It's Called Faith

John 9:17-33

They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes" he said, "He is a prophet." But the Jews did not believe concerning him., that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight.

And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself."

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! we know that this Man is a sinner." He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."

Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples we know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." 

The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."


I'm certain this lengthy account of the blind man is long for one reason...it is important that God make a point about blindness and skepticism regarding eyes today being opened spiritually.

We see again the angst among the Jews. They had no answer for the miracle of a blind man's eyes being opened. They didn't want to hear or believe Jesus...who claimed to be the Son of God, or believe He could do this miracle. All they wanted was a scrap of evidence to accuse Him of sinning and blasphemy so they could do away with Him according to their understanding of the laws.

They just couldn't believe the blind man so they went to his parents who sent them back to the now seeing man. Aren't we like this sometimes? Skeptical of one's beliefs...especially when it comes to God? You say Jesus is the only way? Prove it. You say He is absolute truth? Prove it. You say only He brings eternal life? Prove that, too. What about my way? What about my beliefs? Why can't there be more than one way? 

It is a narrow road Jesus walks on. It's why this is in the Bible. We don't always want to be told this. I struggle with the thoughts I want to write. There seems to be a deep knowing or confidence/assurance in my belief that so go beyond the words I believe. I'm not trying to sound super spiritual. This happens when you come to Christ and know that you know the way, truth and life is through Jesus alone. It's called faith.

While we all know what faith is but here's the definition anyway: strong belief or trust in someone or something; belief in the existence of God; strong religious feelings or beliefs; a system of religious beliefs. We can have faith in things other than God, but that faith can surely fail. God will not.

Like the blind man said: "This is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!" I concur with this statement. I marvel at my knowing Christ. I marvel that He took me to a different place in my life, that He opened my spiritual eyes, that I might see Him for who He is, like the blind man. He's right here for all to see but not all do.

He loves, forgives, heals, sets free, encourages, supplies, protects. He is all we need. He is a wonder. Yet some have a hard time taking Him seriously. It is such a thrill to read His Word and know that He speaks to us through it. He commands, enlightens, rebukes, desires. He wants only that all know Him. His desire is that all should be saved. Look outside right now. You can see His glory. It's all around us. Sometimes we see but do not comprehend. Let this be the day your eyes are opened.

Matthew 13:14-15 - And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 

hearing you will hear and shall not understand,

and seeing you will see and not perceive.

For the hearts of this people have grown dull. 

Their ears are hard of hearing, 

and their eyes they have closed, 

lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, 

lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, 

so that I should heal them.

But Now I See

Isaiah 42:7 - ...to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

I was reading an article about paradigm shifts, those "ah-ha" moments, epiphanies, or going from blindness to sight. For the entire excellent article read it here.

Everyone has had them. A paradigm shift  is a moment when something suddenly makes total sense or what appears to be a new thought, new truth, becomes oh, so clear. As the writer pointed out its when the light bulb goes on in your head. Like you see something for the first time.

I've always considered myself a slow learner. In a new job I might have to be told several times how a certain aspect of my responsibility worked. Then one day, Oh, now I get it, now I see, and from then on everything fell neatly into place. 

The most gratifying, freeing and exciting eye-opening experience for me came several years ago. The words to the song Amazing Grace became so crystal clear where previously it was just a beautiful song that evoked a tear because of its beautiful melody. What I viewed as wrong was now so right. What I so struggled against was now something to embrace. My arrogance turned into humility and it was not difficult at all. Truth was revealed and it was the most amazing truth.

This experience is the in-your-face meeting with Jesus Christ. When He becomes more than just Someone you've read or heard about, but becomes alive in your spirit, you've just had that epiphany. What was impossible to understand and often rejected now made me reel with understanding. Jesus lives in me; He's alive; I hear His voice; He will never leave me or forsake me. I still shake my head sometimes to think He loved a sinner such as I.

Jesus wants me to be in a close and personal relationship with Him, the living God. He wants me! What is so amazing, besides the grace He offers, is how the Bible then becomes as alive as our Lord. The Bible is alive...because it is the inerrant Word of God and the very Jesus Christ about whom it is written. Jesus is the Word. In the beginning was the Word...(John 1:1).

Ah ha! In the beginning...even before time began...Jesus existed. He wasn't just with God, He was God. Still is. His resurrection proves that He still exists. He's still alive, as is His written Word. And in His Word He tells us He wants us to be in relationship with Him. How? Romans 10:9 tells us: if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Wrap your heads around this. What a paradigm shift it can become.

This understanding is there for anyone. That feel-good, heart thumping moment is obtainable. But don’t get me wrong, it's so much more than a feeling. It's far greater than any other experience one can have because it is the most important experience one can obtain. That true, intimate relationship with the One who died for you, the One who brings you true life in His name, the One who so wants intimacy with you. He is the One who holds the key to heaven for you, who's waiting for your acceptance of Him. The One who ...has made everything beautiful in its time...and has put eternity in our hearts... (Ecclesiastes 3:11). That means even when we are not aware of what that nagging feeling that something is missing in our lives, that unsatisfied feeling that will not go away, is, He is calling us into a knowing of Him, a relationship so deep.

I cannot do anymore than tell you how to experience this. It comes from earnestly seeking Him and asking for that "ah-ha" Jesus moment to invade your heart, mind and spirit. He will know the intent of your heart and if that intent is honest, He will reveal Himself like never before.  Be open to hear that still small voice that tells you .. Isaiah 30:21

Isaiah 42:16 - I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.