Lent Day 20 [3.27.2025] / Covenant Eyes Pt. 3

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52 / 마가복음 10:46-52

Mark 10:52 - “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Overview:

Our scripture today tells the story of a blind man named Bartimaeus. As Jesus and His disciples were leaving the city of Jericho, Bartimaeus was found sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him to quiet, but Bartimaeus only shouted louder to which Jesus responds by telling His disciples to bring Bartimaeus to Him. When the disciples told Bartimaeus that Jesus was calling him, he threw his cloak aside, jumped to his feet, and walked blindly to Jesus. Jesus asked the blind Bartimaeus, what he desired, and Bartimaeus responds, “Rabbi, I want to see.” Jesus declares that upon Bartimaeus’ faith he has been healed and immediately Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

The story of Bartimaeus reminds that we ought to be desperate for the ability to see. Sometimes our ability to physical see conceals our spiritual blindness; however, just like physical blindness would cause one to stumble, fear, and hide away, our spiritual blindness would lead us to be anxious and afraid. However, the condition of Bartimaeus’ restoration of sight rests on the power of God but also considers the faith of Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus would have only heard of the great things that Jesus had been doing but would not have yet understood the full Godly nature and identity of Jesus. What faith is Jesus speaking of? Firstly, Bartimaeus knew his desperation and understood the importance of this moment. When the crowd silenced him, he only shouted louder because he knew that Jesus was his only hope. Secondly, upon Jesus’ calling, Bartimaeus shed his cloak and jumped up to walk to Jesus while still being blind. In the busy gates of Jericho, Bartimaeus walked towards where he heard Jesus was standing with the hope that Jesus would in fact be there. When Jesus talks about faith, He is speaking about the desperation we have for Him and the willingness we have to answer His calling.

The Faith to See:

Would you be able to confidently say that the things you allow your eyes to see give way to healthy eyes? The games we play, the things we watch, and the pictures we take, do they fill our hearts with light and goodness? Many young people are addicted to pornography, social media, gaming, secular influences, and imagery, and engage in these things without understanding that what they see will stick with them for the rest of their lives; so much so, that living a life of holiness will become more about erasing our memory of such things so that we can view ourselves, loved ones, the church, and the world according to God’s plan of love and joy. When Eve disobeyed God and fell into temptation, the bible reveals why:

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and PLEASING TO THE EYE, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it (Genesis 2:9).”

Was the fruit on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil more sweet, more colorful, and more nutritious than the other fruit in the garden of Eden? No, but Eve had allowed the fruit of that tree to consume her sight and stored in her heart a desire for it. In consuming this fruit, the bible says their eyes were opened to darkness and they became aware of their nakedness and felt ashamed. What they had allowed their eyes to see had consumed them to fall into temptation. Falling into temptation caused them to see themselves and the world in shame and darkness. When we set our eyes on the wrong things, our eyes shine darkness into our souls rather than light; and if the light that is within us is darkness, how great would that darkness be.

What can be done?

“Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us (Luke 24:31-32)?”

There are two disciples on the road to Emmaus following the death and burial of Jesus Christ. A man suddenly appears to them during their conversation about Jesus and the two disciples share with this stranger a summary of Jesus’ earthly ministry including his works, his words, his passion, and his death. Later in the story, they are gathered around a table where their guest took bread, blessed it and broke it, and then their eyes were opened. They recognized that this stranger was the resurrected Jesus. At that moment Jesus disappeared from their sight but they realize why their hearts had been burning during this entire encounter. They had seen the resurrected Christ. Jesus would spend forty days after His resurrection appearing to His disciples and followers, and before them all promise the gift of the Holy Spirit, share the Great Commission, and then ascend into Heaven. Based on what they witnessed, the disciples and followers of Jesus would boldly proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gospel that saves even in the face of immense suffering, ridicule, and death; all because of what they saw with their eyes. They allowed the image of the resurrected Christ to consume their eyes even after Christ had ascended into heaven. They lived according to what they chose to see in remembrance and allowed what they saw live on in their hearts and minds. In doing so, they became the most powerful, contagious, and radical believers that changed the lives of the very people who tortured, imprisoned, and martyred them. How much impact do the things we allow our eyes to see have on our entire identity, lives, and perspective? According to Jesus, and according to the disciples, what we allow ourselves to see determines our identity, lives, and perspective. So, with what and with whom should we set our vision on? We must set our eyes on Jesus Christ alone, with His words, His plan, the evidence of Christ at work, on glorious, holy, spiritual, and holy things. In this way, not only will you become an optimistic person, but God will fill your heart with the everlasting hope, peace, and joy of Jesus Christ who is the light of the world.

