A SPUNKY EX-BLIND GUY

JOHN 9:30-34 NKJ 
30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!  31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.  32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind.  33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." 
34 They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. 

I love this story.  And you have to love this blind guy.  Maybe because he spent his entire life blind and then begging.  Maybe because he was so elated at being able to see for the first time.  Maybe because he was never accepted by the religious leaders and had been looked down on.  But in any case, this blind guy has some spunk, some grit, and was not intimidated by the petty legalistic Pharisees.   

After Jesus healed him, this blind guy was called on the carpet by the Pharisees.  They thought that Jesus could not be from God because He healed on the Sabbath.  They did not even believe he had been born blind until they called in his parents and questioned them.  The parents showed up with some fairly lame answers for the Pharisees.  They were more concerned with being accepted than rejoicing over their son's healing.  But that's a lesson for another day.   

So, the Pharisees continued to pressure the now ex-blind guy to renounce Jesus, but he was not having it.  In fact, the ex-blind guy, we never learn his name, turns the tables on the Pharisees and exposes their hypocrisy.  And his doctrine was very solid for a man who never had the benefit of a religious education.   

He really called the Pharisees on the absurdity of their religious reasonings.  His doctrine was sound.  God does not do miracles through sinners but through godly people.  No one has gone around opening the eyes of anyone born blind.  If this man was not from God, He could do nothing.   

The Pharisees had no answer for this, so they excommunicated the ex-blind guy from the synagogue.  But Jesus found him and revealed himself  as the Son of God.  And the ex-blind guy worshipped Jesus.   

APPLICATION: 

Religion, especially that which focuses on man-made rules, can be so far off from what God desires.  God still wants people free and strong and healed.  Why people would ever have a problem with that kind of love and compassion is beyond me.  So, if someone wants to believe God for big things, don't stop them.  Just believe and rejoice with them.   

PRAYER: 

Lord, I relate to this spunky ex-blind guy.  I believe You still do amazing miracles today.