Believing is Seeing. John 9:1-41
DAY 1-2 - A man born blind John 9:1-41 is a passage on "Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind." Jesus heals this blind man through supernatural healing. There are many types of healing: a. Natural healing. Our body has an immunization system and a recovery system. Therefore, it can heal itself. b. Medical healing. The advancement of medical technology provides a capability to provide healing from illness. c. Psychological healing. We know that psychological problems can lead to physical illness. Taking care of the psychological problems will also cure the physical illness. d. Supernatural healing. God miraculously and in his sovereignty chooses to heal an illness. Now, in the passage before this, we see that Jesus was just out from a situation where the Jews picked up stones to stone him because He claimed that He is the Light and He is God. In John 8, it is stated that Jesus hid himself and slipped away from the crowd that wants to stone him. Now, during this intense time when he is trying to get away, he notices a blind man at the side road. Jesus always has the time to incorporate a divine appointment, even at the point of death. In this passage, we see that Jesus is slipping away from the people that want to stone him, yet he still has the TIME to notice a blind man at the side road and he took the opportunity to minister to him. Even when Jesus is dying on the cross, he takes the time to minister to the people that are on the cross with him. Jesus is always available and extendable for a divine appointment. Now, how about you? Do you have the time and able to make the time for a divine appointment, even when life is so busy and so full of other problems and excitements? Are you available and extendable to be used by God?
DAY 3 - The theological question and the cure After Jesus saw this man that was born blind, his disciples asked the important theological question: "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9: 2) "At the time of Christ, there is a believe that every suffering is caused by sin. Therefore, the fact that this man is blind, someone must have sinned. Now, since he was born blind, his blindness could be due to his parent's sins. But at that time, there is also a belief on "prenatal sin," that is; a child can commit sin while the child is still in the womb. So, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? There are many causes of suffering in this world: a. People can suffer due to the parent's sin. For example: addicted babies. The parent's sin DIRECTLY causes the suffering of their children. b. People can suffer due to the ungodly influence of the parents. Ungodly parents INFLUENCE their children to be ungodly. Though the influence of parents is great in their children's lives, by God's grace it is possible to have godly children from ungodly parents. c. Children can suffer due to their own sins. d. Finally, suffering can also be caused by a divine purpose. In John 9:2-3, Jesus stated, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." Yes, some people went through hard times and various sufferings for the glory of God. After Jesus answered the theological questions, then Jesus cure the blind man. This supernatural healing creates many attentions from the crowd. Many people including the Jews heard the testimony from this blind man. This man goes around the whole village telling everybody that he has been healed. God is glorified and the work of God is displayed in his life.
DAY 4 - The conflict and controversy Any time the work of God is displayed, then conflicts and controversy follows. In this case, the following conflicts and controversies happens: (i) The miracle does not happen, because this is not the same man. * John 9:9, "No, he only looks like the man that was born blind." (ii) The miracle does not happen, because this man is lying (i.e., doubting the testimony of the man) * John 9:10 "How then were your eyes opened? Where is the man that heals you?" * John 9:18 "The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind so they sent for the man's parents. (iii) Someone that is not sent from God (i.e., power of darkness) performs the miracle * John 9:13 "They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind" * John 9:16 "The man that heals you is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath. He is a sinner." (iv) The plain rejection of the miracle * John 9:22 "Even the parents were afraid of the Jews for anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue." * John 9:34 "Finally, the Jews threw the blind man out." Do these conflicts and controversy sound familiar? Is this how most people react to the miraculous work of God? Are this how you reacting to the work of God? If you can believe that there is a God, then there should not any problem believe in the supernatural display of the work and power of God.
DAY 5 - The TESTIMONY Inspite of the conflict and the controversy when the work of God is displayed, the testimony just simply grew stronger and stronger. Let us examine how the testimony of the man born blind grows. * John 9:11 "The MAN they call Jesus ... healed me." At first, he can only testify that Jesus is a MAN. * John 9:17 "He is a PROPHET." Later, his testimony grew stronger by testifying that Jesus is a PROPHET. * John 9:25 "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see." Later, his testimony grew even stronger. He testifies that Jesus is able to PERFORM miracles. * John 9:30 "You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man is not from God, he can do nothing." Finally, he testifies that Jesus must be from God and doing God's will, otherwise Jesus will not be able to do anything. How strong is our testimony? Following Christ do require sacrifices. There is a COST in following Christ, but the cost of NOT following Christ is much bigger. The cost of not following Christ means spiritual blindness that leads to eternal death. It also means a life on earth that has no meaning, that is in vain, that only goes in circle without any love, joy, fulfillment and abundance. Will you choose to follow or not to follow Christ?
Disclaimer This material is a summary of the message that was preached by Pastor Jack Graham at Prestonwood Baptist Church. The writer of this EBS (Electronic Bible Study) made some changes and added some personal notes that is necessary to customize this material into an electronic media, a daily reading material and to better fit the audience. The Prestonwood Baptist Church is not affiliated in anyway with the Indonesian Christian Fellowship of Fort Worth.