Last lesson, we looked at what it was like for our blind man during the
first few hours of the miracle of his eyes being opened. Unlike the Pharisees,
this man didn't have to pretend he was different - he WAS different, amen?
For that reason he was bombarded with questions from those that knew him
in regard to how he had received his sight. Take a moment to reflect on
the different times that God has healed you. In what ways were you spiritually
blind? From what frailty has God made you well? Since then, for what healing
in your life are you now praising God? If not, why not? Very often we
are restored to well being in a particular area of our life, and then
shortly thereafter, lose sight of Christ again. Where is Jesus now in
your life, dear lady?
John 9:12 (KJV)
Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
You know it's funny, but instead of folks being happy for this once sightless
soul, we find in our text today that his healing actually disturbed all
those around him! In verses 13-18 of John chapter 9, we see how the Pharisees
reacted, and then in verses 19-23 we see how his own parents respond.
But we also gain an opportunity to witness how the healed blind man reacts
to the realization that this miracle is so unsettling to everyone….
They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was
the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again
the Pharisees also asked him HOW he had received his sight....
>He said unto them, “He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do
see."
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because
he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner
do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the
blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?
>He said, “He is a prophet."
But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and
received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received
his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was
born blind? how then doth he now see?
>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 seeth, we know not; or
who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall
speak for himself.”
These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews
had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he
should be put out of the synogogue. Therefore said his parents, He is
of age; ask him.
Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give
God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
>He answered and said, “ Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one
thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
Then said they to him again, What did he to thee: HOW opened He thine
eyes?
>He answered them, “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore
would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?"
Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses
disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know
not from whence he is.
>The man answered and said unto them, “Why herein is a marvellous thing,
that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper
of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. since the world began was
it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
If this man were not of God, he could do nothing."
They answered and said unto him, Thou was altogether born in sins, and
dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
Certainly this is a surprising twist to a marvelous new beginning, amen?
Blind since birth, now gloriously able to see and yet he ends up being
cast out by all! What a way to spend the first few hours with your new
eyes - staring into a bunch of hypocritical, angry faces! Not only were
the eyes of this blind man quickly opened to the beauty of God's world,
they were also abruptly opened to the ugliness of man's heart, amen? Isn't
it amazing how these folk were all dissecting the wonderful work of God
in this man's life? They were tearing apart and trying to make sense of
this miracle with their little human brains! Unteachableness always tears
into truth... I was becoming more than a bit irritated while reading these
verses, how about you ladies? As a matter of fact, I think our ex-blind
man was too! I found myself wanting to shout, "Give the guy a break! He
was blind and now he can SEE - be happy for him, would ya??!" But in the
end we see he was simply cast out, rejected by those around him for his
newfound sight - even by his parents, the ones you would expect to support
and rejoice in your healing!
1 Peter 4:14 (KJV)
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit
of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified.
So ladies, why do you think they were all cross-examining this man? Why
was this particular miracle such a point of irritation in their lives?
Why were the Pharisees and the parents of this man so blinded themselves
to the plain and simple goodness of God in this fellow’s life?? Why were
they so afraid of it? Did you notice though, that while fear had control
of the questioners, faith calmed the one being questioned? How do you
react when someone challenges the authority of God in your life, dear
lady? This former blind beggar was not intimidated by the threats of the
Pharisees at all. Praise the Lord, he stood up to them and answered their
interrogation calmly and reasonably! I wonder, does your faith in God
help you to answer calmly those in doubt of the miracles that take place
in your life, those closest to you who have disappointed you by deserting
you, or who no longer accept you because you are different now?
1 Peter 4:16 (KJV)
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let
him glorify God on this behalf.
Reality is, these faithless few did not want the glory to go to Jesus
Christ, and they did not want to accept the fact that Jesus was the answer.
Religious bigots do not want to face either evidence OR logic. Their minds
are made up, their hearts hardened. They are still looking for a HOW answer
and not a WHO answer. HOW answers give men a method by which to do things
their own way (aka religion), but a WHO answer brings men face to face
with the fact that it isn't them, it isn't their strength - it's GOD that
brings about those permanent and lasting changes in us! The ex-blind man
was convinced that because Jesus was of God, He could do anything - are
you??
2 Tim. 1:12 (KJV)
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not
ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Let's do a little more reflecting.... How did your family and friends
respond when you put your faith in Christ? Have they accepted the new
changes in you, even though you might not have had an appropriate explanation
for it as far as they were concerned or an answer that satisfied them
totally? Are they refusing to look at the evidence today of further growth
in your life? Maybe one of the reasons you lost sight of Jesus after He
healed you is because negative reaction has hindered you from seeking
a closer relationship with Christ… Ladies, instead of worrying about being
"excommunicated" like this innocent man experienced, why not remind yourself
of his boldness in the face of opposition - he challenged the Pharisees
by asking them if they would also like to follow Christ!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
