18. Darkness to Light

Can you imagine what it must be like to be born blind?

  • Unable to see the features of family and friends.
  • The beauty of the world in which God has placed us.
  • To miss out on the colors of the rainbow.

Dr. Sangster tells of the effect of the first successful cornea transplant in the 1940s.

He accompanied two people – a lady who had been born blind and her eye surgeon – to the Surrey Downs in England shortly before sunrise.

Gradually as the layers of bandage were peeled off the blind lady became sensitive to the light and got excited. Moments before sunrise, the last remaining bandage was removed, and she began to witness the glory of a sunrise for the first time.

With tears streaming down her cheeks she exclaimed: ‘You’ve tried to describe it to me but I never imagined that anything could be so wonderful!’” (Your Quest for God’ by Richard A Bennett – pages 113,114)

The focus of this week’s session is on Jesus’ healing of a blind man.

We find the story in  John 9:1-11, 24-41

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko:

One day Jesus and his disciples encountered a man who had been blind since birth. Seeing him prompted the disciples to ask, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?”

They saw his impediment as God’s judgment upon either the man himself or more likely his parents for some sin committed.

CLAIM EFFECTED

In responding to their question Jesus put into effect his claim from the previous chapter. “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” (John 8:12b CEV)

Jesus answered, No, it was not punishment for sin but rather an opportunity for you to witness a miracle.”

Jesus went on to point out that while here on earth He had to bring light into those areas of darkness. “While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.” (John 9:5 CEV)

They were about to witness Him bringing light into a life that had been clouded in darkness.

BLIND CURED

The cure for this man’s blindness was in Jesus’ actions. After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud and smeared it on the man’s eyes. Then he said, “Go and wash off the mud in Siloam Pool.” (John 9:6,7 CEV) Out of the dust of the ground and his saliva, Jesus formed clay which He placed on the man’s eyes.

‘The clay which the man found suddenly applied to his eyes awakened wonder, hope, expectation, and faith. It was a ladder by which he climbed from the pit of despair to the mount of joy.’ (F B MEYER) Share on X

Jesus had done his bit but the man still had a part to play in his healing. He was still blind and had to make his shaky way or be assisted to the Pool of Siloam.

As F B Meyer put it, ‘The walk to Siloam was a further venture of faith.’ Only once he had washed his eyes was he able to see.

Often when we present a need to Jesus it is only when we play our part in faith do we receive the complete answer.

CONFUSION

The miracle had taken place but the man was faced with confused unbelief.

For years his friends and neighbors had witnessed him sitting alongside the path begging for a living. Now unexpectedly he was walking unassisted and they, “wondered if he really could be the same man.

A discussion ensued. Some of them said he was the same beggar. . . others said he only looked like him.

  •  Try to recall an experience you had of looking at a person and thinking “I am sure I know you?”

CYNICAL

The witnesses to his healing were cynical. They couldn’t agree on whether this indeed was the former blind guy or not. He, spoke up Come on folks, of course, I am that man.”

They responded, ‘You must be joking! Then how can you see?

“Someone named Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. He told me to go and wash it off in Siloam Pool. When I did, I could see.” 

Unfortunately, this was not the only opposition this man would encounter. Later on in the chapter, we discover that the Pharisees cross-questioned the man about his healing.

They would not accept that healing had occurred, so they asked the man’s parents whether their son had been blind.

This is so often the case. When we experience a great blessing, our adversary immediately tries to rob us of that sense of blessing. He often uses others to sow seeds of doubt.

None so blind as those who will not see. Share on X

The above phrase has its roots in the prophecy of Jeremiah. “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not(Jeremiah 5:21 ESV).

CONFRONTATION

Getting no satisfaction from the parents, the Pharisees once again confronted the man formerly blind.

“Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner” (John 9:25 ESV). Again, we have this focus on sin.

The man’s response was along the same lines as Jesus’s response to his disciples, ‘The issue is not about sin it’s about the miracle of healing, I used to be blind, but now I can see!'” 

When they pressed him for details of what had happened, he put them on the mat, Why do you want me to tell you again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

That shook them and put them on the defensive. “You are that fellow’s disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for that fellow, however, we do not even know where he comes from” (John 9:28b,29 GNB)!

Unfazed, by these religious hypocrites the man pointed out, “We know that God does not listen to sinners; he does listen to people who respect him and do what he wants them to do. Since the beginning of the world, nobody has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. Unless this man came from God, he would not be able to do a thing” (John 9:30-33 GNB).

His opponents had no answer to this truth and shrugged it off with, “You were born and brought up in sin—and you are trying to teach us?” And they expelled him from the synagogue (John 9:34 GNB).

Isn’t it amazing? The man has just received the most amazing healing—and he gets expelled–excommunicated! Do we ever turn our backs on someone when they have received a blessing from God? My wife and I have both experienced times when we have been blessed, and our fellow Christians have rejected our experience. How about you? How sad. Let’s be on guard that we don’t fall into this trap.

COMMITMENT

But Jesus did not come into our world to merely bring physical healing. Yes, the man had been healed physically but he still needed spiritual healing. Jesus found the man and asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

“Tell me who he is, sir, so that I can believe in him!” 

“He is the one who is talking with you now.” 

“I believe, Lord!” the man said, and knelt before Jesus. His healing was complete.

COMPLETE CURE

Having cured the formerly blind man both physically and spiritually Jesus then stated his mission on earth. “I came to this world to judge so that the blind should see and those who see should become blind.” 

