Many think that they are headed to Heaven, many think that they know Jesus, but few, very few, know and worship the Jesus of John chapter 9. Preach this Christ, and gently but boldly confront the world’s misunderstanding of Jesus, because it is the only way for people to be saved. But most importantly Jesus deserves and expects the right kind of worship that He is due.
The idea that Jesus never claimed to be God would be laughable if it weren’t so tragic. The entire Bible is filled with clues as well as clear declarations of the divinity of Christ.
But perhaps my favorite go to section of the Bible to show this is John 8, 9 and 10.
In chapter 8 Jesus proclaims Himself to be the I am of the old testament. (John 8:58
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In chapter 10 Jesus declares Himself as one with the Father. (John 10:30)
But it is in chapter 9 that we see Jesus do something that only God can do.
In chapter 9 we see Jesus heal a man who was blind from birth. But he heals him in a way that the man has never seen Jesus. He goes to wash at the pool of Siloam and comes back seeing.
Instead of giving him a chance to rejoice, he is immediately met with skepticism. Once everyone including the Pharisees realize that he was actually born blind they cast him out since it is quite obvious that he sees that Jesus is special and the pharisees hate Christ and want to kill him.
What follows is astounding.
The blind man, who has been kicked out of the temple, most likely excommunicated from Judaism, on what should have been the best day of his life, is found by Jesus.
The sweet savior introduces himself. He tells him to believe in Himself.
The man responds with bowing down and worshipping Christ.
Jesus accepts worship. (John 9:38)
He doesn’t rebuke the man.
He doesn’t stop him.
Rather, the expectation Jesus has is that the man would get on his knees and praise His Creator.
Peter and John are most likely present watching all this unfold. Little did they know that they would be in the same exact scenario just a short time later.
Fast forward to a little over a year or two later and you have Peter and John going up to preach the Gospel at the same temple. (Acts 3)
They get accosted by a man who was also born with a deformity. This time the man is lame from birth.
He begs for money, just like the man in John 9. Peter and John, though full of money (acts 2:45) tell the man that the money they have is for the church, but instead do something a little more impactful and heal the man.
“I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”
Instantly the man, was given the ability to walk. In fact, the miracle was so great, that the man bypassed years of learning how to walk and run and immediately begins leaping in praise to God.
