Rebekah Wilson, Alpha Team
Rebekah Wilson 0:07
Welcome to Elmhurst CRC’s daily dose of the Word of God. Today is Tuesday, March 14th and this is Rebekah Wilson. This week we’re journeying with Jesus toward the cross, stumbling along with the blind man in John chapter 9 verses 13-23.
Rebekah Wilson 0:25
“They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. ‘He put mud on my eyes,’ the man replied, ‘and I washed, and now I see.’ Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others asked, ‘How can a sinner perform such signs?’ So they were divided. Then they turned again to the blind man, ‘What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ The man replied, ‘He is a prophet.’ They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. ‘Is this your son?’ They asked. ‘Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?’ ‘We know he is our son,’ the parents answered, ‘and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’”
Rebekah Wilson 1:48
Much of chapter 9 and 10 isn’t actually about the blind man, it’s an indictment of the religious leaders, the Pharisees. We get a glimpse at what life was like for the sheep that they were supposed to be shepherding, those in their flock who were supposed to be under their care. Instead of rejoicing and celebrating with this blind man, they question him and interrogate him. They even haul in his parents and interrogate them. But do the parents even feel comfortable telling them the truth? No! The text tells us that “they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had already decided the truth about Jesus’ true identity. Is this how we act? Have we already surmised how God will show up and what He’ll do? And so anyone who claims that He doesn’t fit our nicely packed idea of God, well they’re just wrong. Is God trying to do a new thing in your life and knock down the walls that you’ve confined Him to? Will you let Him? Will we have the faith to believe that He can open the eyes of the blind or do something else that has never been done before? I don’t know about you, but I need help with this, so let’s turn to God in prayer.
Rebekah Wilson 3:06
Lord, I’m afraid that I too often believe that I can explain how you act. I pray that you will do exceedingly more than I can ask or imagine, but I don’t really believe that you will. Forgive me. Forgive us when we act like these Pharisees. Forgive us when we miss the miracles happening right in front of our noses because we’re too busy worrying about if they fit the rules - rules that we’ve made up on our own. Lord, you are almighty and powerful and act in perfect accordance with your holy character. We praise you for the authority you have over all of this world. We love you and ask that you help us to trust you more this week in our lives. Amen.