Christian Living

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

by paul hoffmaster
08/04/19
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The phrase, “Inquiring people want to know,” has so infiltrated the vocabulary of the Believer that there is more interest in the why of something, rather than seeing the possibility of God’s involvement.  One day, Jesus and His “apostle candidates” came upon a man who had been blind from birth.  The “students” immediately raised questions as to whose fault it was that the man was born blind.  They offered two possibilities; either the man was a sinner, or it was because of his parent’s sin. (How could they have thought he had sinned before he was even born?)  Why is it that Christians are so concerned about getting all the “rumored facts” rather than seeing what God could do in any given situation?  Jesus pointed out that it was not a question of sin, but an opportunity to display the work of God.  What a lesson for Believers today.  Instead of looking for explanations, let us look at every situation as an occasion to manifest the power of God.  Jesus knew that He had a limited time to “work the works of him that sent me.”  He saw every circumstance as an opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose.  As long as He was in the world, His light would dispel darkness.  When His earthly mission was accomplished, darkness would once again expose its evil. (John 9:1-5)  (It would not be until Pentecost that light was transferred to the Apostles and darkness would once again be under assault.)  One of the reasons darkness is so prevalent in our country today is because Believers are limiting their “light shining” to the confines of their churches instead of reaching out to their communities!

Jesus then illustrated His words with action.  He spit on the ground and formed clay into a paste.  He then took the clay and anointed the blind man’s eyes with it.  On another occasion, Jesus used His spittle to manifest the healing of a blind man. (Mark 8:23)  (I am surprised that today there is not a new movement called the “spitites.”)  Jesus told the blind man to go to the pool of Siloam and wash.  It is interesting to note that the blind man had not even asked for healing and yet Jesus initiated the encounter.  So many Believers are ready to pray when people request prayer, but fail to offer prayer when no request is made, even though the opportunity to manifest the work of God is present!  The Blind man went to the pool and washed out his eyes, and for the first time in his life, he could see!  He returned home and some of his neighbors were confused and questioned their own observation.  Some claimed that he looked like the blind man, others doubted, and finally, the healed man shouted out, “I am him.” (John 9:6-9)  When Jesus touches someone they become a different person.  They look at things for the first time and see what life is all about.  Their physical appearance has even changed. The people they used to hang out with have hung them out to dry.  Sadly, too many only have a cosmetic makeover, and when the first rain of problems comes, the façade falls off and exposes a different person then what they have been displaying.

It seems that Jesus did not wait around for the man to return from the pool.  Instead, He continued to fulfill God’s calling.  When the healed man was asked where the man called Jesus was, he simply told them he did not know.  The man was taken to the Pharisees where he was drilled about what actually happened.  Even his parents were summoned to verify that he was born blind.  His boldness before the religious leaders was something to behold! (John 9:13-33)  Unable to refute his testimony, they expelled him from the Synagogue.  Later, on the streets of Jerusalem, Jesus found him and opened his “blinded” heart to the Grace of God.  Let us learn that physical healing is not the central message of the Gospel, rather it is the spiritual rebirth that identifies the Gospel!