October 24, 2017. John 9:1-10:21.

 

 

Oh man! Buckle up because this passage is jam-packed with some real good stuff.  There is so much truth to be learned from this story, but for word-count’s sake let us just focus on the highlights.

- Others will always be quick to point out your struggles and judge you for them.

Have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do?  Or felt judgment from others for something you can’t control?  The blind man in today’s passage faced the same struggles, and from Jesus’ own disciples.

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:1-2)

- God uses what you might consider your curse, to His glory.

But here was Jesus’ response and that part that will give you shivers:

3 said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:3)

- God is more powerful than even your greatest insecurity, but you have to trust Him with those insecurities.

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”. So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. (John 9:6-7)

Do you think Jesus could have given this man his sight back just by saying so?  Then why would he chose to use mud and saliva and tell the man to go and wash?  Whatever the reason was, the blind man had to have faith that in doing so he would receive his sight.  It is not always easy to give someone control of your biggest struggles.  In our world we are taught to mask our flaws and struggles and hide them, but when you hand them over to God He can use them from His glory.  

If that doesn’t bring you some stinkin’ joy today, you need to reread this passage!  God wants to use even those parts of you that other’s judge you negatively for, for His honor and glory.  Trust that the God of the universe can transform your life in ways you could never even imagine, because you can be sure that blind man never thought in his wildest dreams he would ever be able to see.