The enemy wants to fill our eyes with that which is unholy and unnecessary. The things that are unholy would store shameful, distasteful, repulsive, negative, ill-tempered, dark, and frightening streaks in our mind and hearts that would cause us to view the world based on such evidence. The things that are unnecessary would deceive us in wasting our time, purpose, and talents on that which is in vain but not necessarily illegal or unacceptable, ultimately serving as a distraction from keeping our eyes on God. To overcome both we must discipline ourselves on what we must keep our eyes away from. Such platforms include pornography, horror movies, games, social media, gruesome and gory material, secular images and videos that have no association with God, tendencies to covet the things of another, looking upon money, fame, sex, popularity, and beauty with craving and longing. If you are fighting to close your eyes against such things and open your eyes to Christ, here are some help you can find:

1. Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the strength, the discipline, and faith to walk in holiness before God and fight against temptation with purpose and passion.

2. Transparency: Talk to your teacher, Pastor, or mentor to help you change your perspective, remotivate you, and keep you accountable in prayer and follow ups.

3. Practicality: Use software such as covenanteyes.com to monitor, block, and prevent access to explicit content. Delete gaming software, uninstall social media, be extra-cautious how available time is used.

   
   

In these ways, we not only want to have victory over the tools the enemy uses to destroy our souls, but to store in our hearts the blessings, favor, and joy of Jesus Christ. Through this process, God will change your eyes, your mind, and your heart that you would become nearly unrecognizably strong, confident, passionate, and powerful according to God’s will in your life.

Prayer:

1. God, my heart is filled with darkness and negativity. Help me to set my eyes on your holiness, your love, and your grace.

2. Jesus, call me out of my darkness and lead me on a path of faith.

3. Holy Spirit, help me to remember Jesus in the midst of temptation, and fight against any addictions in my life that are destroying my soul.

   
   

개요:

오늘의 성경 말씀은 바디메오라는 맹인의 이야기입니다. 예수님과 제자들이 여리고를 떠날 때, 바디메오는 길가에 앉아 구걸하고 있었습니다. 그가 예수님이 지나가신다는 소식을 듣고, “다윗의 자손 예수님, 저를 불쌍히 여겨소서!”라고 외쳤습니다. 많은 사람들이 그를 꾸짖으며 조용히 하라고 했지만, 바디메오는 더욱 크게 외쳤고, 이에 예수님께서 제자들에게 그를 데려오라고 하셨습니다. 제자들이 바디메오에게 예수님께서 그를 부르신다고 전하자, 그는 자신의 겉옷을 벗어 던지고, 일어나 예수님께 다가갔습니다. 예수님께서는 바디메오에게 무엇을 원하느냐고 물으셨고, 바디메오는 “랍비어, 보기를 원하나이다.”라고 대답했습니다. 예수님께서는 바디메오의 믿음을 보시고 그의 눈을 뜨게 하셨으며, 바디메오는 즉시 시력을 회복하고 예수님을 따라갔습니다.

바디메오의 이야기는 우리가 간절히 ‘볼 수 있는 능력’을 원해야 함을 상기시켜 줍니다. 때때로 우리의 육신의 눈이 보인다는 사실이 우리의 영적 소경임을 가리기도 합니다. 그러나 육신의 눈이 멀면 사람이 넘어지고, 두려워하며, 숨어버리듯이, 영적으로도 눈이 멀면 불안과 두려움 속에서 살아가게 됩니다. 하지만 바디메오가 시력을 회복한 것은 하나님의 능력 때문이기도 하지만, 그의 믿음 때문이기도 합니다. 바디메오는 예수님의 행하신 기적들을 들었지만, 예수님의 신성한 본질과 정체성을 완전히 이해하지는 못했을 것입니다. 그렇다면, 예수님께서 말씀하신 믿음은 무엇일까요?

첫째, 바디메오는 자신의 절박함을 알고 있었고, 이 기회의 중요성을 이해하고 있었습니다. 군중이 그를 조용히 시키려 했을 때, 그는 오히려 더욱 크게 외쳤습니다. 왜냐하면 예수님만이 그의 유일한 희망이라는 것을 알았기 때문입니다.둘째, 예수님께서 부르셨을 때, 바디메오는 맹인인 상태에서도 그의 겉옷을 버리고 예수님께 다가갔습니다. 여리고의 번잡한 성문에서 그는 예수님이 서 계신 곳을 향해 걸어갔습니다.

예수님께서 말씀하신 믿음이란, 우리가 그분을 얼마나 간절히 원하고, 그분의 부르심에 얼마나 기꺼이 응답하는지를 의미합니다.

보는 믿음:우리가 눈으로 보는 것들이 우리의 영혼을 건강하게 만드는지 자신 있게 말할 수 있을까요? 우리가 하는 게임, 보는 영상, 찍는 사진들이 우리의 마음을 빛과 선함으로 채우고 있나요? 오늘날 많은 젊은이들이 음란물, 소셜 미디어, 게임, 세속적인 영향과 영상들에 중독되어 있으며, 자신이 보는 것이 평생 동안 기억 속에 남아 신앙생활에 장애가 될 수 있음을 깨닫지 못하고 있습니다. 결국 우리는 스스로, 사랑하는 사람들, 교회, 그리고 세상을 하나님의 사랑과 기쁨의 계획 안에서 바라볼 수 있도록, 그러한 것들에 대한 기억을 지우는 것이 거룩한 삶을 사는 과정이 되어버립니다.

