401. Walking in the Word, No Longer Blind! Part 2

The beggar who had been blind from birth didn’t understand HOW he could now see. But his truth was his truth, and his story was his story! He unashamedly shared his story with all who would listen as he made the leap that Jesus must be from God. Walk through the Word with Julie Jenkins as we continue to unpack the story of the man who had been blind from birth. (John 9:13-34)  

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Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders’ podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins. I am your host as we walk through scripture each week and ask God what He wants us to know today.

As we enter March, we are looking forward to a very busy month at Women World Leaders! Besides our Leadership Connect on the third Monday of the month and our Prayer Zoom on the 4th Monday, we also have an in-person event in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 11th, the release of our 11th edition of Voice of Truth magazine, and seminar on Leadership available on Zoom. You can find out more and register for any of the upcoming events by visiting our website at womenworldleaders.com. And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us via our contact form on the website or email us at [email protected].

On this, our Wednesday podcast, we are currently walking through the gospels. Today, our teaching comes from John 9:13-34. You may remember that last week we studied John 9:1-12  as we learned about how Jesus healed the man who had been blind from birth. Today we are continuing to unpack that story. Before we begin, let’s pray.

Dear Most Holy God, we come to you today in thanks and praise for who you are. Father, you are sovereign, holy, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And on a more personal level, Jesus, you are our savior and redeemer. Without you, we would be drowning in our sin, but you took all our sin on YOUR shoulders, and now we walk freely in your presence. I can’t imagine a more costly or greater gift. Thank you doesn’t seem enough, and yet that is what we have. So we offer you our thanks and our lives. Holy Spirit, be with us as we open your Word together. Instruct us, teach us, and lead us. All for your glory and honor. Amen.

Let’s recap our teaching from last week…Jesus and his disciples were leaving the temple when they came across a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples asked Jesus, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” Jesus responded… “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” … “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”

Then Jesus spit on the ground, mixed up some mud, and put it on the man’s eyes. Jesus then told him to go wash his eyes in the pool, and when he did, he was no longer blind.

The previously blind man returned to his stomping ground, and many there did not even recognize him. He adamantly shared his identity, and when he was asked what happened, he replied… “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see.

So today we pick up the story, remembering that it was the Sabbath, and as we know by now, it was unlawful, according to the religious leaders, to heal on the Sabbath…so now there was an issue to address.

Verse 13 from the New Living Translation states

13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”

I love this SO MUCH! God is constantly working in our lives. We ALL have a testimony. Whether you are a new Christian or have been following Christ for years, God is working in your life. And whether you have a redemption story of God healing you from addiction or snatching you from abuse or if your walk with God has been more simple, YOUR story matters. I grew up in a Christian home, and I used to think my story was unimportant because there was no flash and bang. But when we open our eyes and look for God’s miracles, they are all around us!! I praise God for the ability to work in this ministry and attend church in a healthy Christian environment each week. I am in awe that God has orchestrated a way for me to serve Him from my home, with my sweet puppy dogs by my side. And even as I sit here, I am amazed that God finds ways to focus my mind on Him – a crackling candle, access to soft piano music, a safe neighborhood where I can walk down the street in my socks several times a day to clear my mind. These are some of the things God has done for me. And while they may not mean anything to you, this is my story. And it is important to me. And praising God for even the little things brings glory to Him!

We all have SO many God stories every single day. Stories of protection, provision, and revelation. God is working in your life right now, allowing you this time to focus on His Word.

And He wants us to share our God stories! Because there is someone who needs to hear them! There is someone who needs to be assured that God is alive and well, and that He is present every single day in our lives.

So the man simply tells what happened to him… He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!

But this proclamation of what had actually happened caused an uproar…verse 16…

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.”

The Pharisees held so tightly to the letter of the law that they couldn’t reconcile that someone FROM God, would EVER work on the Sabbath…but God gave wisdom…cloaked in common sense…to some in the crowd…

Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?”

The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

I love this man. He is simply no-nonsense. It is what it is. He healed me. He must be from God.

Sometimes we try to make things so complicated when the most logical answer is staring us in the face. We WANT to think what we want to think, and we will rationalize until our faulty reasoning makes some form of convoluted sense.

But the man was just calling it like he saw it. This wasn’t the first healing of the blind, but it was UNHEARD of that someone blind from birth would have their sight healed. This wasn’t a renewal of this man’s sight, this was a CREATION of his vision – and only God could that.

Verse 18

18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?”

His parent told what THEY knew…verse 20…

20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this,[a] because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”

25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?”

27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?”

Oh my…I can’t wait to meet this man in heaven. In essence, he was saying – I know – this is so amazing, right? We would all be crazy to NOT follow this man who clearly is from God.

Again, I encourage you to take a moment and think about the story God has given you today. I don’t know your story, but I know God. And I know that God is working AMAZING things in your life!

Consider the accident you saw on the way to work. God kept that from being you. Consider the pain your co-worker is walking through – yet God has kept you from that particular pain. And even when we are hit – whether it be from our own actions, shots fired at us, or by a stray bullet – God is ALWAYS there to get us through it! And if we allow Him to work in ALL our circumstances, we will be AMAZED at His provision.

We have a new book that will be released soon by the ladies in our ministry titled Joy Unspeakable: Regardless of Your Circumstances. God is SO POWERFUL, that He can teach us, lead us, and bring us JOY, even when it seems the world is against us.

So now that maybe you are thinking of your God story – go a step further. Who can YOUR God story impact? All you have to do is tell it! The man says, listen…I was blind, and now I’m healed…perhaps we should ALL be looking at this guy Jesus. I’m willing to bet MANY listened to the man and their lives were changed. But the Pharisees…not so much…verse 28…

28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”

The man didn’t give up stating the obvious…

30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.”

The man spoke his truth – and he unashamedly spoke the truth about Jesus. We should be empowered by this, strengthened and emboldened to tell our stories—to tell our truth. But even when we do, we can NOT control people’s responses…Verse 34…

34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

I wish I could have seen the man as he left the synagogue, looking around at the plants, trees, buildings, and the faces of the people he had walked be for years but had never seen. I wish I could have seen the spring in his step, knowing that he knew that he knew that he had had an encounter with God!

Next week we will wrap up this story. But for today, I want you to think: what is the God-story I have been given today, and who can I share it with? As you think and process, let me encourage you to pray about writing your story. We at Women World Leaders are intentional about meeting individuals where they are and helping them share their stories – and we invite you to share yours. We have writers who meet together regularly as they step out to share how God has shone up in their lives. As you process this invitation, go on our website, womenworldleaders.com, and check out some of our best-selling books, full of God stories. I’m telling you, I have read every single one, and each one helps me walk stronger and more faithfully, knowing I serve an incredible God who is intricately involved in each of our lives.

Let’s pray…

Dear Most Holy God – thank you for our stories. Thank you for not only being part of our lives, but for orchestrating every moment so we can always see you. Father, we want to no longer be blind – continue to restore OUR vision as we are blessed to see a more perfect picture of you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.