The Eyes of the Blind Are Opened
Reading Scripture: John 9:32-33
Verse to Memorize: John 9:31
Reference: Psalm 66:18 Goal: To help believers understand what made the eyes of a man born blind opened and help them experience the power of God with the heart of goodness As written in the ninth chapter of John, as He passed by, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him."
Now He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam". So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. It is a unique case in that the blind man did not either come to Jesus first or ask Him to open his eyes, but Jesus found and met him first, and healed him of his disease. Then, how could he experience such a powerful work of God?
- First, he was a man of obedience.
Jesus was first to seek out the man who had been born blind. He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. Actually, it does not make sense that a blind man came to see just by applying clay to his eyes. It seems impossible in fact. If someone who was blind had not heard about Jesus at all and had been in the same situation, most of them would have gotten angry saying Jesus made fun of them.
But the man born blind did not do in such a disobedient way. He just obeyed Jesus' command ., and went and washed in the pool of Siloam. When he obeyed in that way, his eyes, that had been blind from birth opened and he was able to clearly see the world. What we should learn from him is that we must believe and obey the Word of God with humbleness, even if the Word does not seem to agree with our own common sense or experience. Then, God's grace comes upon us and we can have amazing experiences like the blind man experienced.
- Secondly, his spiritual eyes of discerning the truth were opened.
After the born blind was healed, he talked with some Jews. Through his conversation with them, we could see he had the heart of goodness and there was no falsehood in him. Furthermore, his spiritual eyes were open so that he could discern the truth that is right or wrong. However, Jewish religious leaders were like spiritually blind men so they could not recognize Jesus who is the true Light. They were obsessed with finding a reason to criticize Jesus, being bound by the tradition of elders. Although the man said to them that Jesus put clay to his eyes and then he came to see, they did not believe and just asked again, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" Then, he said, "He is a prophet." He answered like this because he believed that one who can let him gain sight must be a man of God.
But the Jews did not believe what he'd said, and they even called his parents and wanted to hear about how he came to see. His parents, however, told them to ask their son themselves because his parents were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. To be expelled from the synagogue was a very great punishment in the Jewish society at that time. A second time the Jews called the man who had been blind, and said foolish words to him. "Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner." God neither listens to nor answers a sinner's prayer. Psalm 66:18 reads, "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the LORD will not hear." Furthermore, God is not the One who gives His power to sinners and receives glory from them. In those days, Jews could not believe nor realize the truth though they saw the truth.
But the man who had been blind was not afraid of them and told them the truth boldly. His remark is recorded in John 9:31-33, saying, "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." In general, most people would be happy to hear that a man who had been born blind came to see. But the Jews tried to trap Jesus saying it was an unlawful and evil deed to heal on the Sabbath. It showed how spiritually ignorant and evil they were. Jesus just performed the works of God, but they opposed Him and even God. Is there anyone who can open the eyes of a man who was born blind? It is only God who can do it. Psalm 146:8 says, "The LORD opens the eyes of the blind? And Isaiah 35:5 says, "Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped."
The verses indicate that the eyes of the blind would be opened when the Christ came. Though the Bible clearly records about this and they saw the works of God, the Jews did not believe it due to their self-frameworks and evilness and they even condemned Jesus as a sinner. But the blind man knew the truth in his good conscience that God does not listen to the prayer of sinners although he did not know much about the Law. He knew that it is only the power of God that can open the eyes of the blind.
- Thirdly, after having experienced the grace he received, he made a resolution to live a new life
We have seen countless people with fatal diseases healed by believing Jesus Christ and many of life's problems resolved. But even though they had received such great grace from God, some people later left God and returned to worldly ways again. When they were sick, they said, "I will live for You, Lord if You heal me of this." After they received healing and recovered their health, however, they forsook the grace and followed their own benefits. How pitiful they are because they are distanced from the way of salvation, though their diseases were healed! However, the born blind's inner heart was good. He did not forsake the grace he had received. That is why he could meet Jesus and gain his sight. Moreover, he even received blessing of salvation that is the most important blessing.
