Pam Padgett ... teacher
Jesus saw a man blind since birth and healed him. When the once-blind man was taken to the
Pharisees, they considered the situation based on their own thinking, not having wisdom from God.
The Pharisees said that Jesus couldn't be of God because He healed on the sabbath day ...
John 9:13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was
blind. 14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and
opened his eyes. 15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had
received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I
washed, and do see. 16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
When Jesus healed a man with a withered hand He explained that it is lawful to do well on sabbath days, showing God's judgment on the matter ...
Matthew 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand
withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the
sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What
man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall
into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it
out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is
lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
The Pharisees also accused Jesus of being a sinner. Although Jesus
healed the man by the power of God, the Pharisees didn't recognize this ...
John 9:24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
26 Then said they to him
again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered
them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye
hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him,
and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses 'disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous
thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine
eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a
worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the
world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that
was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
Then they accused the man born blind of having been born in sin, being blind because of sin ...
John 9:34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
But concerning this man, Jesus told His disciples that this man's blindness allowed the works of God to be manifest ...
John 9:2 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.
Reading this account, it stood out to me how wrong our own thinking can
be. We who have been born again and have the Holy Spirit are very fortunate that we can turn to God and ask for wisdom. We don't have to rely on our own ideas.
Paul warned us that we deceive ourselves if we think we are wise.
Rather, Paul counseled us to become a fool ... being as one who is
"empty headed", leaving behind our own wisdom ... that we might turn to
God and receive His wisdom in the matter we're dealing with.
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among
you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may
be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For
it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again,
The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
I'm also reminded that Jesus told us that of His own self He could do nothing. He waited to hear the Father's judgment ...
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge:
and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will
of the Father which hath sent me.
How much should we do this as well.