Let us now turn in the word of God to that passage of New Testament scriptures from which we were reading. That's Mark 8, and we will take our text for this morning in the words of verse 24. Mark chapter 8, and taking our text in the words of verse 24. We could read again verses 23 to 25, just to set these words in context. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw God. And he looked up and said, I see men as trees walking. After that, he put his hands again upon his eyes made him look up, and he was restored and saw every man clearly. And taking our particular text in the words of verse 24, and he looked up and said, I see men as priests walking. Now the healing that is before us is quite unique amongst the miracles of Christ. unique because of the apparent difficulty of it. It seems to be an extremely labored process that produces the result of granting sight to the blind man. Why? For what reason is there this extended and lengthy process? We can see it in verse 23. Christ took the man by the hand. He led him out of the town. He spat on his eyes. He put his hand upon him. He asked him if he saw anything. Literally, he was asking him, continually asking him, perhaps several times, if he saw anything. And even then, after all of these stages, the work is still half done. It is not an indication of any lack of power in the Christ, that is amply testified to by the rest of scripture, where we see of course Christ healing effortlessly, instantaneously, healing even when not physically present. He is able but to speak the word of command and the servant in the centurion's house would be healed from a distance. He is God. Why then this extended process? Why then this labored healing? The commentator Matthew Poole grants a real insight here. He says, this healing is a true pattern of the removal of spiritual blindness. This healing is a true pattern of the removal of spiritual blindness. These healings are significant because of what they testify to a true healing, eternal healing, the transformation of the soul. What a remarkable thing it is to grant sight to a man born blind. This man would have gone through this process and many longer processes. He would have endured long and agonizing operations to secure his sight. How much more wondrous, how much more precious is spiritual eyesight? How much more extraordinary the miracle of relieving spiritual blindness? And yet that is what God does in the soul. That is the power of Christ at work in your experience, child of God. And so there is a principle here, a principle that is both instructive and encouraging. God's grace is gradual in its progress. God's grace is gradual in its progress. I think it was Calvin who expressed it in a beautiful way that God gives grace by drops. And so it is, just as the children of Israel by little and little. conquered their promised land. So it is a progress over time, a slow advancement, an advancement with discouragement, with hardships, with difficulties, with perplexing circumstances, things we cannot explain sometimes on the way that leadeth unto life. I don't want to spend too long explaining the doctrine, I don't think it is clear enough. Nor do I want to spend time proving it for those of you who are the Lord's people. I don't think this needs proof. I think you know that this is true and that this is your experience. So rather than that, I want to come straight to application this morning. And I wish to apply this principle in three different directions. God's grace is gradual in its progress. Firstly, let us consider that as comfort. As comfort. We read in verse 23 that Jesus asked him if he saw all. And he looked up and said, I see men as trees walking. Now we jump immediately to the defect of the site. To the fact that he saw men as trees. But just consider the beginning of that answer and consider how awesome that is. Christ asked the blind man, do you see? And the blind man replied, truthfully, I see. Once I was blind, but now I see. There's a new principle at work here. This man may very well have been born blind, Certainly the description implies that he was entirely without the use of his eyes, that he was wholly and completely in darkness. And now he could say, I see. There's a new principle at work here. A new principle, sight to the man born blind. How extraordinary is that? How do you explain colour to a man born blind? How do you define to him blue or yellow or green? It's inconceivable. There's a whole new principle required before these concepts will be meaningful. He is blind. He has never known sight. This man now can say, I see. And so it is with the sinner when Christ works in the soul. There's a new principle there. There is a new sight that is granted that was not experienced or even conceived of before. That is something profoundly encouraging to us. I see men as trees walking. Yes, limited sight, inadequate sight. How extraordinary if God has granted to you sight. What comfort if God has opened the eyes of your soul, even a little. We're told a most encouraging story in the Old Testament, in 1 Kings chapter 14, of one of the wretched, wicked, idolatrous kings of Israel, Jeroboam, and judgment being prepared to fall upon his house. But before the judgment comes, his little son Abijah has fallen ill, and his wife goes to the prophet of the Lord to ask, why is her son ill? Can't he be healed? And the prophet tells her, it is a mercy. Why? Some good thing towards the God of Israel is found in the child. Not in the king, not in the queen, I am some good thing towards the God of Israel, a principle of life. And so the child will die, not as judgment, not as a preparation for a lost eternity, but rather as a mercy, as a deliverance into heaven and into paradise, as a deliverance into the privilege and blessing of the kingdom of Christ, so that that child will not have to endure the judgment of God that has been earned by his father and his mother. Some good thing towards the God of Israel. Oh, how precious, if there's some good thing in the soul, that makes all the difference. What is it exactly? I see men as trees walking. So we can see a little, we can see with distortion, He