He still wasn't used to seeing, but it wasn't getting old. The beautiful faces of his family and true friends as they'd wept for joy. The tans, browns, and reds of the city. The blue sky above him. Finally seeing things he had used all his life, like bowls and pots, their shape and own individual colors, no two looking alike. Truthfully, if he could sleep with his eyes open, he would.
However, he did wish that he never had to see these men again. That was getting old.
The local Pharisees had demanded that Ivver come to be questioned once again.
"Give glory to God!" The older man who was currently screaming at him, jumped to his feet, and marched right up to him. Standing nose to nose with Ivver, the old Pharisee pointed his index finger into Ivver's face and said, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner."
Ivver blinked twice and took a step back. The Pharisee's face was bright red, and there was a blue line extending from his jawbone to his collarbone which hadn't been there when Ivver first arrived.
What's wrong with these people?
"Whether he is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I do know. Even though I was blind, now I can see."
Another Pharisee walked closer to him, as if to examine him like he was a criminal on trial. The first man retreated slightly, pacing back in forth in front of the other Pharisee's who watched their little drama like it was the most fascinating thing they had ever witnessed. The second Pharisee, scrunched his graying eyebrows at him. "What did the man do to you? How did he open your eyes?"
Ivver threw up his hands, and started to turn to the door. He was ready to be done with this foolishness. The group of men before him were possibly more blind then he had ever been. Their spirits were blind.
Ivver turned back to them, knowing if he didn't speak now, they would just hunt him down again. "I have told you that already." His daring statement and raised voice had stunned the group of cranky, stifling Pharisees. "Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" In unison, they gasped. Ivver knew what he had just revealed. Not only his indifference to them, but his own decision to follow Jesus. They were talking over each other, and Ivver couldn't understand what they were saying.
A third Pharisee in the back of the room-clearly the eldest Pharisee in the room judging by his white, long hair, and the way everyone quieted in immediate respect for him to speak-spoke loudly, "You may be that man's disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."
Ivver let out a growl of frustration and started shaking his hands at them. Pacing back and forth in front of them, he must have seemed like a teacher to an attentive group of students. Why don't they understand? "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where this man comes from, and yet he opened my eyes! We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone has opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." He stopped pacing and threw his hands up one last time, as his final grand gesture. He heaved in and out, his pulse rushing through his body. As he spoke to this stodgy group of men, he had felt a fire burning within him. It didn't matter what they said or did to him, as long as that fire within him was satisfied.
Judging by the looks on their faces, whatever was coming next wouldn't be good.
The first Pharisee started screaming at him again. "You," He pointed his little index finger into Ivver's face yet again, "You were born in utter sin, and you would teach us?" The others growled their displeasure at Ivver's impromptu speech, when the third, eldest Pharisee spoke again.
"You shall be cast out."
Based on John 9:24-34
How often does God take the perfect person, with the perfect, flexible job, with the perfect, attractive looks, and raise them up to be respected among everybody because everything he says is just perfect, and who could not agree with it?
Come on, laugh with me. Because that doesn't happen.
"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'" 1 Corinthians 26-31
Look at the Bible. Most of the prophets, teachers, new rulers, and evangelists in there were not popular. Most of them did not come up from significant families. Most of them were like us.
Yet they were all called by God for a purpose.
And when they were called, most of them didn't think they were the right person for the job because of those things. Somewhere along the way that idea was stuck into their head. Based on man's opinions, even Jesus-Son of God-fit those parameters exactly. He was hated among the religious leaders.
The Pharisees, religious leaders, and any influential Jews who questioned the man formerly known as blind were angry because they didn't believe for one second that Jesus could be the Messiah, and they were furious that this man was telling them off as if he had any authority.
They had eyes that were wide open, yet completely blind to God's working hand.
Are our own eyes open or shut to God?
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.'" Matthew 28:18-19
You were called by God, and given authority to do as Jesus. So if you're not popular, rich, a great speaker, or even talented in your opinion, so what? Jesus said to go. So we can either go, or we can squeeze our eyes shut, throwing out every reason we've ever been told why it can't be us.
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might." Ephesians 1:17-19
That can be you, if you open your eyes.
V. Joy Palmer
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