John 9:35-41
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Spiritual Blindness
35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”
37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”
38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”
41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.
There is spiritual blindness with guilt attached. This was NOT the problem of the man born blind. This problem belonged to the Pharisees.
The man born blind received his physical sight and wanted to believe in the One who performed this miracle in his life.
The Pharisees had physical sight, were learned men in the Law and claimed to be enlightened. Yet when the One of whom they had learned about from the prophets … the One whom they were waiting to come … the One they were searching for … arrived, their spiritual blindness would not allow them to see Him.
They were guilty because they were depending on sight that came from the eyes (head knowledge) instead of sight that comes from the heart (belief).
This Week's Praise
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
GOD IS READY
John 9:24-34
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”
25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?”
27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”
30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”
34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.
The Jewish leaders were not ready to acknowledge Jesus Christ. They, being good Jews, followed their traditions. The three mainstays of this tradition were Moses, the Levitical priesthood and a belief in angels. Jesus didn’t fit their tradition and they were unwilling … not ready … to break with their tradition.
The man born blind had a life changing experience. Through the hands of Jesus (and a little spit and mud), he could now see. Old traditions could no longer hold him. He had an encounter with the living God. He became a disciple, a follower, one ready to do His will. He gave God the praise and worship due Him. Why? Because God showed Himself ready to hear and respond to the desires of his heart.
Hear the testimony of this man born blind. God is ready to meet you at the point of your need if you will only worship Him and do His will.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”
25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”
26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?”
27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”
30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”
34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.
The Jewish leaders were not ready to acknowledge Jesus Christ. They, being good Jews, followed their traditions. The three mainstays of this tradition were Moses, the Levitical priesthood and a belief in angels. Jesus didn’t fit their tradition and they were unwilling … not ready … to break with their tradition.
The man born blind had a life changing experience. Through the hands of Jesus (and a little spit and mud), he could now see. Old traditions could no longer hold him. He had an encounter with the living God. He became a disciple, a follower, one ready to do His will. He gave God the praise and worship due Him. Why? Because God showed Himself ready to hear and respond to the desires of his heart.
Hear the testimony of this man born blind. God is ready to meet you at the point of your need if you will only worship Him and do His will.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A LITTLE LEAVEN IN THE LOAF
John 9:17-23
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?”
The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”
18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?”
20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”
Leaven or sour dough was used during Old Testament days to make bread. This was a lengthy process. The Israelites were forbidden from using leaven during the Passover, a reminder to them that the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt in haste. The high state of fermentation in the leavening process came to represent corruption in their religious practice and therefore unleavened bread was used in their offerings. In the New Testament, reference to leaven became metaphorical to corrupt doctrine (Mark 8:15a).
The parents of the man born blind told the Pharisees enough truth (he is our son, he was born blind), mixed with enough leaven (we don’t know how he can see or who healed him), to keep themselves of the hot seat. Mixing lies with truth corrupts the entire statement.
Their son could see because Jesus healed him. In Matthew 10:33 Jesus warns those who deny Him will themselves be denied before God. I’d rather be on the hot seat before men than denied before the Father.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?”
The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”
18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?”
20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”
Leaven or sour dough was used during Old Testament days to make bread. This was a lengthy process. The Israelites were forbidden from using leaven during the Passover, a reminder to them that the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt in haste. The high state of fermentation in the leavening process came to represent corruption in their religious practice and therefore unleavened bread was used in their offerings. In the New Testament, reference to leaven became metaphorical to corrupt doctrine (Mark 8:15a).
The parents of the man born blind told the Pharisees enough truth (he is our son, he was born blind), mixed with enough leaven (we don’t know how he can see or who healed him), to keep themselves of the hot seat. Mixing lies with truth corrupts the entire statement.
Their son could see because Jesus healed him. In Matthew 10:33 Jesus warns those who deny Him will themselves be denied before God. I’d rather be on the hot seat before men than denied before the Father.
Friday, July 18, 2008
WORKING ON THE SABBATH
John 9:11-16
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!”
12 “Where is he now?” they asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied.
13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.
The issue of Jesus working on the Sabbath came up back in chapter 7 and now the Pharisees raise the issue again. The Jewish leaders and followers were very rigid in following the Law given to them by God through Moses. In practice, it would appear that Jesus was not so rigid. When He saw a need, Jesus moved by grace and mercy rather than the strict rules of the Old Testament schoolmaster. The Law was a schoolmaster given by God to guide people until Jesus came. When Jesus came, by His own words (Matt. 5:17), He came to fulfill the Law.
We are living in the dispensation of grace. The law has not been abolished but it has been fulfilled. We follow Christ.
The Sabbath was establish by God as a holy day to honor God. It is a day where the Christian church practices the worship we will do everyday when we are gathered around the throne in heaven. We are encouraged not to neglect this practice (Heb. 10:25).
Let us not respond as the Pharisees did to those who work on Sunday. The only result from such as response appears to be division … deep division … among themselves. Let us respond with a heart of grace as Jesus did.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!”
12 “Where is he now?” they asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied.
13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.
The issue of Jesus working on the Sabbath came up back in chapter 7 and now the Pharisees raise the issue again. The Jewish leaders and followers were very rigid in following the Law given to them by God through Moses. In practice, it would appear that Jesus was not so rigid. When He saw a need, Jesus moved by grace and mercy rather than the strict rules of the Old Testament schoolmaster. The Law was a schoolmaster given by God to guide people until Jesus came. When Jesus came, by His own words (Matt. 5:17), He came to fulfill the Law.
We are living in the dispensation of grace. The law has not been abolished but it has been fulfilled. We follow Christ.
The Sabbath was establish by God as a holy day to honor God. It is a day where the Christian church practices the worship we will do everyday when we are gathered around the throne in heaven. We are encouraged not to neglect this practice (Heb. 10:25).
Let us not respond as the Pharisees did to those who work on Sunday. The only result from such as response appears to be division … deep division … among themselves. Let us respond with a heart of grace as Jesus did.
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