In John 9:35-36, Jesus said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" Then, he answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you." And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Jesus. It was his profession of faith that he would accept Jesus Christ and live for the Lord. God wants all people to come forth before God with such a heart. He desires us to seek Him not just because He can heal us of our diseases or He can bless us, but rather He wants us to realize and feel God's deep love in which He did not spare His only begotten Son and then to accept the Lord as our Savior. He also wants us to get rid of all the works of darkness with sincere love for Him. He wants our actions to be in the Light every day and not to just say we love God only with lips. If we love God, it is never difficult to live according to the Word of God. 1 John 5:3 says, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome."
Why will not God give to us what we ask for if we pray with faith and love! Matthew 7:11 reads, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" As promised in this verse, God can answer anything you ask for. No matter how serious your diseases are, no matter how seriously intertwined you problems are? there is nothing to worry about. Just make a true confession of faith saying "Lord, I believe" and then show your deeds of faith. Then, He will heal you of your disease, make impossible things possible, and cause things that are going wrong to work well. In order to experience God's power, we need to acknowledge and long for the work of God with the heart of goodness like that of the man born blind. We can experience the power of God according to how well we have prepared our vessel for answers. Psalm 18:25-26 reads, "With the kind You show Yourself kind; With the blameless You show Yourself blameless; With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the crooked You show Yourself astute." I hope you will experience the power by showing deeds of faith that pleases God who repays us according to our deeds and lets us reap what we have sown.
Macho ya Vipofu Yafunguliwa
Usomaji wa Maandiko: Yohana 9:32–33
Mstari wa Kukariri: Yohana 9:31
Rejea: Zaburi 66:18. Lengo: kuwasaidia waumini kuelewa kilichofungua macho ya mtu aliyezaliwa kipofu na kuwasaidia kuona nguvu za Mungu wakiwa na moyo wa wema. Kama ilivyoandikwa katika Yohana sura ya 9, Yesu alipokuwa akipita alimwona mtu aliyekuwa kipofu tangu kuzaliwa. Wanafunzi Wake wakamwuliza, “Rabi, ni nani aliyetenda dhambi, mtu huyu au wazazi wake, hata azaliwe kipofu?” Yesu akajibu, “Hukutenda dhambi mtu huyu, wala wazazi wake; bali kazi za Mungu zidhihirishwe ndani yake.”
Kisha akatema mate chini, akatengeneza tope kwa mate yale, akampaka kipofu machoni na kumwambia, “Nenda ukanawe katika birika la Siloamu.” Basi akaenda, akanawa, akarudi anaona. Hili ni tukio la pekee kwa sababu kipofu huyo hakuja kwanza kwa Yesu wala kumwomba afungue macho yake; Yesu ndiye aliyemtafuta na kukutana naye kwanza na kumponya. Basi alipokeaje tendo kuu la Mungu?
- Kwanza, alikuwa mtii.
Yesu ndiye aliyemtafuta kwanza mtu aliyezaliwa kipofu. Alitema mate chini, akatengeneza tope na kumpaka machoni, kisha akamwambia akanawe katika birika la Siloamu. Kwa kweli, haina maana kwamba mtu aliyezaliwa kipofu aanze kuona kwa kupakwa tu tope machoni. Jambo hilo linaonekana haliwezekani. Ikiwa mtu kipofu ambaye hakuwa amesikia habari za Yesu angekutana na hali hiyo, wengi wao wangekasirika na kusema Yesu alikuwa anawadhihaki.
Lakini mtu huyo aliyezaliwa kipofu hakutenda kwa kutotii. Alitii tu agizo la Yesu, akaenda akanawa katika birika la Siloamu. Alipotii hivyo, macho yake yaliyokuwa kipofu tangu kuzaliwa yalifunguka na akaweza kuuona ulimwengu vizuri. Tunachopaswa kujifunza kwake ni kwamba tunapaswa kuliamini na kulitii Neno la Mungu kwa unyenyekevu hata kama halionekani kukubaliana na akili ya kawaida au uzoefu wetu. Ndipo neema ya Mungu itatujia na tunaweza kupitia mambo ya ajabu kama mtu huyo kipofu.
- Pili, macho yake ya kiroho ya kutambua kweli yalifunguka.