Despite having been put in their place, some Pharisees challenged Jesus’s statement. “Surely you don’t mean that we are blind, too?” 

Jesus answered, “If you were blind, then you would not be guilty; but since you claim that you can see, this means that you are still guilty.” 

“None so blind as those who will not see”.

Jesus is still in the business of healing – physically, psychologically, mentally, and emotionally. But most definitely His greatest desire is to bring spiritual healing. To bring each of us into a relationship with the Father through belief in Him as our Saviour and Lord.

Paul reminds us, “You yourselves used to be in the darkness, but since you have become the Lord’s people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light,..” (Ephesians 5:8 GNB) He (God) rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son, (Colossians 1:13 GNB)

Wherever there is an area of darkness in your life, Jesus wants to shed His light. Trust Him, follow His instructions and enjoy living in the light. Reflect on the words as you listen to the song Lord the light of your love is shining.

If you haven’t yet read the Introduction to Encounters with Jesus, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.

Radiant like a sunrise

Morning sunrise

Picture a glorious sunrise.
The sun’s light gradually falls on the scene around you.
The darkness slowly slides away.

Oscar Hammerstein ll and Sigmund Romberg captured the glory of a sunrise in their song “Softly as in a morning sunrise’ which they composed for the operetta ‘The New Moon’ in 1928. In fact, the song actually refers to the budding and blossoming of love. Yet, it nevertheless conveys the gradual radiance created by an early morning sunrise.

  • Can you recall an awesome sunrise that you once witnessed?

An amazing sunrise I experienced many years ago comes to mind. At the docks in Cape Town before dawn one morning I awaited the arrival of one of the Union-Castle liners. In those far-off days, Union-Castle liners travelled regularly once a week from Southhampton U.K. to South Africa.

As I sat on the dockside the sun began to rise across the sea horizon. As I turned to look back at the beautiful Table Mountain, I watched in wonder as the sun’s rays slowly illuminated the face of the mountain, little by little, moving from top to bottom. It was an awesome sight.

Habakkuk seems to have had this kind of picture in mind as he tries to describe the glory of God.

Habakkuk 3:4 NIrV

‘Your glory was like the sunrise. Rays of light flashed from your mighty hand. Your power was hidden there.’

Image by Iatya Prunkova from Pixabay

Brightness like a sunrise

 

The English Standard Version puts it this way:

“His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.”

The suggestion is that most of His power remains veiled, or concealed.

Consequently, several commentators have likened this to God’s glorious appearance on Mount Sinai.

“…and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.”(Exodus 24:16,17 NIV).

Some compare it to the pillar of fire which guided the Israelites through the desert.

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”  (Exodus 13:21 NIV)

Rays of light

Light has a particular significance in scripture.

The CEV says in Hebrews 1:3 that

God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory.

Light is also associated with the preaching of the Gospel.

“The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16)

This comes in fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy, 

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.’ Isaiah 9:2)

Consequently, the Gospel has brought and continues to bring brightness and light to a dark world enmeshed in evil. Those early disciples who witnessed Christ’s glory could, with all authority, proclaim Jesus to be the light of the world.

Bathed in light

Since His return to heaven, Christ is bathed in light, crowned with glory and honour, and highly exalted at his Father’s right hand, above all principalities and powers.

“Jesus Christ, who has gone to heaven and is at the right side of God, ruling over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers.” (1 Peter 3:22 GNB)

God is not only seen as a Light, He is the Light. The Light of God is like a garment in which God is clothed.

“Now the message that we have heard from his Son and announce is this: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him.” (1 John 1:5 GNB)

Many who have had an after-death experience, have testified that in the spirit they were drawn towards a bright light before returning to their earthly bodies.

Hidden Power

In the beginning, when God created the universe, the earth was formless and desolate.   The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water. Then God commanded, “Let there be light”—and light appeared. (Genesis 1:1-3 GNB)

The power of God is revealed in that light. The very name God in the New Testament translates the Hebrew word ‘El’ (singular) and ‘Elohim’ (plural), with a root meaning ‘to be strong.’ (Illustrated Bible Dictionary by M G Easton). When ‘El’ is used to indicate deity it is often linked with ‘almighty’. For example, the title El-Shaddai means God Almighty or all-sufficient. (The New Bible Dictionary)

So here we are talking about a powerful God.

Trinitarian power

Now, this is where it gets really interesting. In Genesis 1:1,3 we read,  “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth………And God said, ‘Let there be light,….'” The Hebrew word for God in both of these verses is ‘Elohim’ which is masculine plural. (Strongs Lexicon)

So from the very creation of the world, we see all three members of the Trinity involved. Again in Genesis 1:26a we read “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness...”  There can be no doubt of the involvement of our Trinitarian God (in other words, three-in-one God) from the very beginning.

Isn’t it simply amazing that the Almighty Creator of our planet and the universe in which it exists, is the same God who sent Christ, one of the Trinity, into our world to rescue us from the power of sin? And then to cap it all, the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead, takes up residence in the lives of those committed to Christ as Saviour and Lord.

What a mighty God we serve!

Why not spend a few minutes now in communication with Elohim just thanking Him for His amazing love and provision for your every need.

If you would like to listen to the song Softly as in the morning sunrise here it is sung by the old crooner Bing Crosby.

PS. If you haven’t yet read the background to the prophecy, please do. It will benefit you throughout this series of studies.