October 25, 2012
"He told me to go... so I went." The story of the blind man who Christ healed. He was born blind. His blindness was not because of any sin of his own or his parents. He was born blind "so that God's power could be shown in him." Jesus told him to go and wash in the pool Siloam which means "sent." Jesus told him to go → so he went → and was healed.
The Pharisees questions the man and his parents about the healing. The contrasts in the response of the man and the Pharisees is interesting. The Pharisees call Jesus "a sinner" (verse 24) and admit "we don't even know where this man comes from." (verse 29) They did not know God and even though Jesus told him who He was and showed them who He was, they would not accept it as truth and believe him.
On the other hand the blind man had no idea who Jesus was. He started out by calling him "the man named Jesus" (verse 11), then responded to the Pharisees' question of "who do you think he is" by answering "a prophet" (verse 17). He said in response to the Pharisees calling Jesus a sinner, "I don't know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I see." (verse 25) He goes on, "This is a very strange thing. You don't know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We all know that God does not listen to sinners, but he listens to anyone who worships and obeys him... if this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (John 9:30–33; Cross Reference - Psalm 1) The Pharisees became angry at the blind man for having the audacity to speak truth. They accused him of sin, and in their self righteousness, they threw him out.
Jesus hears they had him thrown out. So he sought him, found him, and asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" To which the man responded, "Who is the Son of Man, sir, so that I can believe in him?" Jesus responded, I am He, and the man who was born blind said, "Lord, I believe" and then he worshiped Him. Man → prophet → LORD! When you acknowledge Him as Lord, worship follows.
Jesus never turns away an honest seeker. He came so the spiritually blind can see. The Pharisees refused to see (or acknowledge), they were spiritually blind—and they remained blind. The blind man obeyed. He went when Jesus said "go" and he began down a path, a journey to finding out who Jesus was. Jesus sought him and he responded with, "Lord, I believe."
The choice of how to respond is ours. Some people choose not to believe. They don't want to give in. They want to remain in "control." It isn't that there isn't enough evidence, they just don't want to believe—so they don't. The same God that turned a stick into a scepter, a stone into a missile, and mud into a healing balm, is still performing miracles today.
Next Entry: John 10:1–42
"He told me to go... so I went." The story of the blind man who Christ healed. He was born blind. His blindness was not because of any sin of his own or his parents. He was born blind "so that God's power could be shown in him." Jesus told him to go and wash in the pool Siloam which means "sent." Jesus told him to go → so he went → and was healed.
The Pharisees questions the man and his parents about the healing. The contrasts in the response of the man and the Pharisees is interesting. The Pharisees call Jesus "a sinner" (verse 24) and admit "we don't even know where this man comes from." (verse 29) They did not know God and even though Jesus told him who He was and showed them who He was, they would not accept it as truth and believe him.
On the other hand the blind man had no idea who Jesus was. He started out by calling him "the man named Jesus" (verse 11), then responded to the Pharisees' question of "who do you think he is" by answering "a prophet" (verse 17). He said in response to the Pharisees calling Jesus a sinner, "I don't know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I see." (verse 25) He goes on, "This is a very strange thing. You don't know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We all know that God does not listen to sinners, but he listens to anyone who worships and obeys him... if this man were not from God, he could do nothing." (John 9:30–33; Cross Reference - Psalm 1) The Pharisees became angry at the blind man for having the audacity to speak truth. They accused him of sin, and in their self righteousness, they threw him out.
Jesus hears they had him thrown out. So he sought him, found him, and asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" To which the man responded, "Who is the Son of Man, sir, so that I can believe in him?" Jesus responded, I am He, and the man who was born blind said, "Lord, I believe" and then he worshiped Him. Man → prophet → LORD! When you acknowledge Him as Lord, worship follows.
Jesus never turns away an honest seeker. He came so the spiritually blind can see. The Pharisees refused to see (or acknowledge), they were spiritually blind—and they remained blind. The blind man obeyed. He went when Jesus said "go" and he began down a path, a journey to finding out who Jesus was. Jesus sought him and he responded with, "Lord, I believe."
Light—verses—Darkness
Life—verses—Death
Life—verses—Death
The choice of how to respond is ours. Some people choose not to believe. They don't want to give in. They want to remain in "control." It isn't that there isn't enough evidence, they just don't want to believe—so they don't. The same God that turned a stick into a scepter, a stone into a missile, and mud into a healing balm, is still performing miracles today.
"Once again God's power was seen, not through the ability of the instrument, but through its availability... Blessed are the available. Blessed are the conduits, the tunnels, the tools... if God used a stick, rock, and spit to do his will, then he can use us." ~ From The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado
Next Entry: John 10:1–42
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