can see very properly darkness and light. He can see there is light, there is a shadow, but he cannot see the detail. He cannot distinguish that shadow of a tree from that shadow of a man. Detail he cannot grasp, but he can see the difference between darkness and light. So it is when God opens the eyes of the soul, when God begins that work within. He grants us sight of darkness. You see, it's only in the light that you can see darkness. In total darkness, you can see nothing at all. But when the Lord enlightens your darkness, then you can see the shadow. Then in the light, you can see that which is dark and vile and ugly. When God opens the eyes of the soul, you see the difference between a former life that was lived in carelessness and in hardness and in ignorance of the truth. You see a life that is deserving of God's wrath and condemnation. You see yourself as a sinner. When God opens the eyes of the soul, you see darkness. You see darkness still in yourself. You see the heart's sins. Oh, you don't see them to their fullest extent. What man could see his sins to their fullest extent? Who can his errors understand? But you can see that there is sin. You can see that there is much that is dark and unworthy and prideful and selfish and foul-tempered and uncontrolled and lustful and ugly within. And you see that deserves God's wrath. That has earned his righteous hatred. I am vile. I am but as dust and ashes before God. It's fearful when God opens the eyes of your soul, because you start to see yourself as guilty and as deserving his wrath, and that's fearful. But the wonderful thing is, it's not just darkness that you see, it is also light. You see the shadows of sin, but you see the light of Christ. In thy light shall we see light. the sun of righteousness arises with healing in his wings. There is light from on high, and so you see, yes, the ugliness of self, but you see the beauty of Christ. You see that in him is no darkness, that in him is no spot or blemish. You see perfection in Christ. You look at the life of Jesus recounted in the gospels, and you see there, yes, That is what man should be. That is a true life. That is a good life. That's the law of God put into practice. And it's beautiful. It's wonderful. It earns my solemn approval. It commends itself to my conscience as what I ought to be and what I am not. And so you see the beauty of Christ. and you see him as the one you must have, the Lamb of God, to take away the sin of the world. You must have this man to reign over you, for without him there is no hope, no salvation. Without that son, there is but darkness forever, outer darkness. And so, even with the limited sight of that soul of which the eyes have just begun to open, You see sin, you see Christ, and you are brought to trust in him. Oh, in a tiny measure. Faith in its beginnings is described by the master as a mustard seed, the tiniest of all seeds, but a speck to go into the ground to be lost forever. No, bring forth. I should to bring forth a tree to endure, to last, to live. to become great and strong and beneficial to others. The beginnings are small, but how precious if they are true beginnings. Friend, can you relate to what we are saying here? Have your eyes spiritually been so open? If they have, then what comfort there is here for you. I see men as trees walking. I see. And if you see this day, though with little understanding of the depths of sin, of the glory of Christ, of the wonders of eternity, you see even a glimpse, a glimmer of darkness and light. Then you have that principle within. You have that sight within. which is the sure promise of life everlasting. Psalm 138, the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. We are confident of this very thing, Philippians 1 verse six, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. And so if you can find the beginning in your soul, If you can find the opening of the eyes in your soul, if you can find the start in your soul, then what comfort is here? Here's the beginning of the work, not the end. The start of the healing, not the fulfillment of. And what comfort if your eyes are so open. We're told in the Old Testament in Judges of I think it's chapter 13, Judges chapter 13, of the wife of Manoah. And Manoah and his wife had been granted awesome sights by God. They had seen the angel of God. They had heard the prophecy of the child Samson that was to be given to them, a type of Christ. And at the end of their vision, Manoah was overwhelmed with despair. We shall perish because we have seen God. And his wife, with more wisdom and spiritual discernment, said no. The Lord would not have shown us such things if he intended to slay us. What wisdom there is in that. Would the Lord have shown you such things if he intended your destruction? Take comfort. Take hope. If you have seen a glimpse of Christ, then all the more reason to cling to him. So our first point then, to take this principle as comfort. But secondly, I want us to take this principle as exhortation. God's grace is gradual in its progress. As exhortation, you've seen a little, but are you satisfied with a little? Are you content to see men as trees walking? Here is a man who is not content with that. A man who's not saying to Christ, well, thanks very much. I'm sure you did your best. It's a huge improvement than what it was before. I'm sure I can manage it. He stayed. He wants more. If you've been granted slight glimpses of the truth, a little sight of the Savior, to discern something of the awesome demands of the law of God, of the great call to come up higher and to advance in sanctification. Friend, how can you be content to live below ground, to have but the light of a candle before you when up above the sun is shining? This passage is a challenge. to those in whom the work has just begun, to seek more sights and fuller sights of the goodness of God, of the abundance of his mercy, of the blessedness of his salvation, to see more of the beauty of Jesus Christ the Saviour, to know more of communion with him and with his spirit, to experience more of the blessed power of our God in this life. that we will make the best profit of this life, that we will make progress on the way that leadeth unto life. We are called, like Jonathan Edwards of old, to pursue the most happiness for ourselves in eternity to come, and therefore to pursue a life of self-denial. a life of disciplined, diligent Christian service, a life of sanctification, a life of the pursuit of godliness, a life of faith, a life that, though it crosses our natural desires in so many ways, a life that brings with it sweetness and benefit here, but abundant joy in the eternity which is to come. Do not be satisfied with little glimpses of the truth. If you have seen something, then pursue greater sights. You see, there's a vulnerability that goes with just a little sight. We're told in Numbers chapter 24 of true prophet of the Lord, Balaam, the son of Beor. And it's really quite tragic the way he describes himself. Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said, How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel. His eyes had been opened that far to see that much. Israel is blessed. His eyes had been opened yet further to see that the Messiah was coming. "'I shall see him, but not now. "'I shall behold him, but not yet. "'A star shall rise up out of Jacob. "'A scepter shall come forth out of Israel. "'Messiah was to come. "'He was seeing him. "'He saw so much. "'But it was just head knowledge. "'And he continued to seek the gold of Moab "'and the company of the heath until at last he perished when Israel invaded their promised land. He would not join himself to God's people, and so he died with their enemies. Oh friend, be sure it's not just head knowledge. You know much, all of you know much. You've heard much truth. You've seen much. of God's power and salvation. You've seen his life change. You've seen her transform. You've seen what God can do in other cases. You've known the sinner pardon. You've seen the joy of God's salvation in the experience of others. You've heard Christ preach. But, oh friend, will you act upon it? True sight, spiritual sight of Christ. involves not just knowing that he is Savior and Lord, but acting upon that. Cling to him by faith. Oh friend, don't be satisfied just with a little knowledge. There is a deep vulnerability in head knowledge, because with your head knowledge is just more and more responsibility. And therefore, more and more sin if you will not repent. How fearful to know the truth as it is in Jesus, to know the gospel message, to know that the day of the Lord is coming, to know that God reigns and will judge the world in righteousness, to know of heaven and of hell and eternity, and how fearful not to have That is to see men as trees walking. Oh friend, it's not enough. Pursue more. If God's shown you a little, act upon it. God's shown you your need of Christ, cling to him. Hold to him before it is too late. There is one name given under heaven, among men, whereby we must be saved, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, and every tongue confess, He is Lord, Jesus, the Saviour, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Then is He your Saviour, is He yours? I'm not asking to have you great sight, I'm not asking, have you profound understanding? I'm not asking, have you made great advances in godliness? I'm asking, is he your only hope? Are you driven to cling to him? It's quite striking, isn't it? Christ had already laid his hands upon the man, and when he said that his sight was still defective, I see men as trees walking, Christ just did the same thing again. He laid his hands upon him again the second time. There's instruction there. The same means are to be used again and again. You're not looking for a vision. or a dream or a mystical encounter with some voice coming to you out of the darkness or some apparition arising. No, you're to seek in the same means for more sights of Christ. You're to do the same thing over and over again. Think of Elisha the prophet when he was seeking the life of the little child that had died. It was the same thing he did. He laid down upon the body of the child, hands upon it, his hands, feet upon his feet, face upon his face. And then he got up and he walked to and fro in the house. Then he did it again. And the child sneezed seven times. It's not that the means changed. It's still the same Bible that you've come to read. It's still the same form of prayer that you use. It's still the same services of public worship that you attend, the same preaching in the same building. It's the same means. The change is in you. It's when your eyes are opened by God. It's when your mouth is open. It's when you are given a greater appetite for benefit and from blessing. Then you taste and see that God is good, and these means come alive for you, and this word becomes to your soul a word of life, and prayer becomes to you communication with the Lord who is above. No longer words going up to the ceiling, but you're drawing near unto your Savior, God. And in the public worship, You feel the presence of your God with you, and you hear a word from the Lord to your soul, and so you taste and see that God is good. You take a blessing and you give thanks for it. By the same means used in faith, so believers advance and grow. So the eyes of the soul are open wider. So new sights are granted of Christ. So new understanding is given of his salvation. So new hope is conveyed of the eternity of heaven that awaits the believer in Christ. Don't be satisfied with a little. Seek. Seek prayerfully. Seek expectantly, seek faithfully, seek repeatedly in the same means for more blessing. We take the principle as comfort, firstly. We take the principle as exhortation, secondly. We take the principle, thirdly, as assurance. As assurance, God's grace, is gradual in its progress. How can you know for sure if you are one of the Lord's people? I want to bring you into this theme, to bring to you three marks of those who truly are the Lord's people, not the finished article, not those who behold the face of their father, which is in heaven, but those who are here on earth who see but a little, men as trees walking. How can you know if you are the work in progress, the work of Christ or not? Consider this man here. He looked up and said, I see men as trees walking. He knew that his sight was inadequate. That's helpful because believers know that their sight is inadequate. You see, there is an inadequacy that is intrinsic to true faith. To see Christ is to feel the unworthiness of our sight of Christ. There is an inadequacy intrinsic to saving faith. Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. That's the belief in Christ. Feeling confidence in Christ, feeling unworthiness in self. Where does your hope lie this day? Here we come to the absolute fundamental distinction between those who are the Lord's people and those who are not. Ultimately, those who are not the Lord's people have their faith elsewhere, trusting in themselves very often, trusting in others, trusting in outward works of religion, trusting in their own righteousness, Their faith is anywhere and everywhere but in Christ. Where does your hope lie? There's an inadequacy intrinsic to true faith. There's a desire for more healing. a longing to see more. It's lovely the way it's expressed in verse 25. Christ made the man look up and he was restored and saw every man clearly. The word translated clearly in the original language, it is literally far shining. From a distance, far shining. The light shining from a distance into his eyes. And so he is seeing, as we have it in our translation, clearly. He is seeing the detail, seeing the distinction, seeing there is a tree and there is a man, and he can see distinguished and separated. Do you desire to see from far? Do you desire to see the light of Christ? Oh friends, the night is far spent, The day is at hand. The Lord is coming. The cry of his people is, even so, come, Lord Jesus. Do you have a longing to behold him? Do you long to see the master, to see the beauty and the glory of Jesus Christ? Do you long to see the fulfillment of his work of salvation? To see what his blood has purchased, do you long to see his kingdom? There's a hunger in the true believer, a desire to see more. This man was not departing with his sight half restored. He wanted more. What about you? Do you long to see more? That longing is not of flesh and blood. That longing is of the spirit of God, if it is there and if it is real. And then one final mark. His only hope was Christ. He was not saying to the master, oh, well, there's another faith healer that I could try. Or I hear of several others that I could go to now. I'm sure you have done your best, but maybe another one. to finish the work, no. All his hope was in Christ. He knew full well that there was none other, that there was no one else to whom he could go, that there was no one else with the awesome power to restore sight to his dead eyes. Only the Christ could do it. And so Christ was his only hope. And he clung to the Christ for he had no other alternative. Is it so with you? Are you here this day saying to whom shall I go? He has the words of everlasting life. I feel my sin so deeply. I feel my distance from him to be so grave. I feel my unworthiness and my inadequacy to be so shameful. And yet I have nowhere else to turn but to Christ and him crucified. And so to this man I will cling. In his name I will believe, for he truly is my only hope. That's the response of the believer. That is the answer of the true Christian. Search your soul and see. Are you his or are you not? Well, friends, as we come to a close, a couple of final thoughts of application. I see men as trees walking, beware then of judging harshly. God's work starts small. The bruised tree, the smoking flax. Let's not be the ones who discourage The young person who is just starting to seek the Lord. The one who is just starting out in the Christian life. Let's sure it's not a harsh boot that we are bringing down upon that first fragile growth of faith. Let's not be discouragers, but encouragers. Those who strengthen and uphold one another along the way that leadeth unto life. Those who know the weakness of our own faith. Those who know the many times that we have backslidden, that we have fallen. So let's not judge harshly, but gently with kindness. Let us discern true faith and let us encourage it as we find it. Let us seek for more sights of the Master. Let us be earnest in the use of the means. Oh how precious is public worship! We feel it all the more as we know that up and down our land churches are closed and only in these outlying islands are churches still permitted to open for the physical gathering of God's people. This is precious. Be sure you do not neglect the house of God. Be sure you love the public worship and the public means of grace. Be sure you engage also in your family worship and in your private times of devotion. Seek a blessing in each. Open your mouth wide and the Lord is merciful to fill it. Use the ordinary means which he has given and find them become extraordinary in the blessed providence of our God. And be thankful. See the one who has given this sight. See the master who commands light to shine out of darkness. It is the Lord. It is his work. His command from beginning to end, His voice that says, let there be light, and the light of the face of Jesus Christ shines into the dead, dark soul. It's all of Him. So to Him be the glory and the praise. Let this day be a day of thanksgiving, a day of worship, a day of adoration. If you find in your soul sight, oh, inadequate, O unworthy sight, O distorted sight, sights of men as trees walking. But if it's the real thing, what reason you have for praise this day? Glory to God in the highest for such a gift. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Spend this day in the worship of God, and find, if that is not a blessing and a benefit to your soul, and as you thank him for what you have seen, oh, what reason to wonder if he does not grant new signs, better signs, fuller signs, richer signs of that which is yet to come. Now, at the present time, we see as to a glass dart. Now we see in part, but then we shall see face to face. We shall know him, even as now we are known. What encouragement, therefore, to seek more of the sight of our God. May the Lord be pleased to bless his word.