Today I read John 9 which contains one of the best stories in all of the scriptures in my opinion. This chapter contains the story of the man who was born blind from birth and as they are walking by, Jesus' disciples ask Him who sinned during the premortal life that He was born blind, was it he himself, or his parents. Jesus replied that no one had sinned but he was born blind for the express purpose of furthering the kingdom of God on the earth, or in other words, he was born blind so that Jesus might heal him and others would believe.
Having so said all of this, Jesus spits on the ground, makes clay and puts it on the man's eyes. He then tells him to go wash in a river nearby, the river Siloam. Now, again we must ask ourselves the question, why did Jesus not heal him outright? Why did He tell the man to go and wash? I think it has to do with the individual themselves. I am reminded of Nathan the Leper in the Old Testament who came to see Elisha and was told to wash 7 times in the river Jordan and he went away upset because he was not required to do something big and grand. It wasn't until his servant reminded him of this that he humbled himself and went and did as Elisha asked and he was healed. That is my personal thought anyway. I think it all revolved around the person since we have ample examples of Jesus healing someone from far away without ever being near them. In this instance though I think it has more to do with the fact that it was the Sabbath day and Jesus was making yet another point.
The man came back with his sight restores and rejoiced with his friends. Now, the Pharisees heard of it and knew that it had happened on the Sabbath day and was upset with the man because he did not give the glory to God but instead gave the glory to Jesus. They told him that they knew this man, meaning Jesus, was a sinner and he needs to give the glory to God. The blind man was not intimidated by them in the slightest. He replies to them that whether Jesus is a sinner or not, he can't say, but what he can say for a certainty is that he was blind before, but now he sees. I really like this chapter because I like that the man who used to be blind is not intimidated by the Pharisees at all. He goes round and round with them and he is not concerned with being tossed out of the synagogues.
The pharisees try all manner of things to discredit the man too. They even bring out his parents and ask them if the man is their son who was blind since birth. They replied that he is indeed their son, and he was blind from birth and they do not know how he sees now. I personally believe they know exactly how he is healed because their next answer is one full of fear and caution. They reply to the question of how did he receive his sight by saying, "He is of age; ask him". This tells me that they know exactly what happened and why he can see but they are terrified of being expelled from the synagogues. Like the poor in heart Zoramites about 100 years prior and thousands of miles away, this man and woman were making the mistake of thinking they can only worship God in their synagogue, or their churches if you will. Nothing could be further from the church. As Amulek goes on to teach those Zoramites, God will hear your prayer no matter what it is about and no matter where it is offered. You don't have to pray in a fancy, well built church for God to hear you. Truthfully the real reason we attend church each week is to partake of the sacrament. That is the crux of the reason why we go to church each week.
So this poor man and woman were scared to be tossed out of the synagogues and lose their standing among their peers. They did not have the faith necessary to stand up to the Pharisees. So they instead shifted the question to their son saying in essence, he is an adult, ask him for yourselves. So the Pharisees ask the man again about Jesus and where he is. The man then gives one of the best, "in your face" answers in all of the scriptures. If there was any doubt that he is worried or intimidated by the Pharisees it is washed away when he answers them, "I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?" I love it and laugh every time I read that verse! What a great answer! He is not afraid of these man in the slightest and he is proving it to them. He's basically telling them to do their worst. The part about asking them if they intend to become Jesus' disciples too is fantastic! I love it!
Now, it is my opinion that Jesus heals certain people certain ways based on who they are. Jesus knew that this was a man not easily intimidated and I believe He healed him in this way because Jesus knew exactly how the blind man would react when questioned and pressured about it. I doubt Jesus would have put someone who hates confrontation or who buckles under pressure in this position. But Jesus knew the man, knew he was not one to be intimidated and knew that when push came to shove, this man would not back down but would valiantly stand up for what is right. And boy does he ever. The Pharisees try every tactic they know of to try and get him to admit that Jesus is a sinner and he will not do it! He even tries logic and reasoning with them when all else fails. He asks them, in essence, since time began has anyone ever healed a blind man except they were a man of God? THAT does not go over well at all and is the final straw for the Pharisees.
The Pharisees end up expelling him from their synagogues and most likely their city too. Jesus, prepared for this, went and found him and asked him if he believes in the Son of God? The man asks Jesus who the Son of God is so that he may worship Him. Jesus reveals Himself to the man and the man believes. What a story! I love it! What a great example of standing for a witness for Jesus no matter what. What a great example of doing what is right no matter the consequences. This is a fantastic example of how we should behave and how we should stand as a witness for Jesus at all times and in all places. The blind man was not intimidated even though the men he stood up to had the authority and power to make his life here on the earth miserable. They were wrong and he knew it and would not be pushed around for it. I am filled with the Spirit and fierce joy every time I think about it. I can just see the scene before my eyes, the man standing before them, perhaps as Abinadi of old before him, facing his accusers, so mad by this point that they are perhaps even frothing at the mouth and yet he is calm as a summers morn. What a wonderful story. What a wonderful example for the rest of us. I could go on forever it seems. It is without a doubt, the way we should live our lives. Stand for what is right, and let what consequences may be come. We will have done what is right and that is all that matters. Until tomorrow.
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