Local Blind Man Sees

John 9
I was blind, now I see.     John 9:25 b


LET IT GLOW


Years ago, I there was a blind man who was a member of our church. He
did amazing things in spite of his physical challenge. He mowed his lawn, put
new window screens on his house, and cooked for his wife who had cancer.
Spiritually, though, he was not blind. The love of Jesus radiated from him.
He had spiritual insights and could see with his heart.

This chapter begins with Jesus passing by and seeing a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked Jesus whose sin caused this, the man's or his parent's
sin.

In verse 3, Jesus answered,"Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but
that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (KJV)
"This happened so the power of God could be seen in him," quoted from NLT.

God is sovereign over all. He has a right to use His creation for His glory as
He sees fit. God's power and glory was seen in His healing the man.
When Jesus healed the blind man, He proved Himself sent of God to be the
true light to the world, according to Matthew Henry.

Jesus put clay on the man's eyes; he washed in the pool of Siloam, obeying
Jesus; then he was healed.

1Samuel 15:22 b says,"to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken(submit)
than the fat of rams."

The doubting Pharisees questioned the seeing man, even his parents, too. In
verse 25, he answered and said, "Whether he (Jesus) be a sinner or no, I know
not: one thing I know, that, whereas, I was blind, now I see."

Jesus made this man who was physically blind and in darkness all of his life, to see.


LET IT GROW

After the Pharisees talked to the blind man whom Jesus healed, they cast the
man out (of the temple, I suppose).
Then came Jesus and asked him,"Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"

The man must have thought Jesus was one of His followers and wanted to find
the Son of God.
And Jesus said unto him, "Thou hast both seen him and it is he that talketh with
 thee," says verse 37.

After this happened, the man said, "Lord, I believe."
And he worshipped Him.
So here is a man who had been blind all of his life and he got to see the Son of
God, the Messiah. What did he do? He believed on Jesus and worshipped Him.

Now, Jesus made this man who was spiritually blind all of his life, to see the Light.
In verse 5, Jesus said He was the light of the world.
Thanks to Jesus this man can see physically and spiritually.


LET IT GO

I believe Jesus is the Son of God and I worship Him.

Stone Throwing

John 8
Jesus said unto her,"Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
John 8:11b

LET IT GLOW

I know a man who tells about throwing stones during one of his childhood
adventures:  He and some friends hid on a bridge using a bean flip with rocks
on cars passing underneath. When a taxi cab drove under, the friends, not this
boy, shot the taxi cab. The driver stopped his taxi and pursued the boys.
Everyone ran, but the driver caught them. He took the boys to their mothers,
but he did not press charges. Rightfully, the driver could have taken the boy to
jail, but he showed mercy instead. (His mother took care of it later.)

Early in the morning, Jesus was teaching in the temple when He was
interrupted by the scribes and Pharisees. They brought a woman caught
in the act of adultery.

"Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what
sayest thou?", asked they of Jesus in verse 5.

The scriptures referred to were Exodus 20:14, which says, "Thou shalt not
commit adultery." and Leviticus 20:10b, which says that "the adulterer and the
adulteress shall surely be put to death."

These men were trying to trap Jesus into saying something they could use
against Him. Jesus didn't anwer right away, but stooped down and wrote in
the dust with His finger. There is only speculation as to what He wrote;
Scripture does not tells us.

"Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!" says Jesus in verse 7.
(NLT)
Then He stooped down again and wrote in the dust. (verse 8)
What happened next? The accusers were convicted by their own conscience
and left one at a time. Only Jesus was left with the crowd and the woman.

The woman was guilty of adultery and deserved to be stoned to death,
but Jesus didn't condemn her. He was the only One without sin. He could
have rightfully stoned her to death, but He showed mercy instead.

Lest we join in with the group of accusers, let's see what scripture tells us.
Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

In Matthew 5:28, Jesus says, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on
a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Can we insert "man" in place of "woman" in that verse? Women can lust after
men in their mind.

Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy to me a sinner and us sinners. Since I am
not without sin, I cannot cast the first stone either.

LET IT GROW

In the rest of chapter 8, Jesus proclaims His Diety to the Pharisees.
(verses 18,58)

Jesus said His followers:

• walk in light, not darkness (verse 12)
• He always did things that pleased the Father, shouldn't we too?(verse 29)
• continue in Jesus' Word (verse 31)
• know the truth and are free (verse 32)
• love Jesus because God is our Father (verse 42)
• hear God's Words (verse 47) [listen gladly to Words of God-NLT]
• keep His sayings and never see death (verse 51)\

"God's truth will have no effect upon you unless you accept it and believe it.
Have you allowed God to implement those truths into your life?" asks Henry
Blackaby.


LET IT GO

Make sure my tongue does not cast stones.
Remember God's mercy toward me, a sinner.
Be a true follower of Jesus.

