August 7 - Blind Guides

 Read today’s texts first: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

 MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Stay humble  - you don’t want God to humble you!

The zingers keep coming. The story of Jesus healing the man born blind has so many wonderful layers, it almost seems too good to be true. But the fact that it is true makes it even more spectacular. Here’s my list of favourite moments:

• The disciples see a blind man and start the blame game; Jesus sees Him and feels compassion (9:2,3).
• Jesus chooses a little dirt and some spit to heal the man (9:6). It may not be the most sanitary technique but every miracle requires a fresh approach. Yesterday’s manna is full of maggots. Jesus reminds us to always ask: "what is the Father saying now?" (You’ll notice the same thing with God’s military strategies in the O.T.).
• Jesus required the blind man to take a step of faith by washing his muddy eyes in the pool (9:7).
• People couldn’t quite recognize the man now that he could see (9:8,9). An encounter with Jesus changes you.
• Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. He did that a lot and it makes you wonder if He just liked to tick off the Pharisees (9:14).
• The Pharisees see a man who was born blind who can now see and their first thought is to call Jesus a sinner for healing on the Sabbath (9:15,16). How hard were their hearts?!
• They didn’t believe the man so they asked his parents. His parents said, “He’s a grown man, ask him!” (9:20,21).
• When they tried to get the blind man to agree Jesus was a sinner he counters with, Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see! (9:25).
• When the Pharisees kept asking him how Jesus did it, he gets exasperated, I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too? You gotta love Jewish sarcasm!
• After they got mad and threw the poor man out of the synagogue, Jesus stepped in with this great line: For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind (9:39).
• When the Pharisees picked up on the slam, they asked Jesus “What? Are we blind too?”  Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains (9:40,41).

 Zing! There are a whole lot of reasons to love Jesus but I personally love these moments when he brings down the arrogant Pharisees. Whether it’s the rebellious Israelites being redressed by Zephaniah or the hard-hearted religious rulers being slammed by Jesus, you don’t want to stand against God! “Lord, help me to stay humble because I would never want to be humbled by You!”