February 17th
PEOPLE JESUS MET
Profile: This unnamed man was blind from birth. Jesus taught that his blindness was not the result of his own or his parents’ sin. Jesus made mud with saliva, coated the man's eyes, and told him to "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam". The kneading of clay, healing and traveling over to Siloam were all violations of the Sabbath. He obeyed and returned able to see, only to face opposition from those who were spiritually blind – first his neighbours, then Pharisees. The Pharisees went on a witch-hunt for evidence against him and excommunicated him from the synagogue. This religious persecution brought him into a closer relationship with the Lord. Wonderfully, verse 35 tells us that the Lord went to find this shunned man. Notice the man’s understanding of who Jesus was strengthened over time: ‘the man they call Jesus’ (vs 11); ‘a prophet’ (vs 17); ‘from God’ (vs 33); “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him’ (vs 38).
PEOPLE JESUS MET
THE MAN BORN BLIND – None so Blind …
THE MAN BORN BLIND – None so Blind …
They said, “You’re nothing but dirt! How dare you take that tone with us!”
Then they threw him out in the street.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and went and found him.
John 9:34-35, The Message
Then they threw him out in the street.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and went and found him.
John 9:34-35, The Message
Profile: This unnamed man was blind from birth. Jesus taught that his blindness was not the result of his own or his parents’ sin. Jesus made mud with saliva, coated the man's eyes, and told him to "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam". The kneading of clay, healing and traveling over to Siloam were all violations of the Sabbath. He obeyed and returned able to see, only to face opposition from those who were spiritually blind – first his neighbours, then Pharisees. The Pharisees went on a witch-hunt for evidence against him and excommunicated him from the synagogue. This religious persecution brought him into a closer relationship with the Lord. Wonderfully, verse 35 tells us that the Lord went to find this shunned man. Notice the man’s understanding of who Jesus was strengthened over time: ‘the man they call Jesus’ (vs 11); ‘a prophet’ (vs 17); ‘from God’ (vs 33); “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him’ (vs 38).
Lessons:
- Everyone is spiritually blind from birth. There is no human cure. We can only be cured by Jesus the light and sight giver (2 Cor 4:4-6).
- The disciples did not look at the man as an object of mercy - a sinner to help - but rather as a subject of theological discussion – what is the origin of his sin? (vs 1-5)
- Responses to who Christ really is often emerge slowly. We can encourage awakening ones to read the Gospel, thereby directing them to the “sent one” (Siloam) – Jesus.
______________________________
If you claim to see, your sin remains.
If you claim to see, your sin remains.