Famous

John 7
Jesus' half-brothers, in Galilee said, "You can't become famous if you
hide like this!"  John 7:4 NLT

LET IT GLOW

After Michael Jackson's death, his family became even more famous, not
because of their accomplishements, but due to Michael's unexpected death
and his career.  I am not closely related to a famous person and do not want
to be one myself.

Jesus was staying out of Judea because the Jewish leaders were plotting His
death. His brethren or brothers, which were half-brothers, wanted Jesus to
go into Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. Did they want Him to become
famous, perform miracles, and "make a name" for them? Apparently they
thought Jesus needed some PR. Did they want their relations to Jesus to bring
them honor and respect? His brothers did not believe in Him as the Christ.
(verse 5)
It wasn't time for Jesus to leave Galilee, much less enter Jerusalem, which
He told the brothers in verses 6 and 8. So Jesus did not listen to His
brothers and go with them.

Jesus didn't come to be famous, but to save that which was lost and to be
a servant of the Father. He didn't follow His own agenda, or anyone else's
for that matter, but Jesus followed His Father's agenda, since He came to
do His Father's will.

I want to stay close to Jesus no matter what the future holds, doing the
Father's will.


LET IT GROW

Jesus told the Pharisees that they would seek Him and not find Him, and
where He was, meaning heaven, they could not go. (verse 34)

Verse 35 says, "Then said the Jews among themselves, 'Whither will he go,
that we shall not find him? Will he go into the dispersed among the Gentiles,
and teach the Gentiles?' "

The Pharisees had spies informing them of Jesus' where abouts and His
activities. They kept up with His doings.

Our Jesus can always be found because He is everywhere. He's only a prayer
away. What a comfort for us believers.


LET IT GO

I don't seek to be famous, but I do seek to be obedient to my Lord Jesus.
Jesus is found when I pray.

Bread of Life

John 6
I am the bread of life. (Jesus is speaking) John 6:48


LET IT GLOW

Who doesn't like hot, fluffy, homemade biscuits? With butter or blackberry
jelly they are mouth watering. They even make the best strawberry shortcake.
Mmm, I need to make some just thinking about it makes me yearn for biscuits.

Early in this chapter, Jesus fed the 5,000 men, plus however many women and
children, with a boy's lunch of 5 barley loaves and 2 fish.

Then in verses 35 and 48, Jesus states that He is the bread of life. What does
that mean? 

In "Experiencing God Day-By-Day", the Blackabys say:

We know how to use physical bread. Whenever we are hungry we simply go
and eat. Do we do that spiritually? Jesus said if we believe in Him, we will
never be spiritually hungry or malnourished, for He is the "bread of life." Every
time we face a spiritual need, it is a simple matter of going to Christ and
allowing Him to provide us with what we need.
Could it be that we tried to satisfy our spiritual hunger with human resources?
(friends, experiences of others) Could it be that we had a great spiritual feast
several years ago, and we were so "full" of Christ that we thought we would
never have to eat again? We grew lean and hungry because we were still
operating on an encounter with God we had years ago. If you are lacking
something spiritually, it is because you have not come to Him in faith as He
invites.
When God gave manna in the wilderness, the children of Israel had to go out
each day to receive God's daily provision. Jesus taught His disciples to pray,
"Give us this day our daily bread." Spiritual nourishment is something you must
seek daily. Have you found spiritual food from Christ today?

To receive spiritual food, I must daily eat from God's Word. Am I getting fat
or lean spiritually?


LET IT GROW

Jesus had other disciples that followed Him, according to verse 66. They went
back and walked no more with Him.

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" (verse 67)

Peter answered Him,"Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of
eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of
the living God." (verses 68-69)

What will it take to get me to quit following Jesus, to turn my faith from Him?
Nothing, I hope. I believe that He is that Christ, the Son of the living God,
and He holds eternal life. So that settles that. I have decided to follow Jesus,
no turning back.


LET IT GO

Go to Jesus in prayer when I am spiritually hungry.
Feast on  Scripures for my spiritual food.
Don't turn back and walk away from God, but stay committed to following
Him daily.

Rise and Walk

John 5
Jesus saith unto him, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk."
John 5:8

LET IT GLOW

After forty years of having a disease undiagnosed, finally it was this year. What
a joyous time. Now I can lead a normal life by following a restricted diet and
taking a few pills. I can relate to how this man in chapter 5 must have felt. I
am so grateful to the Lord for my blessing. I'm sure he was too.

Jesus knew how long the man had been sick, 38 years. This man was not able
to walk into the pool of Betheda for healing. "God keeps account of how long
we're afflicted and He knows all about our frame," according to Matthew Henry.

This man didn't have any friends to carry him into the pool by this time. Jesus
didn't carry him into the pool for healing. In verse 8, Jesus saith unto him, Rise,
take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and
walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. (verse 9)

Do I rise up when Jesus says and get going where He directs? Not always,
but I should. Where did the man walk to?The man went to the temple, no
doubt to worship God. It had been a very long time since he could do that.
What a joyful heart he must have had.

