bLiNd OnLy PlEaSe...Shine Ur Eye!

A Friend of mine told me this story. "God has given me a friend who lost his sight when he was about 12 years old or so. Craig Nelson and I have spent a fair bit of time together, especially in our travels to India and Africa. Observing Craig’s response to his own blindness has been a great inspiration to me, and watching people of the Third World relate to Craig has greatly enhanced my appreciation for our text. 

When Craig and his friend landed at the airport in Delhi a few years ago, their first task was to go through customs. The experience there was unlike anything they have gone through anywhere else in the world that I have visited. We were led to a large metal building (something like a storage building, but with no air conditioning) which served as the “overseas terminal” and customs area. We were questioned by a customs official who asked all the standard questions. Suddenly, it dawned upon him that Craig was handicapped in some way. In his British accented English he asked me, “Is he a sick man?” Craig responded, “I’m blind.” From that point on, the customs official would not speak directly to Craig. He spoke only to me, even when the question pertained to Craig. For all intents and purposes, Craig was not regarded as a person—at least not by this fellow."

The people never interact socially, never nod, never say “Hello” or “Thanks” or “Pardon me.” The simple fact is that the blind are, without question and without exception, beggars. There are so few laws, if any, which prescribe and protect the rights of the blind. There are no Braille buttons on elevators (at least that I ever saw); there is no special handicapped status. The blind are almost completely ignored. As it is in the Third World today, so it was in Jesus’ day. John 9: 1-41

Today's, TOPIC, Faith To See. It goes beyond our need for physical sight, but it also the need for spiritual sight. You will also find that the FOCUS of the lesson today is on the importance of spiritual sight and trust Jesus for clear vision of who He is. The CENTRAL TRUTH is through faith in Christ, we gain spiritual sight.


Now the lesson proper:
People tend to ask questions to try to determine why someone is having troubles. However, these questions are more often than not looking to assign blame, not to try to figure out how the trouble can be addressed. This only Qualifes us all as Blind People. Somehow, being able to blame someone or something seems to make it easier for us to deal with feelings such situations cause.  Jesus wanted to teach his disciples to understand it is more important to remove evil than to explain it.

In this case, the man’s lifelong inability to see was an opportunity for God’s work on two levels:

• By healing him, Jesus could show he was truly doing the work of God (John 9: 3 & 4). He could show God’s love for individuals in need.

• Even of greater importance is that through this man’s healing, Jesus could illustrate the sharp difference between those who were spiritually blind and those who had received spiritual sight.  The neighbours were blinded by his past & the pharisees were blinded by religion.  A classic case of the Blind leading the blind.

We often suffer from limited vision also. We see what we expect to see, physically and spiritually. It may be hard for us to see through God’s eyes, because we may have limiting beliefs about what is possible.

Christians today are reaching out to the lost on every continent. Through aid groups, they even meet needs in countries that forbid evangelism. Jesus healed this man’s sight, but that was not His end goal. Meeting physical needs can prepare a person to respond to God.

As Christ’s body, we should do work that He (God) did. Nevertheless, Jesus’ main concern was not physical. He gave sight to the blind so He could also bring spiritual sight to many. Jesus paired healing with new spiritual sight.

Our own lack of need can blind our eyes. If we are satisfied with our lives and our own goodness, we are blind to our real spiritual condition. Jesus said, "I came to this world to judge, so that the blind should see and those who see should become blind.  If you were blind, then you would not be guilty; but since you claim that you can see, this means that you are still guilty." (John 9:39 & 41 TEV)

Things are different today. The line is drawn. There are those who know they need God and are willing to trust Jesus for clear vision. Moreover, there are those who will continue in spiritual blindness because they refuse to acknowledge their need for the light of the world.

To which of the above-mentioned group do you belong dear blind friend? Do you still need to carry with you the white stick indicating your blindness or will you acknowledge like the Healed blind man? “Who is He, Lord that I may believe in Him?” (John 9:35).

Through Faith in Christ we gain Spiritual sight giving us a clear vision of Who Christ really is and how much of our lives he can transform.

Shine your Eye Today! See Jesus & have Him Restore You!