Series: Advent
John 9:1-7 ESV
Acts 2:1-4 ESV
It took a long time for me to understand the truth Jesus spoke in John 9:1-7. When I was younger I assumed since Jesus had the power to heal even today everyone we prayed for in the name of Jesus would be healed.
One example is found in John 9:1-7, “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him,“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.”
My reasoning (because I was younger) was that if Jesus can heal a blind man and since Jesus promised us the power in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Then in Acts 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
When I was younger my reasoning was that since the Spirit of God was in those of us who choose to ask God to come in, we will have the healing power of God in us.
The problem is that while I have seen some people healed, it appeared that others were not healed.
When I was younger I thought if I asked and someone was not physically healed I failed because I didn’t have enough faith.
It took time and patience for me to realize that the power of God is greater, stronger, and all-knowing.
In other words God is God and I am not.
The point is in John 9.
Jesus is the light.
Jesus sees everything. Jesus sees our future. Jesus knows the end result of any action or change.
In John 9 the man was not blind because he deserved it. The man was blind because something happened in the womb that made it so he was unable to see. Neither the parents or the man deserved it.
In addition to that, he was not blind because God loved him less.
While the answer was difficult for me to understand for years as I grew older I came to realize that if someone is blind they often have a great sense of knowing or hearing or understanding. Their gifts in other areas are exponentially heightened.
I came to realize that the gift we have when we lack in one area is much greater in another area. For example, my eyesight and my hearing are terrible…both have been lacking for a very long time. When I was a baby I had a very high fever (106.2) and in order to bring the fever down the doctor’s used ice. That caused a chain reaction in my system and I went into convulsions.
Doctors have told me I am three times legally blind, but because of modern science I have an internal lense implanted and I also have glasses that make it so I can see. I’ve found that my hearing problem is connected to background noise and if I reduce the background noise I can hear better.
But, here is the point…as I grew older I came to realize God made it so I can see things that others cannot see. I see spiritual truth. I have seen angels.
If I am quiet and reduce the noise in my room, I can hear the Spirit direct me.
When I lost part of my sight and hearing, I gained spiritual sight and hearing.
Honestly, I would not give up spiritual sight and hearing for better eyesight and hearing. God gave me the greater gift.
I have found that believers who lose one thing, gain another.
As a result when I pray for healing for others I ask for God’s greater good for them. In John 9 the greater good God had for the man was his sight. For me it was so I could see spiritual truth and the spiritual world.
As I matured in the faith I could see that when we ask for healing, God does answer…we just don’t always see or know how God healed.
Spiritual Practice: Pray
Pray for healing for someone and ask God to show you how they were healed. It may take time, so be patient. Watch and wait.
In God, Deborah
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