Tuesday, July 15, 2014

The Light, Part 2

John watched as the blind man tried to walk towards Jesus. He was holding his arms out is front of him, moving them in wide arcs, frantically trying to find something in the darkness. His head jerked left and right, trying to follow the sound of his voice, and his mouth was wide open, gaping like he was in a permanent state of shock.

Jesus took several steps to the man, and grasped his upper forearms. The man gasped and choked on a sob, clearly unsure of who was holding him, and clearly desperate to get to Jesus. "Please!" His broken, gut-wrenching plea barely loud enough for John to hear.

Jesus spoke quietly to the man, and whatever he said, seemed to calm him down. Turning to the crowd, Jesus started to speak boldly. He had such a commanding presence, and a fire in his eyes that made everyone stop and listen. He spoke as someone who knew he had the authority of Heaven backing up his words. Instantly, everyone was quiet.

"We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

John gulped as Jesus' eyes lingered on him. John had been the one to voice the question they had all been thinking, only for Jesus to say this wasn't about sin at all. This was about displaying God's glory.

But why did he say that?

Before he could reflect on Jesus' words, Jesus turned back to the blind man, leaned over, and spat on the ground!

John rubbed his forehead. Jesus can be so confusing...

Jesus hunkered down in front of everyone and...started to play with the mud formed from his own saliva? John was never more confused in his whole life, then he was at this moment. Then Jesus stood back up, and put the mud over the man's eyes like it was an anointing, priceless oil.

Jesus started to speak to the blind man again, only this time it was loud enough for everyone to hear. "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

And with that, and the help of someone in the crowd, helping to guide his way, the blind man was gone.

It didn't take very long for the man to do as Jesus bid. Soon, he was back. John wasn't surprised at how quickly the man came running to Jesus, this time with arms wide open, singing praises to God.

As John watched them, he felt something prick at his soul. Could he ever do what Jesus did? 

Based on John 9:4-7

So while reading this, I was really focused on Jesus' words. I don't know if you've ever read this part and been like, "Why is He saying all this stuff here? It doesn't make sense with what's happening!"

Jesus' words: "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:4-5

I think these verses may be used to say that miracles, tongues, healing, and the Holy Spirit are dead, and it would be easy to think that we are in that "night" period Jesus was talking about here. 

However, I don't think that's true. I think the night is coming. But we will come back to that part.

Jesus said that while He was in the world, then He would be in the light of the world. Okay, Jesus isn't here anymore, but the Holy Spirit, part of the Godhead Trinity, is here, and He's in us.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

"For at one time, you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:8

These are verses said to us, proclaiming us believers as light. That means, that as long as there are born-again, Holy Spirit filled, Jesus loving believers out there, then the light of Jesus, the light of the world is out there. Night time would be when all of the believers are caught up into Heaven, leaving the unbelieving world for God's judgement. It's not night time yet.

This means that we have the responsibility, the obligation, the God-given mission to be the light of the world. Jesus said, "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work." Those words are still true for us today! So in the today, in the here and now, in any way that God has called you, you are to work miracles and healings. You are to speak in tongues and be guided by the Holy Spirit. You are to do many great things by the power of Him Who sent you! One day, we won't be able to do that anymore. I sure don't want to stand before God in the future, sheepishly looking at my feet while saying, "Uh, no. I didn't work in your light. I didn't act like the light of the world. I didn't portray you." None of us want that! 

I've got to tell you guys, I am pretty scared about posting this message because I know that a lot of the body doesn't agree with what has been put on my heart to share. However, God must want someone to read this. Am I going to be the light? Or will I take the easy road, and gloss over what Jesus said? 

This is just another facet of truth that is part of  the call to "be the light." Jesus said this right before healing the blind man because He needed us to understand that yes, night is coming, but as long as we've got Him, there is light, and we need to do His works. Such as healing blind men. Amen.

-V. Joy Palmer

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