HE HATH OPENED MINE EYES
Friday – May 10, 2019, Iyar 5, 5779
Greetings dear brothers and sisters in Christ and welcome back to this illuminating Bible Study of the Book of John. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment and hit the “like” and “share” buttons to expand the reach of this ministry. The featured pictures this week have been Texas themed. I recently returned to Maine from a Texas vacation with my soon to be bride to visit with family and friends. It was the most outstanding trip I can remember. The picture today is of my soon to be bride (May 25), Donna, and I in a barge on the San Antonio Riverwalk. Now, let’s turn our attention to our Bible Study by first reading our primary text aloud.
John 9:28-34 (KJV)
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.
34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
As you will recall a man has been healed of physical blindness by Jesus on the Sabbath Day. Those present have no grasp of the Truth that the Father is the One doing the works. Jesus has made that clear but they cannot hear Him. As usual the Jews, the Pharisees, are having a natural conversation and Jesus a spiritual. Christ Jesus is the Anointed man named Jesus and He was led of the Spirit of God to this blind man. The blind man’s faith ignited the Anointing (Holy Spirit) and the blindness was cured, the man became whole concerning his eyes, his vision. I want to make a couple of points here. One is that we sing songs about a healing Jesus but if you read the Scripture Jesus was the vessel through which the Father, the Holy Spirit flowed doing the work. The very same Anointing which was on Jesus is also upon those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and endued with Power from on high. The word “Christ” in the Greek has three possible interpretations depending on the context of the text. Those three meanings are Messiah, Anointed One, and the Anointing. The first two refer to Jesus and the third to the Holy Spirit. You and I are Anointed (with deity, the Holy Spirit) ones when we have been born again, filled with the Holy Spirit (separate experience) and endued with Power from on high. Now let me ask a question that may drive the religious people nuts but here goes. Would it be accurate or inaccurate to refer to a person Anointed of the Holy Spirit as Christ (person’s name)? For example, would it be proper to call me Christ David? Now, once everyone is settled down, let’s get back to our primary text.
We see the Pharisees reviling this man who was healed rather than rejoicing with him. Hopefully, we can all agree this is indeed a remarkable thing, it is a very observable phenomena, the glory (manifested goodness of God for all to see) of God on full display. As we see at the end of our text for today, they cast him (the healed man) out of the Synagogue. This is no small event in that day for it could impact ones standing in the community and their livelihood. The religious leaders literally controlled people’s lives. This was not a loving relationship but a fear dominated with control by manipulation and ominous but very real threats. In verse thirty the healed man points out to them that this is a marvelous thing that has happened to him. The Pharisees are hung up on where He (Jesus) is from, that He is not part of their group, and certainly not operating according their protocols. Have you ever seen that among the leadership of a local Church or other Christian (religious) organization? As we go forward the healed man starts preaching which further infuriates this religious crowd, just like today.
He healed man points out that God does not hear sinners. That is to say that sinners do not have legal standing before God. However, worshippers of God and those who do the will of God are heard. He is telling this religious group directly and indirectly that this man (Jesus) is of God and they are not. The man points out to the Pharisees, what they almost certainly knew, which was that this had not happened before but this man (Jesus) had done it. Finally, he points out the obvious which is that if this man were not of God, He could do nothing (like the religious rulers). Now the rulers are enraged that he had the audacity to instruct or teach them or should I say try to teach them, try to bring light into their lives. Our passage ends with them, the religious rulers, the Pharisees, casting the man out. The story does not end there however, this is an injustice and our God is a God of justice.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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