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. 

The Yoke of Christ

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV) 

I am reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book, Discipleship.  Some may know it better under the older title, The Cost of Discipleship.  But a newer translation has been made and this is the title of the book I am working on at this time.  No matter the name, Bonhoeffer has in his preface a discussion of the yoke of Christ.  This idea has been in my mind this morning for a number of situations.  The least of which is the personal desire to follow Christ better.

The idea of the Yoke of Christ is taken from the quote above and from other areas in the Gospels.  Jesus tells His listeners and us today to take upon our selves the yoke He offers.  Now,  in most situations and through out the New Testament, many would consider taking on the yoke of Christ to mean something along the lines of following the grace brought through Christ and removing the burden of the law.  This would be a very simple and great gift to the people of Jesus time who were burdened by attempting to follow a very hard and arduous set of rules imposed by the religious elite.  Is this all Jesus was wanting to point out in the lives of His listeners and in our ears today?

I do not think this is the case.  Jesus not only asked people to listen, but He called people to follow Him.  This were His first words to the disciples, "Come and Follow me."  The idea of a yoke is that it is something used by farmers to guide the animals of work.  It also provided a way for the load from the work to be spread out on the shoulders and among other animals and not just a single being.  We are called to be guided and directed by the Jesus not just given a freedom from the law.  

This was the words in the preface of Bonhoffer's book.  Where are you being directed by God today?  What aspects of your life are you willing to give up for Christ to become central in your life?  The yoke is light not because Jesus will demand great work out of us.  It is light because it shares the load with others and we are equipped by Christ Himself to accomplish the life we are being directed towards.  Are you willing to take up the Yoke of Christ?