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by Sandy Shaw
Jesus has healed this couple’s son from blindness and fear seems to paralyse them. Fear can paralyse. There were certain people who certainly did not like what Jesus Christ was teaching and doing and if people followed Jesus too closely, or even appreciated Jesus, there was that threat that they might be excluded from the local synagogue. What a way to behave.
These parents are afraid because of the appalling attitude of the religious leaders of the day and they are unable to appreciate the amazing miracle which the Son of God has performed on their son, who was blind, but who now can see.
Our attitude can profoundly influence the emotions of others much more than we sometimes realise. We are reading and studying in John Chapter 9.
The man who was born blind and who can now see has lost all fear, and that too can happen to you when Jesus Christ speaks to you and when Jesus touches you. That can happen when Jesus ministers to you in some way. That is why it is so important to keep in touch with Jesus and to have Jesus in touch with us – touching us – influencing us – making us bold – giving us courage.
Lose touch. No longer feel His hand upon you, and you can lose a lot.
The healed man could not explain it. All he knew was that he had been born blind and now he could see. There is no mention of feelings. He keeps to the facts.
We do not have to be able to explain everything, but we do have to keep to the facts. Something wonderful had happened. He had had an experience with Jesus Christ and these testimonies are not always easy to put into words right away, but it is real.
Once I was blind – now I see. Once I was weak – now I am strong. Once I was afraid, now I am bold. Once I was unreliable – now, people can depend upon me. Once I was not very loyal – now, with the help of Jesus I am determined to be faithful.
These Pharisees were really blind, and deaf. They wanted to hear this man’s testimony again and again, he is so courageous.
“Would you believe me this time?” They mock and insult him. They tell him not to lecture us, and then they throw him out of the place of worship – the place of prayer.
Jesus went and met him, and the man who had been healed came to believe and worship. That is real health. This is real wholeness.
Jesus is always concerned about some deeper than physical sight. Jesus is always concerned about something more. Jesus always wants us to be going further.
He is the light of the world, and here He is giving light in all kinds of ways – physically and spiritually – offering light to men who were in all kinds of darkness – and Jesus till does this. Light can hurt to begin with. Wake up early in the morning and first few minutes of light can be sore on our eyes. Coal miners coming out of the pits find the bright sunlight sore for a few moments. It can be the same with moral light and spiritual light. Light can hurt.
On a dark night, walk facing the light of an on-coming car and you can be dazzled, but the car going in the opposite direction to you is giving light to the driver.
When it comes to the light of Jesus Christ it all depends in which direction you are moving – against the light or with the light!
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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