Living Words
"Living Words" is a weekly podcast that explores the transformative power of scripture across a diverse range of Biblical books, guided by insightful devotionals from the author's own works. Each episode seeks to deepen faith and understanding, connecting listeners with the enduring wisdom and relevance of the Bible in their daily lives.
Living Words
In His Footsteps Week 10: Healing the Man Born Blind
In this captivating episode of "Living Words Podcast," host Charles Vance delves into the stirring account of Jesus healing a man born blind, as detailed in John 9:1-41. The episode, part of the "In His Footsteps Devotional," offers not just a recitation but a profound exploration of the miracle's theological and symbolic dimensions.
Charles begins by setting the scene where Jesus, upon encountering a blind man, declares that his condition will serve to reveal the works of God. In a bold act defying Sabbath conventions, Jesus makes mud with saliva, anoints the man’s eyes, and commands him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man obeys and miraculously gains sight, sparking a spectrum of reactions from awe to skepticism among his neighbors and outright hostility from the Pharisees.
The episode highlights the stark contrast between the newly sighted man’s spiritual awakening and the Pharisees' persistent spiritual blindness, refusing to recognize Jesus’s divine authority despite the clear miracle. Charles skillfully discusses how Jesus's actions challenge rigid interpretations of the law and traditional views on sin and suffering, proposing that adversity can be a backdrop against which God’s glory is vividly displayed.
Adding depth to the narrative, Charles poses reflective questions to his listeners, encouraging them to consider their own spiritual sight and the role of Jesus as the "light of the world" in illuminating spiritual truths. He shares personal anecdotes and invites listeners to think about their own experiences with faith and opposition, enhancing the episode’s relatability.
Concluding with powerful prayers for spiritual sight, trust in God’s purposes, and boldness in testimony, Charles wraps up the episode with a blessing, hoping listeners carry forward the profound lessons of faith and enlightenment into their everyday lives. This episode is not just informative but transformative, aiming to shift perceptions and deepen understanding of Jesus’s teachings.
Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.
Good morning, happy Sabbath. I'm Charles Vance. I'm your host on this episode of Living Words Podcast and we are currently in week 10 of In His Footsteps Devotional. If you'd like a copy, you can find a link to it in the show notes. It's not necessary, because I'm going to be covering everything in the devotional during this podcast. The reading of the text for this week is John 9, 1 through 41. Reading from the King James Version.
Speaker 1:And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth and his disciples asked him saying Master, who did sin this, this man or his parents, that he was born blind. And jesus answered neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents, but that the works of god should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me. While it is day, the night cometh when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. And when he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay and he said unto him Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, which is, by interpretation, sent. He went his way, therefore, and washed and came seeing the neighbors. Therefore, and they, which before had seen him and he was blind, said is not this he? That sat and begged and some said this is he, others said he is like him, but he said I am he. Therefore, said they unto him how were thine eyes opened? And he answered and said day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. And then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight, and he said unto them he put clay in mine eyes and I washed and I did see. And therefore, said some of the Pharisees, this man is not of God because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said how can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them and they sent unto the blind man again what sayest thou of him? That he hath opened thine eyes? And he said he is a prophet.
Speaker 1:But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, and they asked him saying Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said we know that this is our son and that he was born blind, but by which means he now seeth, we know not. Or who hath opened his eyes, we know not. He is of age, ask him, he shall speak for himself. And these words spake the parents because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. And therefore said his parents he is of age, ask him.
Speaker 1:And then again called they the man that was blind and said unto him Give God the praise. We know that this man is a sinner. And he answered and said Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not, is a sinner. And he answered and said whether he be a sinner or no, I know not One thing. I know that whereas I was blind, now I see.
Speaker 1:And then they said to him again what did he to thee? How open he thine eyes. And he answered them I have told you already and you did not hear. Wherefore would you hear again? Will you also be his disciples?
