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Thursday, September 24, 2020

Walking in Wisdom- Blindness from the Heart (John 9)

 


Please read John 9:

In today’s scripture we read about the wonderful experience of a man who was blind from birth, and received the miracle of his sight through Jesus! What an amazing and special day this would have been for him if it hadn’t caused so much controversy…

-The healed man was brought to the Pharisees and had to explain how he was healed and if he knew the man who did so

-It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes, so Jesus was accused of being a sinner and also “of nof being from God”

-The man´s parents were also questioned by the Pharisees.

-The man was interrogated by the Pharisees a second time; but this time he answered something they did not like and they cast him out!

“All who have felt the power and grace of the Lord Jesus, wonder at the willfulness of others who reject him. He argues strongly against them, not only that Jesus was not a sinner, but that he was of God. We may each of us know by this, whether we are of God or not…” Matthew Henry

In Verses 35-37 we read Jesus heard what happened to this man, and He went and found him and asked:

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Sir? Tell me so that I may believe in Him.” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and [in fact] He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe [in You and Your word]!” And he worshiped Him [with reverence and awe]. 39 Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind.”

Wow the man immediately responded calling Jesus “Lord” and confessing his faith in Him and bowing before Him in worship!

He not only experienced healing but a new life through Christ, and this made him more confident in the one who had healed him, in spite of the persecution and suffering he experienced. He gained not only physical sight but also spiritual sight as he moved from seeing Jesus as more than a mere man. He saw Him as a Prophet sent by God and finally he saw Him as Lord and master of his life!

And then Jesus clearly stated His mission of judgment for which He came to earth. The heart and work of Jesus as He stated was so that the blind may see and those who think they see become blind.

What Jesus was saying is that it is impossible to stay neutral about Him: you either believe and receive spiritual enlightenment, or you don’t and remain blind.

Since my youth I´ve had the opportunity to relate to people who had this same disability: I had a friend from Church that became blind due to a juvenile diabetes and over the years I had the opportunity to care for one special person in my family, who became blind due to Glaucoma until she went home to Daddy.

Both cases had the same issue: physical blindness. But there was a very great difference between them: my friend from Church although he also gradually lost his sight until he became blind, he could “clearly see” a purpose in this situation and in his life. He could spiritually perceive and understand much more than many of us at Church. He was a young man who deeply loved and served the Lord! He took his suffering and gave it over to God!

In the second case, she was an adult woman who also gradually lost her sight, but even though as a family we had witnessed to her, she would not let go of her self -pity and pride which hardened her heart. She knew Jesus as her Savior but not as the Lord of her life, which kept her with a stronghold and also blind from the Truth!

It is true that we as Christians will suffer for the cause of Christ. But the difference is when this suffering is an opportunity to glorify God, for we know He has a purpose and a plan for this and that it will result in our good and the good of others.

As my friend, we should let the suffering shape and mold us. Some people would never choose to suffer the way God allows them to suffer. But –as my friend- they also would not give it up because of how they came to know God through it!

Jesus was “a stumbling block to the Jews” (9:39-41), we should not follow in their steps for it will only lead to death and destruction. Instead, take His light of truth that you have been given and accept it by faith. Then walk in the light of that truth in faith and obedience (John 8:12).

“Father: I thank you for moving into my life and meeting my deepest needs. Thank you for loving me enough to accept me the way I am, and for loving me too much to leave me the way I was. May my changed life be a clear testimony to your  power, grace and love” (iWorship Bible)