The story of Jesus healing the man born blind with a little mud. Was it the mud that healed him? Nah, I don't think so either. It was the act of obedience. What can God heal in our lives if we simply obeyed?
The thing it's hardest for me to let him heal, but which is the sweetest when He finally breaks through my stubbornness, is attitude.
Something struck me today that never has in this passage before--verses 36 & 37, when the once-blind man asks, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" Jesus's answer really hit me today. I always focused on the "it is Him who is talking to you" part, but did you catch the first part? "You have SEEN him." In the, what, hours since he has been healed, how many people has he seen? Does he even recognize his own parents before they speak? Doubtful. But right away Jesus is calling upon what has been restored. He's saying "I gave you sight, and now you see. That's your answer." Love it!
Yes, the man obeyed. But, he believed and had faith. That was the message I got. God can heal in our lives if we have faith and believe. But, the tricky thing is to add "if it be your will". Just because healing doesn't occur, doesn't necessarily mean we don't have faith or we don't obey. He may have another plan that we don't fully understand at the time. That is sometimes very hard to accept.
I really like the last three verses: 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 seet 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."
How many times have I thought I could see, but I was really totally blind? More times than I'd like to admit!
You're so right Roseanna, the blind man wouldn't have even recognized his parents until they spoke. How weird that had to be for him and the amazement at seeing the world for the first time. Yet when Jesus opens our eyes it's amazing what we see for the first time. I sometimes pray "Lord, help me to see people the way you do." Too often like you said Sharon we are totally blind and don't even realize it. Thank you again ladies for sharing your insights.
Questioning among those who had seen the man blind and begging: 9 “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”... “No, he isn't, but he looks like him.” But the man himself said, “I am the one.”
It can't be ... but it sure does look like him!
Questioning the now sighted man's parents: 21 But we don’t know how he got his sight or who gave it to him.
Questioning the man given his sight: 25 … But I do know one thing. I used to be blind, but now I can see. 26b How did he give you sight? 27 The man replied, “I’ve already told you, but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” ~*~ I know that I know that I know I once was blind, but as Jesus touches me, I can see with much more clarity! The more I see Him, the more I know Him, the clearer my spiritual vision becomes. Verse 25 sums it up for me! No one can dissuade you for what you know is Truth because you have experienced it yourself.
The thing it's hardest for me to let him heal, but which is the sweetest when He finally breaks through my stubbornness, is attitude.
ReplyDeleteSomething struck me today that never has in this passage before--verses 36 & 37, when the once-blind man asks, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" Jesus's answer really hit me today. I always focused on the "it is Him who is talking to you" part, but did you catch the first part? "You have SEEN him." In the, what, hours since he has been healed, how many people has he seen? Does he even recognize his own parents before they speak? Doubtful. But right away Jesus is calling upon what has been restored. He's saying "I gave you sight, and now you see. That's your answer." Love it!
Yes, the man obeyed. But, he believed and had faith. That was the message I got. God can heal in our lives if we have faith and believe. But, the tricky thing is to add "if it be your will". Just because healing doesn't occur, doesn't necessarily mean we don't have faith or we don't obey. He may have another plan that we don't fully understand at the time. That is sometimes very hard to accept.
ReplyDeleteI really like the last three verses:
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 seet 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."
How many times have I thought I could see, but I was really totally blind? More times than I'd like to admit!
You're so right Roseanna, the blind man wouldn't have even recognized his parents until they spoke. How weird that had to be for him and the amazement at seeing the world for the first time. Yet when Jesus opens our eyes it's amazing what we see for the first time. I sometimes pray "Lord, help me to see people the way you do." Too often like you said Sharon we are totally blind and don't even realize it.
ReplyDeleteThank you again ladies for sharing your insights.
Questioning among those who had seen the man blind and begging:
ReplyDelete9 “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”... “No, he isn't, but he looks like him.” But the man himself said, “I am the one.”
It can't be ... but it sure does look like him!
Questioning the now sighted man's parents:
21 But we don’t know how he got his sight or who gave it to him.
Questioning the man given his sight:
25 … But I do know one thing. I used to be blind, but now I can see.
26b How did he give you sight?
27 The man replied, “I’ve already told you, but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
~*~
I know that I know that I know I once was blind, but as Jesus touches me, I can see with much more clarity! The more I see Him, the more I know Him, the clearer my spiritual vision becomes. Verse 25 sums it up for me! No one can dissuade you for what you know is Truth because you have experienced it yourself.