Baada ya kuponywa, mtu huyo alizungumza na baadhi ya Wayahudi. Mazungumzo yao yalionyesha kwamba alikuwa na moyo mwema na hakuwa na hila. Zaidi ya hayo, macho yake ya kiroho yalikuwa yamefunguka na aliweza kutambua lililo kweli na lililo uongo. Lakini viongozi wa dini ya Kiyahudi walikuwa vipofu kiroho, kwa hiyo hawakumtambua Yesu, aliye Nuru ya kweli. Walikuwa wamefungwa na desturi za wazee na wakahangaika kutafuta sababu ya kumkosoa Yesu. Mtu huyo alipowaambia kwamba Yesu alimwekea tope machoni, naye akaanza kuona, hawakuamini, bali wakamwuliza tena, “Wewe wasemaje habari zake, kwa kuwa amekufumbua macho?” Akajibu, “Ni nabii.” Alijibu hivyo kwa sababu aliamini kwamba mtu anayeweza kumfanya aone lazima awe mtu wa Mungu.
Wayahudi hawakuamini aliyosema, hata wakawaita wazazi wake na kutaka kusikia jinsi alivyopata kuona. Wazazi wake wakawaambia wamwulize yeye mwenyewe kwa sababu waliwaogopa Wayahudi; Wayahudi walikuwa wamekubaliana kwamba mtu yeyote atakayemkiri Yesu kuwa Kristo atafukuzwa katika sinagogi. Kufukuzwa katika sinagogi kulikuwa adhabu kubwa sana katika jamii ya Kiyahudi ya wakati huo. Wayahudi wakamwita tena yule aliyekuwa kipofu na kumwambia maneno ya kipumbavu: “Mtukuze Mungu; sisi twajua ya kuwa mtu huyu ni mwenye dhambi.” Mungu hasikilizi wala kujibu sala ya mwenye dhambi. Zaburi 66:18 yasema, “Kama ningaliwaza maovu moyoni mwangu, Bwana asingesikia.” Zaidi ya hayo, Mungu hawapi wenye dhambi nguvu Zake ili wamtukuze. Wakati huo Wayahudi hawakuweza kuamini wala kutambua kweli hata walipokuwa wakiiona.
Yule aliyekuwa kipofu hakuwaogopa, bali aliwaambia kweli kwa ujasiri. Maneno yake yameandikwa katika Yohana 9:31–33: “Twajua ya kuwa Mungu hawasikii wenye dhambi; bali mtu akiwa ni mcha Mungu, na kuyafanya mapenzi Yake, humsikia huyo. Tangu hapo haijasikiwa kwamba mtu amemfumbua macho mtu aliyezaliwa kipofu. Kama mtu huyu asingalitoka kwa Mungu, asingeweza kufanya neno lo lote.” Kwa kawaida, watu wengi wangefurahi kusikia kwamba mtu aliyezaliwa kipofu ameanza kuona. Lakini Wayahudi walijaribu kumnasa Yesu kwa kusema kwamba kuponya siku ya Sabato kulikuwa tendo lisiloruhusiwa na ovu. Hii ilionyesha ujinga wao wa kiroho na uovu wao. Yesu alitenda tu kazi za Mungu, lakini wao wakampinga Yeye na hata Mungu. Je, kuna mtu anayeweza kufungua macho ya mtu aliyezaliwa kipofu? Mungu pekee ndiye anayeweza kufanya hivyo. Zaburi 146:8 yasema, “BWANA huwafumbua macho vipofu,” na Isaya 35:5 yasema, “Ndipo macho ya vipofu yatafumbuliwa, na masikio ya viziwi yatazibuliwa.”
Mistari hii inaonyesha kwamba macho ya vipofu yangefunguliwa Kristo atakapokuja. Ingawa Biblia imeandika wazi jambo hilo na Wayahudi waliona kazi za Mungu, hawakuamini kwa sababu ya mifumo yao ya mawazo na uovu wao, hata wakamhukumu Yesu kuwa mwenye dhambi. Lakini yule kipofu alitambua kweli kwa dhamiri yake njema: ingawa hakujua mengi kuhusu Sheria, alijua kwamba Mungu hasikilizi sala ya wenye dhambi. Alijua kwamba nguvu za Mungu pekee ndizo zingeweza kufungua macho ya kipofu.
