TEXT:

‘One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see’ – John 9:25

THOUGHT:

In a previous Today’s Teaching, this miracle was looked at in more depth.      http://box2340.temp.domains/~recovfz7/parents-what-are-you-saying/

This teaching concentrates on four things that were opened.

• Opened Eyes

It is very interesting to see Jesus doing the same miracle in different ways. Blind Bartimaeus received his sight as Jesus spoke to him. This man had clay smeared on his eyes and was told to go and wash it off in the pool of Siloam. John Chapter 8 gives an insight as to why Jesus did it this way. The Jews threatened to stone Jesus and another miracle would only aggravate things, so by the time the blind man returned with perfect eyesight, Jesus was long gone. To get your miracle it is so important to be obedient to God’s voice. This man could have argued with Jesus, “I want to be healed in the same way as Bartimaeus was. Why don’t you just speak out my healing?” Instead he allowed Jesus to do it His way and his obedience was rewarded with perfect sight!

• Opened Mouth

This miracle produced a stir. First the crowd did not believe that this was the same blind man. New eyes would certainly have changed his facial appearance. Then he was interrogated by the Pharisees who hated everything Jesus was doing. It would have been very easy for this man to have kept quiet. He could have thought, “It looks like Jesus is public enemy No 1. I could get into trouble if I say He healed me.” After all, that is exactly what his parents did. Too scared to say who had healed their son, they avoided the issue saying, “He is old enough, ask him!” How sad when fear stops us talking about Jesus. But not this man! He wanted everyone to know that firstly, Jesus had healed him. And secondly, to do something that had never before been done, meant Jesus had to have come from God. Are you keeping quiet about what Jesus has done in your life? It is time for you to open your mouth!

• Opened Door

The healed man testified about Jesus so much that in a fury the Pharisees excommunicated him. He was shown the open door! This had serious consequences, for there were no other churches to go to, unlike today. It meant losing his place of worship, family, friends and livelihood. Yet something inside of him said, “I have had such a real experience, such a wonderful miracle, I must speak up about Jesus.” It is a tragedy when Christians are so silent. They fear being laughed at, even ostracised by society if they dare to mention His name. They fear the consequences, but it is better in the long run to speak out, even if they do show you the open door. Make a decision now never to allow an opportunity to speak about Jesus pass you by.

• Opened Heart

When Jesus heard that the man had been excommunicated, He went looking for him. He asked him this question, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”  All he could reply was, “Who is He Lord that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said, “The One you are looking at and is talking to you.” Seeing for the very first time the One who had healed him, all he could say was, “Lord I believe” and he worshipped. Now his heart was truly open to God.

Jesus wants to ask each one of us the same question, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” It is not about which church you attend, what denomination you are part of, but is your faith in a personal Saviour? It is with the heart we believe and then we can speak it out to tell others. Jesus was thrilled when Peter, in response to the same question said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Is that your response?