Speaker 1:And they reviled him and said and we know that God spoke unto Moses. As for this fellow, we don't know from where he came. And the man answered and said unto them why, herein is a marvelous thing that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. And now we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God and doeth his will, him he heareth. And since the world began, was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind? If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. And they answered and said unto him Thou wast altogether born in sin and you teach us. And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out and when he found him he said unto him does thou believe on the son of God? And he answered and said who is he, lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him thou has both seen him and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, lord, I believe. And he worshiped him. And Jesus said for judgment, I am coming to this world that they which see not might see, that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words and said unto him also, are we blind. And Jesus said unto them If you were blind you should have no sin. But now you say we see, therefore your sin remaineth. Father, thank you for this word. We pray that you would open our hearts and our ears and our eyes to see it, to hear it, to perceive it, to understand it. In Yeshua's name, amen.
Speaker 1:This narrative is a story of Jesus healing a man born blind, a narrative rich with theological insight and symbolic meaning. The passage not only showcases his miraculous power, but also challenges societal and religious assumptions about sin, suffering and identity. It presents a profound exploration of spiritual blindness and sight, belief and unbelief and the revelation of Jesus as the light of the world. As Jesus and his disciples encounter a man blind from birth, the disciples inquire whether his blindness is due to his own sin or that of his parents, and Jesus responds that it is neither. But it is neither, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. And Jesus then makes mud with saliva spit, anoints the man's eyes and instructs him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man obeys and returns seeing, and the man's healing sparks various reactions among his neighbors and pharisees. His neighbors are puzzled, while the pharisees are divided as mostly critical, questioning the man about how he received his sight and investigating the actions of jesus on the sabbath. The man progressively recognizes jesus not just as a prophet but as one from god, the phar of Jesus. On the Sabbath, the man progressively recognizes Jesus not just as a prophet but as one from God. The Pharisees, on the other hand, refuse to see the miracle of spiritual significance, revealing their own spiritual blindness.
Speaker 1:What's interesting to note here as well is that Jesus, he actively broke the man-made rules, the Takenot of the Pharisees. Now, according to the Pharisees, you can do no work on the Sabbath. And making mud is work, which is what he did when he mixed the dirt with his spit. That was making mud, it was doing work. So he broke the Sabbath. He also instructed the man that he anointed to go down to the water, to the Pool of Shalomointed to go down to the water, to the pool of Shalom to wash it off. So he actually also made him to journey more than a Sabbath day journey. So he was actively breaking the rules. And there's another talking note that you won't put spit in your eyes. So not only did he work, but he also put spit in the man's eyes. So all these things he did on purpose to show that he was the master and that the Sabbath was his and it did not belong to the Pharisees.
Speaker 1:So the theological significance, though some of them are that Jesus has the light of the world and that healing is a sign that Jesus is the light of the world, illuminating spiritual darkness and granting true sight. His action of giving sight to the blind is a physical manifestation of the spiritual enlightenment he brings. The works of God are displayed. Jesus indicates that the man's blindness is an opportunity for the works of God to be displayed. This challenges common assumptions about suffering and sin, suggesting that difficult circumstances can serve as arenas for God's glory to be revealed.
Speaker 1:Spiritual Blindness and Sight the contrast between the physically blind man, who gains both physical and spiritual sight, and the Pharisees, who remain spiritually blind despite their physical sight, illustrates the theme of spiritual enlightenment. True sight comes from recognizing Jesus and understanding His mission. Questioning religious authority the healed man's boldness in questioning the Pharisees' refusal to acknowledge the divine authority of Jesus challenges established religious norms and leaders, highlighting the theme of individual faith over institutional disbelief. Here are some lessons God's works manifested in challenging circumstances in the light of the world. The healing of the man born blind serves as a demonstration of God's power working through human suffering, not as a punishment but as an opportunity to reveal his glory. Furthermore, the declaration of Jesus as the light of the world symbolizes His role in providing spiritual enlightenment, guiding believers from darkness to light and offering a new perspective rooted in faith. Also, the importance of obedience and spiritual insight. The blind man's obedience to Jesus' instruction precedes his physical and subsequently spiritual sight, underscoring obedience as a key element in the journey of faith. This narrative also contrasts the blind man's gaining of spiritual sight with the Pharisee's spiritual blindness, emphasizing the transformative power of faith to grant true and understanding beyond physical perception, challenging preconceived notions and the boldness in testimony. Jesus challenged the disciples' misconceptions about sin and suffering, prompting a re-evaluation of judgments with compassion and divine insight. The healed man's boldness in testifying about Jesus despite opposition exemplifies the courage to stand firm in faith and the importance of personal testimony and witnessing to Christ's transformative work.