하와가 하나님께 불순종하고 유혹에 빠졌을 때, 성경은 그 이유를 이렇게 설명합니다:

"여자가 그 나무를 본즉 먹음직도 하고 보기에 탐스럽기도 하고 지혜롭게 할 만큼 탐스럽기도 한 나무인지라 여자가 그 열매를 따 먹고 자기와 함께 있는 남편에게도 주매 그도 먹은지라.(창세기 3:6)"

선악과의 열매가 에덴동산의 다른 과일보다 더 달고, 더 색깔이 선명하고, 더 영양가가 높았을까요? 그렇지 않습니다. 하와는 그 열매를 바라보며 그것에 대한 욕망을 키워 갔습니다. 결국 그것을 먹었을 때, 성경은 그들의 눈이 열려 부끄러움을 느끼고, 스스로를 숨기게 되었다고 기록하고 있습니다. 결국 그들이 바라본 것이 유혹으로 이어졌고, 세상을 어둠과 수치로 보게 만들었습니다. 우리가 잘못된 것에 눈을 고정하면, 우리의 영혼은 빛이 아닌 어둠으로 가득 차게 됩니다. 그리고 만약 우리 안의 빛이 어둠이라면, 그 어둠은 얼마나 깊고 강력할까요?

해결 방법:“그들의 눈이 밝아져 그인 줄 알아보더니 예수는 그들에게 보이지 아니하시는지라.그들이 서로 말하되 ‘길에서 우리에게 말씀하시고 우리에게 성경을 풀어 주실 때에 우리 속에서 마음이 뜨겁지 아니하더냐?’ 하고. (누가복음 24:31-32)"

예수님의 죽음과 장사를 마친 후, 엠마오로 가는 두 제자가 있었습니다. 한 낯선 사람이 다가와 그들과 함께 길을 걸으며 예수님에 대해 이야기했습니다. 후에 그들은 함께 식사하게 되었고, 그 낯선 사람이 떡을 떼어 축복하고 나누어 줄 때, 그들의 눈이 열려 예수님을 알아보았습니다. 그 순간 예수님은 사라지셨지만, 그들은 자신들의 마음이 왜 뜨거웠는지를 깨달았습니다.

예수님의 제자들은 예수님의 부활을 직접 목격한 후, 그 기억을 눈과 마음에 새겼고, 이를 통해 세상을 변화시키는 강력한 믿음의 사람이 되었습니다. 예수님은 우리의 시선이 어디를 향해야 하는지를 분명하게 말씀하셨습니다. 우리는 예수님과 그분의 말씀, 그리고 거룩하고 영광스러운 것들에 눈을 고정해야 합니다. 그렇게 할 때, 우리는 긍정적인 사람이 되는 것을 넘어, 예수 그리스도의 빛으로 마음이 채워지게 될 것입니다.

사탄은 우리 눈을 더럽고 불필요한 것들로 채우려 합니다. 부정적이고 부끄러운 이미지와 영상을 통해 우리의 생각을 왜곡시키고, 시간과 에너지를 불필요한 것들에 낭비하도록 유혹합니다. 이를 극복하기 위해 우리는 다음과 같은 실천을 해야 합니다:

1. 기도: 성령님께 도움을 구하며, 거룩한 삶을 살기 위한 힘과 결단력을 달라고 기도하십시오.

2. 투명성: 신앙 지도자나 멘토에게 자신의 고민을 솔직히 나누고, 기도와 조언을 통해 도움을 받으십시오.

3. 실천: 불필요한 게임이나 SNS을 삭제하고, ‘covenanteyes.com’ 같은 필터링 소프트웨어를 활용해 유혹을 차단하십시오.

   
   

이러한 과정을 통해, 하나님께서는 우리의 눈과 마음, 그리고 삶을 변화시키실 것입니다. 우리는 더욱 강하고, 확신에 차 있으며, 하나님의 뜻을 이루는 능력 있는 사람이 될 것입니다.

기도:

1. 하나님, 제 마음이 어둠과 부정적인 생각으로 가득 차 있습니다. 저의 시선을 주님의 거룩함과 사랑, 은혜에 고정할 수 있도록 도와주십시오.

2. 예수님, 저를 어둠 속에서 불러내어 믿음의 길로 인도해 주십시오.

3. 성령님, 유혹 속에서도 예수님을 기억하며, 저의 영혼을 파괴하는 중독과 싸울 수 있도록 도와주십시오.