What a thing of joy to not only see physically but spiritually. 

The Blind man's controversy (part 6-the conclusion)

Bible Texts (Concordant Version of the Old Testament and Concordant Literal New Testament with keywords Concordance (Main text: John 9:35-41; Isaiah 65:1)

35 Jesus hears that they cast him out, and, finding him, said to him, "Are you believing in the Son of Mankind?"
36 He answered and said, "And Who is He, Lord, that I should be believing in Him?"
37 Now Jesus said to him, "You have also seen Him, and He Who is speaking with you is He."
38 Now he averred, "I am believing, Lord!" And he worships Him.
39 And Jesus said, "For judgment came I into this world, that those who are not observing may be observing, and those observing may be becoming blind."
40 And those of the Pharisees who are with Him hear these things, and they said to Him, "Not we also are blind?"
41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have had no sin. Yet now you are saying that 'We are observing.' Your sin, then, is remaining.

Last week’s blog ended with the bad news for the former blindman as he was expelled out of the church. The Pharisees and Sadducees could not fathom the miracle the former blindman had received. They were angrier because the former blindman referred to Yeshua not only as a Prophet but a man that God listens to. These Jew religion leaders believed that all roads should lead to them. They believed that since they were the followers of Moses, nobody could supersede them. They believe no one should reach Yahweh but through them because they defend Moses’ laws given to them through God.

The news of the a former blindman cast out of church for his faith spread all over the vicinity of the church. Yeshua also heard this terrible news. He found the man to comfort him. You may be wondering why Yeshua should care much for this former blindman. Sincerely, why should Yeshua care? Does he not have something else to do? Afterall, he had healed this former blindman of his blindness.

Psychological problem:

This former blindman was facing psychological problem. A graving torment from the supposedly representatives of Yahweh. He believed God had healed him through a man that was passing on the street while he was begging for alms due to his blindness. The unknown man healed him and he was able to see. He had no physical identity of this generous man but he perceived him to be a prophet. He expected the Jew religion leaders to understand that a prophet might be a healer. So, this generous man could have been sent of God to heal him. As easy as one may have thought, the Jew religion leaders perceived this generous man to be a sinner. They went as far as expelling whoever called Yeshua a prophet or a messenger of Yahweh from their church/synagogue. In fear of being expelled, the former blindman’s parents could not declare Yeshua’s miracle. They were afraid to say what they perceived about Yeshua. Not just these people, other people that witnessed this huge miracle were silenced from declaring the glory of Yahweh’s mercy on the former blindman. Many a time, some religion leaders have placed curse (secretly or openly) on their member who received miracle from Yahweh but not directly from them. Yeshua is our Mediator but some church leaders have taken this position. This is a pure madness.

The former blindman was perplexed at aftermath of his healing. Should the church leaders be mad at him to the extent of chasing him out of the church? The generous man that healed him was not yet known to this former blindman. Obviously, this former blindman needed a direction. The Pharisees and Sadducees that he highly esteemed had disappointed him. This man did not recognize the generous man that healed him. This is why Yeshua had to revealed himself to him for clarification and direction.

 

Yeshua’s intervention:

Yeshua did not reveal himself to the former blindman as a great and majesty person. He simply referred himself as a Son of Mankind. What does that mean? It means he introduced himself to the former blindman as an ordinary man. A typical human being. What a humble introduction. I expected Yeshua to say that he was the Son of Yahweh. No, he did not hype himself. He was very humble at his introduction. He simply asked the former blindman if he would believe the Son of Mankind. The former blindman had no clue of what Yeshua was saying. More so, he had nothing to lose. Afterall, he had been cast out of the church. He could no longer attend the place of worship because he declared Yeshua to be a prophet and not a sinner. These declarations contradicted the Jew religion leaders' theology/belief.

So, he had to believe in something. This is why Yeshua found him. Up till that moment, the former blindman did not know that it was Yeshua that opened his eyes until Yeshua told him by himself. So, the former blindman confessed with his mouth that he believed the Son of Mankind. Faith is given by Yahweh to humans. We do not generate it by our own means. This former blindman was brought to Yeshua to believe and confess him as the Son of Mankind. Nobody forced or coerced him to do so. This further established that nobody can come to know Christ except Yahweh brings such to him (John 6:44).

The Pharisees heard the reason Yeshua came into this world. He came to make those who believed they are serving God with their might religiously become spiritually blind while those who appear to be far from God see the truth about Yahweh.  These almighty religion leaders forget that spiritual intuition supersedes religion fanaticism. No wonder, Yeshua mentioned it in Matthew 20:16 that the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first. The people mostly regarded as leaders in places of worship may be the least or nobody before Yeshua and the host of heaven. This would lead me to discuss with you one important issue in the book of Zechariah next week, God willing.

 

Spiritual intuition vs Religion fanaticism:

Spiritual sight is priceless! Religion only decorates you. It also makes you popular and powerful. Religion is not acceptable before Yahweh and his son, Yeshua. Spirituality is key. One of the spiritual fruits is faith. It can only be given to you by Yahweh (Galatians 5:22). Religion cannot acquire you this fruit. This is why the Jew leaders could not see. Yeshua had already judged them for this reason and they still did not realize what they are missing because they are spiritually blind! The former blindman was able to perceive Yeshua but the Jew religion leaders lacked the spiritual eyes to decipher him. What a shame. Isaiah 65:1 says, “I let Myself be inquired of by those who did not ask for Me, I am found by those who did not seek Me; I say, Behold Me! Behold Me! to a nation that has not called on My Name” If Yahweh does this, it means he only reveals himself to whoever he wants. Forcing oneself to know him is like being a religion fanatic that observes everything written in the scriptures but still do not know him. Once again, spirituality supersedes religion fanaticism. If Yahweh does not bring you to his son (Yeshua) according to John 6:44, you can only keep keeping religion activities without knowing him. You may even be in the school of thought that you know him but seriously, you have not. 

In conclusion, leaving church does not mean leaving God. May be you should be reminded of this truth. This former blindman learnt this from his encounter with Yeshua according to the scripture discussed with you today. He was free from religion entanglements because he had found out the truth.

This is the conclusion of the 6 week’s blogs on this wonderful topic.

I hope this week’s blog has blessed you.

Grace and Peace!

 

 

 

 

 

References:

https://www.concordant.org/version/read-concordant-old-testament-online/the-book-of-isaiah/

https://www.concordant.org/version/read-concordant-new-testament-online/04-john/

https://freebibleimages.org/illustrations/jesus-blind-man/