Speaker 1:Here are some questions for reflection and discussion. How does the healing of Jesus, of the man born blind, deepen your understanding of him as the light of the world? I think it's evident that he was making a statement. This was a miracle that had been prophesied by Isaiah, that the Messiah, when he came, he would open the eyes of a man born blind. Nobody else had ever done this. Nobody, no prophet, had ever done that. Nobody had opened the eyes of a man born blind until Jesus did it and he associated it with him being the light of the world.
Speaker 1:Reflect on the different responses to the man's healing, and what do they reveal about the nature of belief and unbelief? Well, the man who had had his sight restored was grateful. He immediately recognized that this was the prophet of God. This was God. This was the Messiah that had been promised. The Pharisees, on the other hand, they were indignant. They saw it as an affront. They refused to believe that there was anybody but Moses. They refused to believe that this man was the prophet that Moses had spoken of.
Speaker 1:Discuss the social and personal implications of the man's healing and testimony. Have you ever faced challenges or opposition because of your faith? I think anybody that's ever spoken out about their faith has received some opposition. Sometimes it comes from the most unlikely of places. Sometimes it comes from within your own household, those who are also supposed to be believers, who maybe they just don't believe the same way and so they are going to oppose you.
Speaker 1:How does the man's journey from blindness to sight parallel the spiritual journey of coming to faith in Jesus? Share personal reflections or experiences? I think it can be said that you know. If you're lost, you're blind, you don't understand the things of God, they're confusing to you, they're meaningless to you, they just don't have any meaning. There's no understanding, it's just words on the page. For somebody who's not a believer, matter of fact, the Bible says that the word of life is death. To those that are perishing, it's the smell of death, but if you're alive to God, then it's the fragrance of hope and light. Consider the role of suffering and hardship in the story. How does the perspective of Jesus on the man's blindness challenge common views on suffering and God's purposes? I think that the perspective of Jesus was you know, that he had opened his eyes and that he accepted the man's acceptance of him, that when you accept him, he makes himself your, your Lord, he, he brings you in and you covenant with him and you receive his spirit.
Speaker 1:Here are some suggested prayers. This is a prayer for spiritual sight. Lord Jesus, light of the world, in a world often clouded by darkness, open our eyes to see your truth and beauty. Heal us of our spiritual blindness that we might recognize your hand at work in our lives and in the world around us. Grant us the insight to see beyond surface appearances to perceive your kingdom at work. Illuminate our paths with your light, guiding us in the way of wisdom, compassion and understanding.
Speaker 1:A prayer for trust in God's purpose. Heavenly Father, in moments of difficulty and suffering, help us to trust in your sovereign plan. Teach us to see our challenges as opportunities for your glory to be revealed. Strengthen our faith to follow you obediently, believing that you can use our circumstances for a greater purpose. Remind us that you are always at work, transforming our trials into testimonies of your grace and power. Amen. Prayer for Boldness and Testimony. Holy Spirit, empower us with the boldness of the man born blind that we might confidently testify to the work of Jesus in our lives In the face of doubt or opposition. Fill us with courage to speak of your love and healing. Help us to stand firm in our faith, proclaiming the truth of the gospel with clarity and conviction. May our lives reflect the transformative power of your grace, leading others to the light of Christ. Amen. Hope this lesson has been helpful this week for you, and as you go forward in your week, may you have all the richness and blessings of Yeshua upon you and praise his name, amen.
