Hear and React
Focus Text: John 9: 1-7 (NIV)
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ”Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.” So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
Stop Here and Reflect Before Reading Ahead
Okay so let me set this picture up. Pretend you are a blind man. You have never seen anything- seriously, nothing, you were born blind. You do not even know what your own face looks like. One day as you are going about your business, a man walks up to you. His name is Jesus and you can tell by the noise of the crowd he is being followed by many people.
In Jesus’ time, it was believed that if someone was handicapped that they or their parents had sinned. That is why the disciples questioned whether he or his parents had sinned. Jesus told them that the man was born blind so that the work of God could shine through him. Then Jesus leaned down and spat in the dirt. He took the mud in His hands and placed it on the blind man’s eyes. I do not know about you, but if a man just put mud on my face I would explode. But the blind man did not freak out. He simply waited for Jesus to speak. Jesus told the man, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.”
Now the blind man had a tough choice to make. Would he go and do as Jesus commanded; or would he just go home, wash off the mud, and get on with life? The man made the right choice—went and washed—and to his amazement—came back seeing.
In doing this miracle, Jesus rocked that blind man’s world. But we must realize that it took some effort on the blind man’s part as well. ”What effort?” Well I am glad you ask. It says in verse seven that “the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” You see, the blind man had to have enough faith to go to the pool. When he got to the pool, he had to act upon Jesus’ command. When he did, he was rewarded with his sight. The formerly blind man submitted to Jesus’ authority and was radically changed.
This story reminds me of a simpler time, not so long ago. (Actually it was like last year, but you can use your imagination.) Usually when it comes time for a large test, a teacher will have mercy on their students’ souls and will give a study sheet. This study sheet is like Jesus telling the blind man to go wash. The study sheet for the test has all the information that we could need, but we have to study it and learn the material. Jesus gave the blind man all the tools to be healed; the man just had to act upon Jesus’ words . . . and he was sure glad he did.
We, as believers, are also commanded by Jesus to go. Just as the blind man, when Jesus tells us something to do, we can choose to do it. The blind man could have simply gone to his house and remained blind, but he trusted Jesus and was changed forever. As Christ followers, we also must go and do His work. Then and only then will see His awesome, supernatural power. He probably will not ask us to go wash in a pool, but He has commanded us to go.
I am going to do His work, you should come too . . . you never know what might happen.
