Pam Padgett ... teacher
While reading in John 9 today, it stood out to me how simple the ways of God are, and the turmoil and trouble that are introduced when man gets involved by the flesh ... not led by the Spirit of God.
Jesus was passing by when he saw the blind man.
John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
After answering the question asked by His disciples, Jesus spat on the ground to make some clay, put the clay on the blind man's eyes, and told the man to simply go and wash in the pool of Siloam.
John 9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
When the blind man did as Jesus instructed, he received his sight.
What an amazing thing for a man who had been blind all of his life to receive his sight. Such an example of the mercy and power of God !
But those who saw that the blind man could now see started trying to explain what they saw by their own minds ...
John 9:8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
The man who had previously been blind told them very simply and clearly what had happened.
John 9:11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
The man was then taken to the Pharisees, who also tried to judge the situation by the flesh and missed the miracle from God that had been done. They did not believe what the blind man told them, and called his parents to ask them what had happened. Even though his parents feared the Jews, the man who had been blind continued to speak the truth about how he had received his sight. The Pharisees reviled him, and finally cast him out. (John 9:13-34)
After these things, Jesus found the man and revealed that He (Jesus) is the Son of God. Not only was the blind man given physical sight, but Jesus also revealed the truth about Himself, giving the man the opportunity to believe in Him.
John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
The blind man simply heard what Jesus told him to do ... did as instructed ... and then spoke of that.
So it is with us. We simply hear what God instructs us to do, try to do that, and then share those things. And we need to do these things regardless of what others may say, or what the devil may whisper in our ears, to the contrary.
As we continue to go forth in these things, God opens our eyes and ears to His truth, as He wills.
I'm reminded that Jesus said the following ...
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.