One of the things I always loved about teaching, especially in the Middle School, was the influence I had to speak truth into minds that were seeking to realize who they were in this mixed up world. And while my job was to teach math, there always seemed an opportunity to give them a few bonus lessons on things like manners, responsibility, positive attitude, motivation, hard work, and even how to laugh at your own mistakes. Because heaven knows I made a few of those myself, even in the classroom. So on any given day, I tried to be flexible and open minded about student needs as well as what they could teach me. So it's not a surprise when I read about Jesus and His disciples walking through their journey as teacher and students. For He was always looking for similar teaching points, even though He probably already had a lesson plan in mind for each day. And on one particular day they came upon a man who was blind since birth. Now in most of the miracles I have read up to this point, the disciples have been pretty quiet and the dialogue was strictly between Jesus and the person to be healed. But not this time. Today, the disciples decided to ask why this man was born blind. As if it was the fault of his parents for sinning... or even his own. But Jesus said... Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. John 9:3 NKJV And without so much as a word to the blind man, Jesus began... When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. John 9:6-7 NKJV Any typically, that would be it. They healed would go on, often rejoicing, but not much else. But not on this day. For what happened next became quite a fiasco. For this man's own neighbor's, people who had known him and lived near him his whole life, began to doubt that it was really him who was walking around with sight. And then the Pharisees got wind of it. So they called him before their court for questioning of this matter. And they made him tell his story as to how this all happened... trying to determine if he really had been blind. And they asked him about the man who gave him his sight and who he believed the man to be. He said, “He is a prophet.” But the Pharisees just became more confused and divided over the issues. And all I can think is... why? Like, the man formerly blind couldn't simply begin to enjoy this grand miracle of vision and venture about seeing new colors new places, new faces, new visions. Because people around him were stuck doubting and making him prove that he was actually... well himself. But even that was not good enough. For then the Pharisees called in his parents. They wanted his parents to prove that their son was really blind since birth. As if Jesus was playing some kind of trick on them. His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. John 9:20-22 How very sad... his very parents being quieted by tactics of fear. They seemed to not even be able to celebrate this miracle because they were put on the stand like they were criminals. So again, the Parisees called the formerly blind man back. And I must say... for me, this is where it gets interesting! So I'm going to ask you to stretch... you've just got to read it like you're watching a movie. Or try to put some real emotion to the words written. Dont leave them flat on the page. Try to imagine this being lived out. These men are jealous, angry, trying to find some crime to pin on Jesus. Haven't you ever known someone you can't stand. And every thing they say drives you crazy. Every thing they do, makes you nuts. That's how the Parisees felt about Jesus. They were obsessed and driven to prove him wrong. So now they had the newly sighted man standing in front of them again. And he was simply eager to get on with his life and grateful for what Jesus had done for him. But they had accused Jesus of being a sinner because He healed on the Sabbath. So now they asked this newly sighted man for his take on that... He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” John 9:25-27 This is so rich to me. Its as if this man is innocent to all their anger and jealousy of Jesus. He seems so not understand why they can't now see the obvious, like him. What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes? That must have steamed them. And then that last line just cracks me up! Do you also want to become His disciples?” Do you realize how much that must have upset them? The man was basically saying, If you really want to know how He does things, follow Him around as close as His disciples do, and find out. And they actually did. They were always following Jesus. Not to be like Him, not to be one of His disciples. But rather, to catch Him doing something wrong. So to the man, they said... “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.” The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! John 9:28-30 These men respected Moses more than they did... this fellow, Jesus. And what the man tried desperately to point out to them was that maybe it was great that they didn't know where He came from. Maybe that plus the miracle made Him more likely who He said He was. And that alone was... a marvelous thing. To have a mystery in front of you and not appreciate it, because you are so wrapped up in being right.... How very sad. That was the plight of the Pharisees. And I'm afraid also is the plight of many prideful men and women. But when Jesus heard that this newly sighted man was then cast out of the synagogue for speaking boldly, He found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. John 9:35-39 And now I think back to that first place when Jesus came upon the blind man. And the disciples asked Him, Who's sin caused this man to be born born blind? Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:3-5 I believe this is the Teacher giving many lessons at once. This blind man, as far as we can tell had not even asked for a miracle. And yet, Jesus had much work to do. active work... the opposite of idleness; what God in Heaven wishes to be done. Along with an assigned work... employment, job, occupation; for Jesus that was salvation. To rouse men to believe in Him; to accomplish their salvation Even if it meant, riling the Pharisees on the Sabbath so that many would start talking, so that a buzz would begin, so that crowds would disagree, discuss, debate. For even then, truth can be found in revelation. And salvation can be had for those who will believe. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” John 9:39 The less we try to reason, as the blind man who could not see, the more we will receive when we decide to simply believe. For judgment is harsh for those who insist upon only reasoning, rather than seeing through eyes of faith. Word of God train me today... To let go of my mind of flesh that insists on reasoning all things. To close my eyes and see with only my mind of the Spirit that receives true light and life in faith.
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January 2019
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