- Tatu, baada ya kupokea neema aliamua kuishi maisha mapya.
Tumeona watu wengi walioponywa magonjwa hatari kwa kumwamini Yesu Kristo na matatizo mengi ya maisha yakatatuliwa. Lakini hata baada ya kupokea neema kubwa hivyo kutoka kwa Mungu, baadhi yao baadaye humwacha Mungu na kurudia njia za dunia. Walipokuwa wagonjwa walisema, “Bwana, ukiniponya, nitaishi kwa ajili Yako.” Lakini walipoponywa na kupata afya, waliiacha neema na kufuata manufaa yao wenyewe. Inasikitisha jinsi gani kwamba magonjwa yao yaliponywa, lakini wakaenda mbali na njia ya wokovu! Hata hivyo, moyo wa ndani wa mtu aliyezaliwa kipofu ulikuwa mwema. Hakuitupa neema aliyopokea. Ndiyo maana alikutana na Yesu na kupata kuona. Zaidi ya hayo, alipokea baraka muhimu zaidi ya zote, wokovu.
Katika Yohana 9:35–36 Yesu alimwuliza, “Je! Wewe wamwamini Mwana wa Adamu?” Akajibu, “Ni nani, Bwana, nipate kumwamini?” Yesu akamwambia, “Umemwona; naye anayesema nawe ndiye.” Akasema, “Bwana, naamini,” akamsujudia Yesu. Hili lilikuwa ungamo lake la imani kwamba angemkubali Yesu Kristo na kuishi kwa ajili ya Bwana. Mungu anataka watu wote wamjie wakiwa na moyo kama huo. Anataka tumtafute si kwa sababu tu anaweza kutuponya magonjwa au kutubariki, bali tutambue na kuhisi upendo Wake mkuu, kwa kuwa hakumhurumia Mwana Wake wa pekee, kisha tumkubali Bwana kuwa Mwokozi wetu. Pia anataka tuondoe matendo yote ya giza kwa upendo wa dhati Kwake. Anataka matendo yetu yawe katika Nuru kila siku, tusiseme tu kwa midomo kwamba tunampenda Mungu. Tukimpenda Mungu, si vigumu kuishi kulingana na Neno Lake. 1 Yohana 5:3 yasema, “Maana huku ndiko kumpenda Mungu, kwamba tuzishike amri Zake; wala amri Zake si nzito.”
Mungu atakosaje kutupa tunachomwomba tukisali kwa imani na upendo? Mathayo 7:11 yasema, “Basi ikiwa ninyi mlio waovu mnajua kuwapa watoto wenu vipawa vyema, je! Si zaidi sana Baba yenu aliye mbinguni atawapa mema wao wamwombao?” Kama mstari huu unavyoahidi, Mungu anaweza kujibu chochote unachomwomba. Ugonjwa wako uwe mbaya kiasi gani au matatizo yako yawe yamechanganyika kiasi gani, huna haja ya kuwa na wasiwasi. Toa ungamo la kweli la imani, “Bwana, naamini,” kisha onyesha matendo ya imani. Atakuponya, kufanya lisilowezekana liwezekane na kuyafanya mambo yaliyokuwa mabaya yaende vizuri. Ili kuona nguvu za Mungu, tunapaswa kuitambua na kuitamani kazi Yake kwa moyo mwema kama ule wa mtu aliyezaliwa kipofu. Tunaweza kuona nguvu za Mungu kulingana na jinsi tulivyoandaa chombo chetu kupokea majibu. Zaburi 18:25–26 yasema, “Kwa mtu mwenye fadhili Ujionyesha mwenye fadhili; kwa mtu mkamilifu Ujionyesha mwenye ukamilifu; kwa mtu safi Ujionyesha mwenye usafi; na kwa mtu mpotovu Ujionyesha mwenye kupingana naye.” Natumaini mtaonyesha matendo ya imani yanayompendeza Mungu, ambaye hutulipa kulingana na matendo yetu na kutuvuna kulingana na tulichopanda, na kwa njia hiyo mtaona nguvu Zake.