Is it You?
ATP Blog #64 Gospel of John
Is it you?
John 9:8-12
Our minds play such tricks on us. When you do not see someone for several years, you expect to see them exactly how you left them, and yet they have changed. Physical appearance changes over time (especially with infants), and character changes as well. We also can be very skeptical of miracles. It is as if we think they are regulated to Bible times only. You know that God works, and have seen it in your own life, yet when God does something miraculous or spectacular in someone else’s life, we are very skeptical. It is good to be discerning, but we need to start learning to expect the unexpected from God … we need to start believing He is who He says He is.
The man in our passage was blind from birth (John 9:1), thus all his acquaintances knew him in this way, and expected him to always be this way. His condition caused the man to live a life of begging for provision. When Jesus gave him opportunity to be healed, it changed his life (John 9:6-7). The man took the opportunity, and washed as was instructed. He came back to the temple seeing. Since he could not see before, and Jesus had not really introduced himself to the man, this man who was formerly blind had no idea who had healed him. The only clues were the voice, and that His followers called Him ‘Rabbi’ which is teacher (John 9:2).
There arose an argument in the temple courts, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said that he is, while others denied it, saying that he was a doppelganger (just like the man – John 9:8-9). Why was this a big issue? To be blind because of a condition, and then be healed was quite the miracle, but to be healed of blindness that has been there since birth, was something only someone from God could do! It was unheard of! So, the people did the logical thing: they asked the man who had healed him. His answer demonstrated a lack of knowledge, but an act of great faith. ‘The man called Jesus made mud, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and received my sight.’ It seems that he had very little, if any, knowledge of who Jesus was, so he just stated the facts.
Fact #1: I am the man who was blind from birth.
Fact #2: A man named Jesus put mud on my eyes and told me to was in the pool.
Fact #3: After washing, I received my sight.
These three facts were the man’s testimony of dramatic life change, and were indisputable. He gives us a good example of how we should be sharing our testimonies of God’s working. When you share the indisputable facts of God’s work in your life, people will notice the changes that this work has done, and will possibly be drawn to God.
Fact #1: You are a sinner from birth, and cannot do anything about it on your own.
Fact #2: A man named Jesus paid the price for your sins, and offers forgiveness.
Fact #3: Upon acceptance of the gift, and sub
mission to Him, you receive eternal life!
Those who accept the gift of salvation that God offers through Jesus Christ, see dramatic change in their lives. We now have the power to say no to sin. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) becomes evident in our lives. In obedience to the instructions given to us (Matthew 28:18-20) we become baptized, and seek to make disciples, teaching others to live God’s way, as empowered by the Holy Spirit.
May the testimony of this man who was blind from birth, yet received his sight, become motivation for you to share your testimony of God has worked in your life, often in miraculous ways.