Red Letters: How To See God - Pastor Josiah Elias

From Numbers 21, Josh Munoz reminded us that the people lost their reverence for God and that we need to stay in fear and honor of Adonai. Then Pastor Josiah prayed that we culture like Christ and for us to keep our vision Jesus, which fit right into the story of the man born blind from John 9. The disciples wondered if the man or his parents’ sin cause his blindness. This question was based on the works mentality. The thought underlying this question was that consequences from bad actions occur, and though there is validity to that premise, attributing every horrible thing to the judgmental power of God is shaky ground. 

We know that there are always consequences for our actions.  However, we praise the Lord that as stated in Romans 8:28, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (NKJV) The Lord is gracious and wants to bless us. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Jesus replied that the man’s blindness was not the result of the man’s or his parents’ sins.”This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” John 9:3 (NLT) We live in a fallen world. If we did not, then we would not need Jehovah Rapha, the One Who Heals, or Jehovah Jireh, the One Who Provides. The ripple effects of sin are real and unfortunate, but Jesus remains the solution to sin and all its fallout. We need to step out in faith. Last week ninety one people were baptized, and people brought drugs, pills and other items to the altar to surrender them up to the Lord. They stepped out in faith because God is working!

In John 9:4-5, Jesus continued,

”We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the 

one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can 

work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the 

world.”  NLT)

Jesus connected light to earth. He lights the way and is the way, the truth and the life  

John 14:6 to eternal life. Light and power go together.  When electricity is not plugged into the power source, it does not work. For Jesus to be adequate light for the work, overcoming darkness, He too would need power-the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The greater story beyond the blind man was that the Lord is power and light, which brings us to the Paramount Point. We are plugged into the same power Jesus was-the power of the Holy Spirit: to overcome darkness, light up the world, & powerfully display the Father’s love to E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y.

Pastor Josiah continued in John 9 where Jesus spit and mixed dirt to make a mud pack for the man’s healing. As a side note as in our culture, in that time to spit at someone was a sign of disgust. Jesus used His saliva to heal the man because He applied the mud pack over the man’s blind eyes. Jesus directed him,”Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam (Siloam means ’sent’). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!’  John 9:7 (NLT) Jesus tested the man’s heart. The man obeyed the Lord. He left blind and returned seeing. What a powerful scene. So, when mankind comes in contact with the precious blood or DNA of Jesus, true transformations transpires.  Hallelujah! Jesus revealed the Father’s heart-to redeem and restore.

The man could have been offended, but he stayed. Determine never to be offended by God. His ways are higher than our ways. His plans are different than our plans. Isaiah 55:9 We need to stay and stand with and for the Lord, our Savior. 

Next in the passage, the neighbors questioned the man’s identity. 

“‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’

Some said he was and others said, ’No, he just looks like him!’

But the beggar kept saying, ’Yes, I am the same one!’”

John 9:8-9 (NLT)

The healed blind man looked different and acted differently. He had never been able to see before Jesus. Embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ-your transformation from blindness to seeing will be so remarkable; people won’t even be able to recognize you! 

The people continued peppering the healed man with questions about the Healer. He told them, ”The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ’Go to the pool of Siloam and was yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see.”  John John 9:11 (NLT) Embrace Jesus. Follow His instructions, and you will be changed as the former blind man was.

Next the people took the healed man to the Pharisees, who were greatly offended. Jesus healed on the Sabbath. The Pharisees questioned the man, and he replied,”He put mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!” John 9:15 (NLT) How did the Pharisees respond? Some were angry and disgusted; others wondered how any ordinary sinner could do miraculous signs. Who Jesus was divided the Pharisees just as He does today.

These religious rulers knew the Old Testament prophecies and should have been looking for the Messiah. In Isaiah 35:5, it stated ”And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.” That happened right there. “The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents.” John 9:18 (NLT) Though the beggar had been physically blind, some of the Pharisees were spiritually blind. They let their power and status blind them to the facts that were right in front of them. It is so easy to condemn them-to look at the splinters in others’ eyes and not see the logs in our own. Let us look at our own blind spots and put them to the Light of the world.

Then the Pharisees called in the parents who were afraid to answer because they loved belonging to the synagogue. “That’s why they said, ’He is old enough. Ask him.’” John 9:23 (NLT) Our kids’ childlike faith may just end up pointing us the way to go deeper into the presence of the Lord. Only humble parents will honor their directions. 

Jesus had admonished the disciples to let the children go to Him because they were preventing the children from talking to Him.

“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the 

Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these 

children. I tell you the truth, anyone who who doesn’t 

receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 

Mark 10:14-15 (NLT)

Jesus honored childlike faith. May we accept Jesus as little children do.

The Pharisees would not release this issue, and for the second time they called the man in and pursued who Jesus was.”’I don’t know whether he is a sinner,’ the man replied. ‘But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!’” John 9:25 (NLT) That powerful statement said it all. No one can refute your encounter with Jesus Christ. Sharing your experience with Jesus is personal and irrefutable because it is yours. Let others know what He has done for you.

The Pharisees tried to refute the healing, and the man just kept on stating what Jesus did.

“He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes

from? We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is 

ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.

Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open

the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God,

he couldn’t have done it.” John 9:30b-33 (NLT)

The Pharisees were so frustrated that they threw him out of the synagogue. 

In contrast, Jesus heard what had happened to the healed man and sought him out. Jesus asked the man if he believed in the Son of man and the man asked who he was?

“'You have seen him.’ Jesus said, ’and he is speaking to you!’

‘Yes, Lord, I believe!’ the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.”

John 9:37-38 (NLT)

He had seen Him with spiritual eyes, an unoffendable heart and a lifestyle of obedience.

The Pharisees expelled the man out of the synagogue for his faith, and Jesus sought him out and confirmed his faith in Jesus. Which do you want to resemble, the angry, fearful Pharisees or the loving, healing Jesus?

May we be more like Jesus and be salt and light in this mixed up world.

Calendar:

8/15-10:00-Barbara Freeman’s interment at Glenn Abbey

       -12:00-Barbara Freeman’s service at FC with the reception immediately following in the lobby; LBs please bring finger food desserts for the reception

8/15-6:00-8:00 LB-Young Adult potluck, worship, and Young Adult speaker, Britnee Lacuesta in the Activity Center

8/17-Volunteer Appreciation luncheon in the Activity Center after the service.

8/23-Women’s Ministry luncheon at 11:00 with Pastor Ashley Elias speaking

8/29-Men of God Movement 6:00

9/1-Prayer night

9/17-LB Meet To Swap with proceeds going to the Young Adults and FC Youth in the Activity Center

Submitted by

Larry and Annette Linthicum