We can hear about Jesus, read about Him, and know what others say about Him—but have we come to know Him for ourselves? Job said, “I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee.” The blind man cried out to Jesus and received his sight. Mary came to the empty tomb and could say, “I have seen the Lord.” This preaching looks at the difference between hearing about Jesus and knowing Him personally—not simply as someone we know about, but as My Saviour.
Bible Scriptures: Darby Translation
Job 42:5 “5 I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee:”
Luke 18:35-43 “And it came to pass when he came into the neighbourhood of Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging.36 And when he heard the crowd passing, he inquired what this might be.37 And they told him that Jesus the Nazaraean was passing by.
38 And he called out saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.39 And those [who were] going before rebuked him that he might be silent; but *he* cried out so much the more, Son of David, have mercy on me.40 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be led to him. And when he drew nigh he asked him [saying],
41 What wilt thou that I shall do to thee? And he said, Lord, that I may see.42 And Jesus said to him, See: thy faith has healed thee.43 And immediately he saw, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people when they saw [it] gave praise to God.”
John 20:1-18 “20 And on the first [day] of the week Mary of Magdala comes in early morn to the tomb, while it was still dark, and sees the stone taken away from the tomb.2 She runs therefore and comes to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, to whom Jesus was attached, and says to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and came to the tomb.4 And the two ran together, and the other disciple ran forward faster than Peter, and came first to the tomb,
5 and stooping down he sees the linen cloths lying; he did not however go in.6 Simon Peter therefore comes, following him, and entered into the tomb, and sees the linen cloths lying,7 and the handkerchief which was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded up in a distinct place by itself.8 Then entered in therefore the other disciple also who came first to the tomb, and he saw and believed;9 for they had not yet known the scripture, that he must rise from among [the] dead.
10 The disciples therefore went away again to their own home.11 But Mary stood at the tomb weeping without. As therefore she wept, she stooped down into the tomb,12 and beholds two angels sitting in white [garments], one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.13 And they say to her, Woman, why dost thou weep? She says to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 Having said these things she turned backward and beholds Jesus standing [there], and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus says to her, Woman, why dost thou weep? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing that it was the gardener, says to him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.16 Jesus says to her, Mary. She, turning round, says to him in Hebrew, Rabboni, which means Teacher.
17 Jesus says to her, Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and [to] my God and your God.18 Mary of Magdala comes bringing word to the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and [that] he had said these things to her.”