Being An Agent of God

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
“How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

John 10:1-10

I am reading the ninth chapter of John this week. This is the first story of Jesus in this chapter and it has so many issues that fill my mind. I will probably be spending a few days working through what God is speaking through this passage to me. 

The first question I must face is the issue of the source of blindness. In the ancient world, people believed that those who were born with a debilitating disease the parents or grandparents had sinned. The disciples knew Jesus would know what caused the man to be blind. Along with the primary question, the larger issue I have about this section is the response of Jesus.

Jesus proclaimed this person was born blind to be a demonstration of God's power. This idea is hard for me. The thought that God would make someone "less" just to be a part of the demonstration of Jesus' power. How can a loving God do this? How can a grace filled God do this? 

I realize focusing on the subject of why born is not central to my faith. It is not important to focus on while discovering the focus of God's desire to teach through Jesus. The central focus is the willingness of the person to be used for God's will. 

Are we able to be the instrument of God's grace? The blind man in this story was willing to be that instrument. He went to the pool to wash off the mud. He allowed Jesus to put the mud made of spit on his eyes. This is the focus for me in the response of the blind man. Not why he is blind, but what he is willing to do with the blindness when confronted by Jesus. 

First Friday in Lent: Lent Devotional 2014

Lenten Devotional

Matthew 8-10

In yesterday's reading, we experience more of  the teaching of Jesus and less of His power. Today we enter the fullness of Jesus' power of illness, nature and demons.  Through this reading, we are face to face with some of the most radical moments in life.  Confronted with a real test of faith.  Did Jesus heal?  Why can no one heal like Jesus today?

 Many people rad through these passages of people being healed of terrible illness and afflictions and wonder why none of these are occurring today.  Is not cancer just as evil as the bleeding of the women in Matthew 8:20-22?  Yet, the women in Matthew just touches the hem of the garment and is healed.  Later, Jesus is asked to heal a daughter.  When Jesus agrees and leaves for the home, a centurion (her father and requester) tells Jesus not to come but just speak and it will occur.  Why not today?

I will admit that this frustrates me many times in life.  When I see a young person with an illness and no hope of a cure, I am frustrated.  The times I have looked into the face of a person who just sees no hope of release from pain and weakness.  Where do we find hope and strength?  

Then, I think and pray.  I realize that there are miracles all around us.  How many people are brought back from the dead every day with the power of CPR?  Others are in remission of cancer.  Still more are seeing for the first time.  We give the credit for these to science.  I give credit to God.  For without God, the skills, talents and knowledge would be unavailable to us simple humans.  

The last point on these is the purpose of the miracles.  All of them are performed as moments of demonstration to the people of Jesus' power and position.  They are being used in a way of reaching out to others.  Even in the Acts of the Apostles, the healing and jail beaks are for others to see the power of God.  Now I am lent to ask, am I praying for a personal desire and hope or am I seeking for a demonstration of God's power for people to see?  No matter, we have hope in and through Jesus Christ.  He has brought and offers new life and strength.