May 8, 2013 Owning My Healing With Joy
Wednesday May 8, 2013
Jesus healed a blind man and one would assume that he, his parents and friends must have greatly rejoiced that he received his sight. Can you imagine how much joy the healing of someone who was born blind, and known to you, might bring to that person’s family or community? The news hour would have them on TV and they would be telling their joyful story over and over again. Parents, doctors and those close to the person would be interviewed to confirm that they knew of the person’s former condition. The voice of skeptics would be put to rest by the testimony of those close to the person, by doctors, and by medical records.
However, without TV, doctors and medical records, this man was not to receive the same joyful response to his healing. The neighbours were unsure that it was the same man who “sat and begged”, but eventually they were convinced it was he. The neighbours took him to the leaders of the church who were by law the ones who would confirm his healing. These leaders, who were familiar with other “miracles” of Jesus, were not sure that this healing was a “work of God” since Jesus had made mud on the Sabbath. They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
The Jewish leaders, at this point, were still not convinced the man had been born blind and took him to his parents to confirm this. The parents were reluctant to tell how their son had received his sight because of how it might impact their lives. How do you think the guy felt? His joy at having been healed was beginning to create problems for those around him. Has this ever happened to you? Did the people who knew you prior to your encounter with Jesus ever question whether the “work of God” within you was real. They may even have been skeptical at the change in you. The man who received his sight was confused by the reactions of others and their comments concerning Jesus, the one he knew had healed him. The truth was, he was able to see, and that no one could deny. In his frustration with the leaders of the church he replied: “Whether he (Jesus) is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)
Like the blind man, your testimony of what Jesus has done for you is something that no one can dispute. You know where you came from, who you were on the inside, and the change that has taken place. No one is privy to your mind except the one that transformed and renewed it. If there is nothing else you can do for the one who healed you, you can just do what he says.
…”you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)
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