A Morning Cup of Tea: Jesus Heals a Blind Man

 Good morning! How are you this morning? Did you have a good weekend, a good Lord's day yesterday? My family and I did. We were able to attend worship yesterday morning, and came home to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. The only mar on the day was hearing of so many who died or otherwise were affected by the tornadoes and storms. We must keep them in prayer, and if we can, do something for the ones who remain. I just wish I knew what to do.
  Today we are reading chapter 9 of John.  Jesus and his disciples encountered a blind man. The disciples wanted to know why the man was born blind; was it he that sinned, or his parents had sinned badly enough to cause it to be so (v2)?  Even today I hear some who believe that if a mother does or says something, the baby will suffer for it. For example, a woman mocks a mentally slow person. Her baby will be born mentally challenged. I don't believe there is a correlation between the lack of education and/or empathy of the mother and the child being born with a disability. I do believe that the sins of the mother will affect the child if she drinks alcohol or is a drug user during pregnancy. 
  Jesus told the disciples that it wasn't anyone's sin that caused the man to be blind, but rather it was an opportunity to show the works of God. He further stated in verse four and five : 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.
  Jesus gave us a powerful lesson just in those two verses alone. We should follow his example and do the works of the Father while we are here. 
  Jesus spit on the ground and made clay which he placed on the blind man's eyes. He then told him to go and wash in the waters of Siloam (an act of obedience). The man did as he was told, and came back seeing. Those who knew the man were astonished that he could see now. Some weren't sure if it was really him or someone who merely looked like the man they knew. But he assured them it was really him, and now he could see. They asked him about this and he told them what Jesus did, but when they asked where Jesus was, he did not know.
  The man was taken to the Pharisees where he told his story once again. The Pharisees weren't very happy because Jesus dared to heal a man on the Sabbath. But this train of thought divided them. Some insisted that Jesus was not of God because he did not keep the Sabbath, while others did not think that a sinner could heal. So they asked the man what he thought of Jesus, and he replied, He is a prophet (v 17)
   Some did not believe that this man had been born blind so they called in his parents. The parents identified him as their son, who indeed had been born blind. How he came to see they did not know. They insisted that he was an adult, so listen to what he had to say on the matter.  They said this not only because once you are of age you should take responsibility for your own life, but because they were afraid of the Pharisees. The Pharisees would throw out of the temple anyone who confessed that Jesus was the Christ. (v22)
  The Pharisees spoke again with the man who could now see. They insisted that Jesus was a sinner, so God should be given the praise for his healing. The man said sinner or no, Jesus did heal me. The man reminded the Jews that God does not hear sinners, but those who do his will. If Jesus was not of God, he could do nothing.
  And the Pharisee's reaction to this? Indignance. This man is born a sinner and he dares to teach us?? How dare he! And he was put out of the temple.  Jesus heard the man had been put out of the temple and came to speak with him. He asked him if he believed on the Son of God. The man answered, who is the Son of God that I may believe on him? Jesus told him that he himself was the Son, and the man confessed that he believed and worshiped him.
  39. And Jesus said, For judgement I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and they which see might be made blind.
 40. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
 41. Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
  What he is speaking of here is spiritual sight. We all sin, but those whose eyes are opened to sin and realize it, therefore renouncing the sin, and believing on Christ, are healed. If you see and do nothing, you will still be in sin.
  Have a great day.   
   
 

 Good morning! How are you this morning? Did you have a good weekend, a good Lord's day yesterday? My family and I did. We were able to attend worship yesterday morning, and came home to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. The only mar on the day was hearing of so many who died or otherwise were affected by the tornadoes and storms. We must keep them in prayer, and if we can, do something for the ones who remain. I just wish I knew what to do.
  Today we are reading chapter 9 of John.  Jesus and his disciples encountered a blind man. The disciples wanted to know why the man was born blind; was it he that sinned, or his parents had sinned badly enough to cause it to be so (v2)?  Even today I hear some who believe that if a mother does or says something, the baby will suffer for it. For example, a woman mocks a mentally slow person. Her baby will be born mentally challenged. I don't believe there is a correlation between the lack of education and/or empathy of the mother and the child being born with a disability. I do believe that the sins of the mother will affect the child if she drinks alcohol or is a drug user during pregnancy. 
  Jesus told the disciples that it wasn't anyone's sin that caused the man to be blind, but rather it was an opportunity to show the works of God. He further stated in verse four and five : 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.
  Jesus gave us a powerful lesson just in those two verses alone. We should follow his example and do the works of the Father while we are here. 
  Jesus spit on the ground and made clay which he placed on the blind man's eyes. He then told him to go and wash in the waters of Siloam (an act of obedience). The man did as he was told, and came back seeing. Those who knew the man were astonished that he could see now. Some weren't sure if it was really him or someone who merely looked like the man they knew. But he assured them it was really him, and now he could see. They asked him about this and he told them what Jesus did, but when they asked where Jesus was, he did not know.
  The man was taken to the Pharisees where he told his story once again. The Pharisees weren't very happy because Jesus dared to heal a man on the Sabbath. But this train of thought divided them. Some insisted that Jesus was not of God because he did not keep the Sabbath, while others did not think that a sinner could heal. So they asked the man what he thought of Jesus, and he replied, He is a prophet (v 17)
   Some did not believe that this man had been born blind so they called in his parents. The parents identified him as their son, who indeed had been born blind. How he came to see they did not know. They insisted that he was an adult, so listen to what he had to say on the matter.  They said this not only because once you are of age you should take responsibility for your own life, but because they were afraid of the Pharisees. The Pharisees would throw out of the temple anyone who confessed that Jesus was the Christ. (v22)
  The Pharisees spoke again with the man who could now see. They insisted that Jesus was a sinner, so God should be given the praise for his healing. The man said sinner or no, Jesus did heal me. The man reminded the Jews that God does not hear sinners, but those who do his will. If Jesus was not of God, he could do nothing.
  And the Pharisee's reaction to this? Indignance. This man is born a sinner and he dares to teach us?? How dare he! And he was put out of the temple.  Jesus heard the man had been put out of the temple and came to speak with him. He asked him if he believed on the Son of God. The man answered, who is the Son of God that I may believe on him? Jesus told him that he himself was the Son, and the man confessed that he believed and worshiped him.
  39. And Jesus said, For judgement I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and they which see might be made blind.
 40. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
 41. Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
  What he is speaking of here is spiritual sight. We all sin, but those whose eyes are opened to sin and realize it, therefore renouncing the sin, and believing on Christ, are healed. If you see and do nothing, you will still be in sin.
  Have a great day.