John 9 tells of a man born blind who was healed by Jesus. Jesus saw the man's blind condition, spat on the ground, made mud with His saliva, and rubbed it on the man's eyes. He instructed the man to go and wash in the Pool Siloam. The man obedient went and washed and came away seeing - without having laid eyes on the Man who healed him!
Amazingly, the story grows even more interesting. The religious leaders debated and argued that the man supposedly healed was a doppelganger, and it was not until they had talked with the parents of the man before they admitted it was the same man they knew previously who was born blind. Despite the affirmation of the miracle, they still hated and refused to believe Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Jewish Messiah. They grilled the man and his parents, having decided they would throw anyone out of Synagogue who claimed Jesus was the Christ - a cultural and spiritual death sentence in their culture. Again and again they asked the man: "What did He do to you? How did He cause you to see?" They could not argue with the simplicity of the man's testimony: "I don't know if He is is sinner or not, but one thing I know: I was blind, and now I see." The rulers were quickly fed up with this ignorant man's insolence and threw him out.
In one day the man born blind had mud and spit rubbed on his eyes by a stranger, washed and could see, then went to Synagogue and was thrown out. Talk about rags to riches to rags again! He could now see what he was missing, and was no doubt saddened by this turn of events. He was now excommunicated, shunned, and isolated from his community he treasured, even from his own parents. But he was not left in this quandary for long. John 9:35-38 says, "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." 38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him."
Jesus heard the man had been cast out, and sought him until he was found. Jesus delights to reveal Himself to outcasts so they might believe in Him. He is worthy to be worshiped in and outside the Synagogue, for He is the promised Messiah sent by God to seek and save the lost. Jesus opened the eyes of the blind, healed the lame, raised the dead, and forgave people of sins. The self-righteous Pharisees affirmed only God can do this (Mark 2:1-12)! What love and grace, that Jesus would seek out the one who was cast out and likely downcast. Those on the "outside looking in" can have a clear view of Jesus Christ and fellowship with Him. Sometimes when Jesus opens our eyes it leads to us being outcasts. But we do not need to fear or despair, for Jesus will not leave or forsake us. Men may reject us, but take to heart the promise Jesus made in John 6:37: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." Even when it is impossible for us to recognise Jesus, He will reveal Himself when we ask Him in faith.
Amazingly, the story grows even more interesting. The religious leaders debated and argued that the man supposedly healed was a doppelganger, and it was not until they had talked with the parents of the man before they admitted it was the same man they knew previously who was born blind. Despite the affirmation of the miracle, they still hated and refused to believe Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Jewish Messiah. They grilled the man and his parents, having decided they would throw anyone out of Synagogue who claimed Jesus was the Christ - a cultural and spiritual death sentence in their culture. Again and again they asked the man: "What did He do to you? How did He cause you to see?" They could not argue with the simplicity of the man's testimony: "I don't know if He is is sinner or not, but one thing I know: I was blind, and now I see." The rulers were quickly fed up with this ignorant man's insolence and threw him out.
In one day the man born blind had mud and spit rubbed on his eyes by a stranger, washed and could see, then went to Synagogue and was thrown out. Talk about rags to riches to rags again! He could now see what he was missing, and was no doubt saddened by this turn of events. He was now excommunicated, shunned, and isolated from his community he treasured, even from his own parents. But he was not left in this quandary for long. John 9:35-38 says, "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" 36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." 38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him."
Jesus heard the man had been cast out, and sought him until he was found. Jesus delights to reveal Himself to outcasts so they might believe in Him. He is worthy to be worshiped in and outside the Synagogue, for He is the promised Messiah sent by God to seek and save the lost. Jesus opened the eyes of the blind, healed the lame, raised the dead, and forgave people of sins. The self-righteous Pharisees affirmed only God can do this (Mark 2:1-12)! What love and grace, that Jesus would seek out the one who was cast out and likely downcast. Those on the "outside looking in" can have a clear view of Jesus Christ and fellowship with Him. Sometimes when Jesus opens our eyes it leads to us being outcasts. But we do not need to fear or despair, for Jesus will not leave or forsake us. Men may reject us, but take to heart the promise Jesus made in John 6:37: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." Even when it is impossible for us to recognise Jesus, He will reveal Himself when we ask Him in faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)