Daily Devotions
John
A word of comfort
Text: John 9 : 10-41
A WORD OF COMFORT
What a full day the former blind man had! Imagine being blind all his life, then in just one day, he experienced so many dramatic and significant events!
1. Turned in by neighbours
His neighbours turned him in and sent him to the Pharisees (John 9:13). If one had neighbours like that, who needs enemies?
2. Interrogated by the Jews
As it turned out, the Pharisees interrogated him on two separate occasions (John 9:13-34). He had also seen how the Jews treated his bewildered and frightened parents (John 9:18-23). He knew that his parents were too frightened of the Jews to help him. That was all right. He could defend himself. He would give a good account of himself if the Jews wanted to battle with him.
3. Cast out by the Jews
The Jews finally decided that enough was enough. They were getting nowhere. The former blind man would not be able to contribute much to their community anyway, for he had been a lowly beggar all his life. They might as well excommunicate him!
All these things happened in just one day! That must have been quite a day for the former blind man. Nobody would blame him if he felt a little bit “down” at the end of the day!
A WORD OF COMFORT
At that point of time, Jesus caught up with him.
“Jesus heard that they had cast him out;
and when He had found him, He said to him,
‘Do you believe in the Son of God?'”
John 9:35
Where could an outcast go? Healed and then cast out all in the same day! Would he have preferred to remain blind and part of that old community? What did it mean when a person is cast out? To be “cast out” is to be excommunicated from the synagogue. There were severe repercussions. It meant that he would virtually have to leave the village. His parents had already shown that they did not have the courage to stand up for their son. They feared to associate too closely with their own son, lest they too were cast out.
Excommunication meant that neighbours (“friends”) would not dare to lend a hand to help you, for fear they too might suffer the same fate. Ostracism was a difficult thing to handle, unless you were really strong, and you did not mind standing alone! The former blind man chose the path of faith!
At that point of time, Jesus came up to him and spoke to him. The blind man had heard that distinctive voice once before. He had also felt the hands that spoke a beautiful and tender language. Now he could match both Face and Voice.
This was the Man the Jews had deemed a wretched sinner. They had tried to run Him down with every false argument they could muster! He had stood up for this Man? Who was He that the former blind man had defended so strenuously that he lost his family and home? He had half guessed that Jesus was a Prophet already and had stated as much! Was He a prophet? Had He come to speak to him and teach him as a prophet of God! What a joy that would be! What comfort he drew from His words and His voice!
BELIEF IN THE SON OF GOD
The words of this Prophet seemed extra special. His words were simple and yet they seemed so deep too! What did He say? What was the question He raised? Did he believe in the Son of God?
Was this Prophet speaking in typical deep language all prophets seemed to know? The ancient prophets all seemed to be able to speak a profound high language that was difficult to fathom?
The former blind man had spoken in a mocking tone when he debated with the Jews. But as he spoke to Jesus, he found himself speaking in a humble and gentle voice. Somehow, he instinctively recognized the power and authority that Jesus possessed. Thus quietly, he said,
“Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”
John 9:36
Was Jesus asking if he had faith to believe? Yes, he had believed in the Man who put clay on his eyes. He had listened to that voice and obeyed Him. Yes, He was capable of faith.
What he lacked was content. What he needed was knowledge. Would Jesus teach him about the Son of God? He could never learn from the Jews. He had not taken well to their haughty ways. But he could learn from this Man who had healed him. He could even own him as “Lord”.
Gently, Jesus said,
“You have both seen Him and it is He
who is talking with you.”
John 9:37
But of course, this Man was none other than the Son of God. He did not know enough to put his finger at identifying Jesus to the Pharisees as the Son of God. He had defended Him as a Prophet of God. He had spoken of Him as a Man sent from God. He had argued that He was a man whose prayers God heard. But those statements were not enough, were they? Of course not! Now he knew! The Man who healed him and gave him sight, was not just an ordinary prophet! He was the Son of God himself. Could he believe that? Happily the man responded and cried out.
“‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshipped Him.”
John 9:38