Better To Be Honestly Blind Then To Be Blind And Not See It

Over & over again, Jesus responded to the religious leaders that they were blind and had no idea.  Sometimes as I look at these miracles I’m befuddled.  How about you?

In our first miracle, Jesus heals a man that was blind since birth.  I get the impression that this man’s suffering was for the sole purpose of glorifying God.  What a hard concept for me to wrap my head around.  The extra challenges that the parents of a blind child face is somewhat overwhelming.  And they had to endure that.  And in this man’s case, it seems no one went to Jesus to request that he heal him.  This healing took place at Jesus’ initiation.

Then did a hornet’s nest get stirred or what???  The religious leaders were furious.  Why were they furious?  Who sinned?  In this ailment, sin had nothing to do with it.  They were sure Jesus couldn’t be from God.  They were tight with God…so they thought…so how could anyone from God do anything they wouldn’t recognize?  Yes, they were blind and had no idea.

The man whose sight was gifted to him when he was an adult seemed to not only have received physical sight.  In the Message it states in John 9:30-33, “The man replied, ‘This is amazing!  You claim to know nothing about him, but the  fact is, he opened my eyes!  He got it.

It’s well known that God isn’t at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will.  The act of opening the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of–ever.  If this man didn’t come from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.'”  How can you refute the personal testimony of this man?

I was so moved by the statement, “but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will.”  Lives in reverence and does his will…it seems that is how we have eyes to see.  It is so true in my life when I am not walking tight with God, my perspective gets skewed…and I seem to be spinning my wheels.

Then here comes Jesus’ observation of the Pharisees who seem very unhappy with his assessment.  In verse 41, “Jesus said, ‘If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you’re accountable for every fault and failure.'” 

Working on staff at church, I often wrestle with this.  I do not want to end up in a situation where Jesus’ assessment of me is that I boast of fully understanding and yet have no clue.  “Lord Jesus, open my eyes!”

Then our next miracle is casting a demon out of a young boy.  It seems he had been possessed for most of his life. This miracle encourages my heart in a way I didn’t expect.

The father of this young boy was one of the religious leaders of the day. Being very educated in the Mosaic law, the scribes were to help the common man understand the law. As we have shared, even in the miracle of the blind man above, the religious leaders got pretty worked up about Jesus. He didn’t seem to fit their paradigm of their interpretation of how God operated.

But when his son had been in such a desperate situation for so many years, it seems he gave himself permission to question his knowledge that he, almost worship like, had come to rely on. Out of desperation, he humbled himself and sought the help of Jesus’ disciples. And discouraged again, he went straight to Jesus. (It seems there was some skeptical push by his cronies.)

Jesus seemed to be disappointed in the lack of faith his own men had. Had they not been experiencing life with Him for quite some time now? And they had not just experienced an incredible mountaintop moment with Jesus that had been powerfully affirmed by God? Oh ye of little faith.

Jesus decides to take the reigns on this one. All it takes is a little faith with prayer and fasting. The scribe, from the depths of his pain, cries out. Tears streaming down his dusty face, “I believe, Lord! Help my unbelief.”

Finally, the arguments over the law didn’t matter. All that mattered was a touch from Jesus for his tormented son. Have you ever been overwhelmed with something your kids seem to be consumed by? You’ve probably even cried out to God.

And interestingly, the demon didn’t give up without a fight. That is why the need for prayer and fasting. But our kids are worth the fight! A young boy freed from this bondage and a spiritual leader receives his sight…all in one miracle. What did his peers think? Did they now see their fellow scribe as a weakling? Someone who has succumbed to the illogical, emotional movement of the crowd? Did they snub him? Probably! But his son was FREE! Worth it all!

From there Jesus pays the Temple Tax from a coin found in the mouth of a fish. What?? From a fish?? And He technically didn’t even owe it. So like redemption…He pays the price for what is not his debt.

Then as if a blind man healed and a demon possessed young boy isn’t enough, they bring him a blind, mute and demon possessed pathetic wretch. No challenge for Jesus. And instead of being amazed, the religious leaders again think he’s up to something evil. Seriously??? Jesus refutes them with the idea that their argument doesn’t even make a lick of logical sense. Really? Satan is going to wipe out Satan? Come on boys, you are just getting ridiculous now. Just stop it!

But I’m taken back by the woman in the crowd who applauds Mary. How blessed is she who bore this miracle worker, man of compassion. Yet Jesus stole her thunder with truth. You and I can be as blessed as this woman thought Mary was, even though we will never bear the Son of God or even if we have the worst kids in the world. (I’m sure your kids are wonderful!!) 😉. If we hear the Word of God we are half way. Once we keep God’s word in our minds, hearts and life, we be blessed. I’ve been there. Have you?

Let’s go there today, friend!

Good morning, Lord! How I want to be blessed by you. My soul can’t live without you! Like Jacob, even if it takes a wrestling match that gives me a limp, I want your word so deep in my soul that I can’t not keep it!! I pray this for my friends, also! Expose any blindness I have. Shed light in my dark places and open my eyes! I need you more than air and water! Please give me what I need for today. In the name of the Light of the World, amen!
 
 

And next we will look at these miracles:

30 Heals a Crippled Woman – Lk 13:10-17
31 Heals a Man With Dropsy on the Sabbath – Lk 14:1-6
32 Cleanses Ten Lepers – Lk 17:11-19
33 Raises Lazarus from the Dead – Jn 11:1-45

Blessings on your day, my friends! 😘 

And We Begin Again

Welcome back…to me. How I’ve missed my time here. There will be no rash promises. I’m here for today. We’ll take it one day at a time.

I’m feeling a bit famished. That’s what relying on my own strength does in time. Last December we brought our grand nephew to live with us. The reality of my humanness has been laid bare before me. Ugh! Praise be to God for his grace and mercy!!

And then in August I became the Children’s Ministry Director at church. I resisted the position feeling wholly inadequate. Yet God made it clear to me that is where he wants me…for now. My response to him was, “Are you kidding??!!??!!??!!”

To that He replied, “No! It’s not about you. I’ve given you and will give you what you need. And the biggest thing you need is Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.”

And so the journey begins. Why do I so resist abiding in Him? It is so foolish. So here I am, again needing to dig deep in His word. It is my nourishment, my direction, my hope, my calling.

For now I will continue where I left off with looking at his miracles. Lord knows I could use some miracles! How about you?

Blessings to you as you join me in this journey.

To bring you up to speed again, these are the miracles we are looking at this week:

25 Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida – Mk 8:22-26
26 Heals a Man Born Blind – Jn 9:1-12
27 Heals a Boy with a Demon – Mt 17:14-20, Mk 9:14-29, Lk 9:37-43
28 Miraculous Temple Tax in a Fish’s Mouth – Mt 17:24-27
29 Heals a Blind, Mute Demoniac – Mt 12:22-23, Lk 11:14-23
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