lives without offering a prescriptive regimen to hide behind avoiding the grace that has the only true power to teach “us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14
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Small groups would be easy if weren’t for the people in the group! This book will help equip you to see your own sin first and provide the courage and humility to address it in others.
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This is a collection of letters written by Jack Miller to people experiencing real-life concerns and struggles. Through these gracious and honest letters you will learn how to humbly offer to others (and yourself!) hope, repentance, and courage that flows from the truth of the gospel of grace. Though this isn’t a “how to” book full of nifty steps to Your Best Gospel Life Now. It’s a glimpse into the heart of a person who has found food at the Cross, and you watch (and learn) as he humbly points others to the feast.
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This 31 day devotional will bring you to the foot of the cross to remember and celebrate the truth of the gospel of grace, and develop skills that will help “inform, free, gladden, and enliven your soul every day.” Becoming proficient in applying the Gospel of grace to our own hearts is a key skill that is well worth our effort to develop.
Recommended Listening
- Christ PCA - Nashville
Scott Sauls and CPC StaffListen to sermons from Senior Pastor Scott Sauls and other CPC pastors at a sister church.
- Lookout Mountain PCA
Joe Novenson and LMPC StaffCheck out sermons by Senior Pastor Joe Novenson and other LMPC pastors at a sister church.
- Steve Brown Etc.
Steve BrownSteve Brown’s unique blend of orthodoxy and controversy, humor and profundity, and a refusal to play religious games will give you permission you have needed to stop being so uptight. And even if it’s for 30 minutes, you just might experience radical freedom, infectious joy and maybe even a bit of surprising faithfulness.
Recommended Links
- Tim Chester: reformed spirituality and missional church
Tim ChesterTim has an incredible way of applying the Gospel of grace that is both practical and honest with a consistent skillful affinity to point us to Jesus. He is director of The Porterbrook Institute; a church planter with The Crowded House in Sheffield, UK; and the author of over a dozen books including Total Church and You Can Change.
- Of First Importance
Living Each Day in the Good of The GospelHere you will find a growing collection of gospel-centered quotes to help reorient your thoughts toward the splendor and grandeur of the person and work of Jesus.
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