Man’s extremities are God’s opportunities to show His Glory in this present world. Our study in John brings us to chapter 9, here we learn some lesson from a blind man. Jesus follows his familiar pattern of worshipping in the temple. Our Lord took great delight in visiting His father’s House. The feast of Dedication is at hand and once again Jesus is confronted by the Jewish leaders. On this occasion, they attempted to stone him, but Jesus passed through their unnoticed. Then passing through the street of Jerusalem, he saw a poor blind man. This blind man was blind from birth, sitting by the street asking alms of all who passed by. This incident appears almost accidental, until we are told that Jesus saw him in his pitiful condition. This story should remind us that God sees us in our present condition. When your afflictions are great, people will generally notice you. The disciples began a conversation about the man, Jesus and the blind man overheard them. “And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They even shared their thoughts about his condition. The disciples like many people today, felt that they had the answer. People think they have the answers, yet they have never faced your problems. They don’t know your story nor are they familiar with your lifestyle. Don’t be surprised if people only see your limitation, and even talk about you as if you are not present. Jesus gives an interesting answer, Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” The disciples never considered the possibility that this was an opportunity for the world to witness the Glory of God.
1. You cannot choose how the Works of God should be manifested in your life. – Some struggle with sickness and disease, some with poverty, some with fame and fortune, yet in every case, God can be glorified. Sometimes the works of God are manifested through a life of prosperity, or great strength and unusual skills and great giftings. The choice is not ours. Some journeys in life seem smooth and downhill while others seem to be rough and all uphill. Yet we cannot choose our journey, we simply must run the race that is set before us. Each of us must allow God to work in us and through us that His purpose and plan can be fulfilled. Secondly, we cannot choose the method God uses to supply the help we need.
2. You cannot choose the method God uses to supply the help we need. “When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.” Jesus provide help for this man in an unusual way. In the Scripture, Jesus used a variety of means to provide healing and deliverance for hurting people. Jesus helps this man by seeing him while the man had never seen Jesus. Not only does Jesus clear up the man’s vision, but he also clears up the disciples understanding. Jesus confirms the truth demonstrated in the book of Job. That is, physical infirmities and human suffering are not necessarily the results of sin. God has often allowed suffering, difficulties, pandemics and even trouble for reasons known only to him, yet there is always a good reason. Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. We must not allow what we do not understand to cause us to jump to wrong conclusion. We must not allow what we do not know to cause us to forget what we do know. We know the God is Good and His mercies are everlasting. The blind man was asking for alms, he thought that was what he needed. He must have heard about Jesus, but have never sought his help. Jesus could have spoken a word, but he chose to make clay on the Sabbath Day and sent the blind man to wash in the pool. Jesus could have healed him on the spot. The choice was Jesus’ alone.
3. You don’t have to justify your testimony. As soon as the blind man’s eyes were open, he began sharing his story. This single act changed his life forever. He was convinced that Jesus was a prophet. When God starts working in your life don’t surprise by attention you receive. His neighbors and friends who had overlooked him or look away from him now focused on him. His testimony did not make him a scholar or a theologian. He knew nothing about the temple worship, the Levitical Law, offerings and sacrifices. All those systems had overlooked him. None of them had been able to help. Now his eyes were opened! The questions were: How were your eyes opened? How did you get out of that mess? How did you get yourself together? Who opened your eyes? He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
It shocks me that no one celebrated with him. This is a miracle worth celebrating! They wanted to know, where is that Sabbath breaker?” Who is the one who would dare work on the Sabbath? How did he do it? All the man had was a testimony. Joh 9:24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." 25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."
They cast him out of the temple. Because they could not answer his argument, they cast him out. This miracle was officially investigated, the man’s parent were interrogated, and they were compelled to admit it was a miracle. They could not shake his testimony. As we struggle amid the many crisis of today, a pandemic that causing so much loss and pain, it is wonderful to know that God is still at work. Although, we cannot choose how the works of God should be manifested in your life. Nor can we choose the method God will use to supply the help we need. The good news is that God is still in charge. So, you don’t have to justify your testimony or your action. God may protect you wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing and with a vaccine. God may choose to heal your body naturally or supernaturally. It is a all for the glory of God. So, you don’t have to justify your testimony or your actions. Just give God to God!