LET IT GROW

In the latter part of this chapter, witnesses of Jesus are mentioned. First is
John the Baptist (testimony), second is Jesus' works (miracles), third is the
Father (spoke at Jesus' baptism), last is the Scripture (Moses and the
prophets). They are all witnesses of Jesus. They spoke the truth.

John 14:6 says, "Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' "
Does my life witness for Jesus? I want it to.

LET IT GO

Rise up and walk when Jesus tell me to.
Be a witness for Him.

Thirsty Woman

John 4
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that I shall bive him shall be in him a well of water
springing up into everlasting life.  John 4: 14

LET IT GLOW

Sweat was dripping off me. It was a scorching  hot summer's day in the sun. I
was so thirsty and hot that I had to stop the yardwork and take a break. The
cool bottle of water was so refreshing as I drank it in the shade, where the breeze
was blowing. Did I mention how refreshing it was? I would have called it quits,
but we were helping a neighbor clean up his yard. We endured the heat,
continued cleaning until the project was completed, and admired our efforts
while eating a frozen popsicle.

Did  the Samaritan woman go to draw water at the well because she, too, was
thirsty, or was it because that would be her day's supply of water? Either way,
she found living water that lasted for eternity.

The well's water provide only temporary relief, but Jesus' water was satisfying
to the soul. Jesus knew all about the woman's situation. This opened her eyes
to Him. In this chapter and chapter 9 are the only places where Jesus identifies
Himself as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, to people.

As a result of their conversation, the woman left her waterpot and went into
town sharing what had happened to her. Scripture says that many believed,
not because the Samaritan woman, but because they heard Jesus themselves
and knew He was indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. (verse 42)

Does my soul thirst for Jesus? Do I seek His Living Water as much as I do
water for my body?


LET IT GROW

When the disciples returned with meat and offered it to Jesus, He said,"My
meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." (verse 34)

Paul says in Romans 14:17-18,"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink;
but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these
things serveth Chrsit is acceptable to God, and approved of men."

Am I more focused on physical food than spiritual food? Which gets more of
my time? Which is more satisfying to me?

LET IT GO

Make Jesus my food and water.
Share the Living Water of Jesus.
Give spiritual and physical food away to others.

Born Again

John 3
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3

LET IT GLOW

Who was Nichodemus?
Nichodemus was a scholared Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the
ruling Jewish counsel. He believed Jesus was a teacher come from God.
Why? He said that no one could do those miracles Jesus did except God be
with him. (verse 2).

Fourfold Gospel Bible Commentary says:

Nichodemus came to Jesus by night to avoid hostility of his

                    colleagues and had a more personal uninterupted interview with
                   
                    Jesus.

Later, in John 7:50, Nick is remembered as "he that came to Jesus by night,
being one of them." Also, Nick brought spices for Jesus' dead body, as
John 19:39 tells us. (This tells me that Nick was a believer.)

We don't have recorded Nick asking Jesus any questions, but remember
that Jesus could read minds and hearts.

Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (verse 3)

In verse 3, the Greek word anothen (which means from above) is the word
anew, and is translated  again.

So a person must be born anew, born again, born from above, in order to see
the kingdom of God.

Matthew Henry Commentary tells us:

          Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again is to begin anew. We must

          have a new nature, new principles, new affection, new aims. By our first
        
          birth we are corrupt, shapen in sin and iniquity; we must undergo a

          second birth. We must be born from above, with a divine nature and

          bear the image of the heavenly. The natural man must become a spiritual

          man, before he is capable of receiving and understanding them

          (instructions).


Jesus goes on to say in verse 5, "Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

To me, just as water cleanses and purifies and it takes away filth, so our soul
or heart must be cleansed by asking Jesus to forgive us of our sins, by His
blood (figuratively speaking). We are born of the Spirit when His Holy Spirit
comes into our heart whenever this occurs.

Nick kept asking how. The answer is found in the next few verses, believe in
God's Only Begotten Son. God loved us so much that He gave Jesus Christ to
us as a free gift so we wouldn't perish, or have to pay for our sins ourselves,
in order that we may have everlasting and eternal life.

It isn't baptism that saves us because baptism is the outward expression of the
inward change. It isn't by works, because our righteousness is as filthy rags.

Westley's Explanatory Notes say:

This was the very design of God's love in sending Him (Jesus) into the

          world. Whosoever believeth on Him-with that faith in Him, which

          worketh by love, He gave His only son-truly and seriously, and the Son

          of God gave Himself.

What will we do with a man called Jesus?

 

 

 

LET IT GROW

 

In verse 30, John the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

 

In other words, Jesus, my Savior, Lord, and Master, must be greater than

me in my life. That sums it up, doesn't it?

 

 

LET IT GO

 

Thank You Lord for loving me, a sinner, and purchasing my salvation.

Thank You that heaven is awaiting us believers.

Thank You that it is through faith in You, not of works.