The Hesitant Prize Fighter

Introduction

So far we have covered 4 factors behinds the success of Nehemiah.

1st Factor : He realised his commission and he prayed to God to help him  (Part 1)
2nd Factor : He was able to seize the opportunity and he was well prepared.  (Part 1)
3rd Factor : Nehemiah visited the ground to gain a personal understanding (Part 2)
4th Factor : Nehemiah encourage the Jews To Work For The Lord (Part 2)

Let us study the 5th factor behind his success.

5th Factor : Nehemiah knew how to make everyone work together

Nehemiah did not just inspire the Jews to work for the Lord. He knew how to get everyone to work together. If there are only workers and no leaders, everyone will just act as they will. They will not be able to cooperate and collaborate with each other.  As the result their work would produce bad result. That is why there is a need to have leaders to help the work to be done effectively.

Leaders must set the direction to work and to plan for the work. He needs to allocate manpower to finish the work. Let us look at the group of people involved in the work.

https://tben.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/c0b5e-jerusalemswalls.png     

The Work Of Priest And Officers

“Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with 
  his brethren the priests and built the Sheep
  Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. 
  They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred, 
   and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of
  Hananel.” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:1)

Here tells us that high priest Eliashib and his brethren built the sheep gate. In fact the work started from the high priest and the others priest. The high priest is a man of status, and we know that the other priests serve in the temple. These are men with special status.

Yet they are the first who rise up to build the wall. They are willing to serve in the temple and they are willing to let go of their, they rolled up their sleeves and they began building the sheep gate. They are not the only priests who took part of the work.

“And after him the priests, the 
  men of the plain made repairs.” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:22)

Here talks about the priest who lived in the plains. They are the priests living in the eastern side of the Jordan. When we study the book of Joshua there are 2 tribes living on the eastern side of the Jordan. They lived in the cities of refuge which were given to the Levites. These priest only cross the river Jordan when they are assigned to serve at the temple. But over here they came over to help to rebuild the city walls.

“And next to them Rephaiah the 
  son of Hur, leader of half the 
  district of Jerusalem, made repairs.
  And next to him was Shallum the son 
  of Hallohesh, leader of half the district 
  of Jerusalem; he and his daughters 
  made repairs.” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:9,12)

Here is records the leaders of the district of Jerusalem building the wall. At the same time Neh 3:14-19 also records of the leaders of the various districts coming to participate in the work. There are a total of 7 leaders from each district, all of them are men with power and authority.

These are men who usually give orders and have workers to do the work. Yet they are willing to do the work and to take part in the work of rebuilding the wall.

The Work Of The Goldsmith, Perfumers, Merchants

“Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah,
  one of the goldsmiths, made repairs.
  Also next to him Hananiah, one of the
  perfumers, made repairs; and they fortified
  Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.
  After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths,
  made repairs as far as the house of the
  Nethinim and of the merchants, in front
  of the Miphkad Gate, and as far as the
  upper room at the corner.” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:8,32)

Here records of tradesmen and businessmen helping to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. All of us know that workers and businessmen had a primary focus in making money. But here we see them coming to do work for free. For they had this realisation that life i not just about making money. For there not all work have a monetary value. There are occasions where we need to work for God and not to make money.  There are times we need to offer ourselves and serve God with our abilities.

This is where we can see how Nehemiah encouragement to the Jews are successful. For he is able to move both officers as well as common man. He is able to move high priest and district leaders. He is even able to move businessmen who are usually interested only to make money. He made all of them realise that they need to put in effort to rebuild the wall. None of them regarded themselves as high ranking and do not need to work. Nor are those in the lower ranks feel that they are too lowly to join in the world. Everyone understand that it is the time for them to put in effort to rebuild the walls of the house of the Lord. Nehemiah used the words of God to move them, and they were stirred up in their heart by the spirit of the Lord.

Likewise today as servants of God, we must rise up and rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Only those who are not part of the household of God do not need to get involved with this work. They may even choose to oppose and run away from the work. Let us continue to study another group of workers who took up the work.

The Nobleman Sons, Daughters And Grand Children

“And next to him was Shallum the son of Hallohesh, 
  leader of half the district of Jerusalem; he and 
  his daughters made repairs.” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:12)

Here records of a daughter of the leader making repairs. The work of building the city wall is a manual work. It is a work often done by men. Most women and ladies work at home, but here we see the children of the leaders, they are nobles who had not did hard work in their lives before. They are from the second generation born with a silver spoon, but here they are willing to help their parents with the work. They choose to let go of their status as the rich man to do their part.

For they know that before God they have no special status, in the eyes of God they are also the children of God and they must do their duty.

“And next to them Meremoth the son of
  Urijah, the son of Koz, made repairs.
  Next to them Meshullam the son of
  Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel,
  made repairs. Next to them Zadok
  the son of Baana made repairs” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:4)

Here we see Meremoth, he is the son of Urijah the grandson of Koz. Even though the bible did not tell us what he did, but we can see that he is a 3rd generation. In the church we often see the first generation of believers with strong faith, and some may be able to keep their faith into the second generation.  But many families are unable to keep their faith at the third generation. But over here there are third generation believers working for the Lord. This is a sight that is rare to see.

Today as we read how the Jews were working, it moves us and motivate us. Telling us that everyone , regardless of their status and background had one heart and one mind and they are set to complete the work. This includes Jews who are staying on the east side of the Jordan river, outside the city of Jerusalem. They share a common responsibility for they regarded Jerusalem as their home.

The Importance Of  Being A Part Of Jerusalem

Today if we want to be a part of the city of Jerusalem, we must play our parts as well. This is similar to the reminder to the Jews from Nehemiah. If you do not rise up and build you will have no heritage , right or memorial in Jerusalem (Neh 2:20). Therefore we need to ask ourselves, “Do you want to be part of this city of Jerusalem?”. Perhaps it is true that the church is weak , it had many problems and sometimes we are affected by the problem personally. It makes us feel disappointed to the extent that we do not want to be a part of it anymore.

But we often neglect one point, that if we choose not to participate in the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. By the time when the new Jerusalem appear from heaven. As everyone is taken up into heaven, will we be among those who are in the new Jerusalem? 

We need to preserve our faith and ensure that we remain in the church. No matter what happens.  For there are many who comfort themselves saying “I have not left Jesus, I just left the church. I choose not to take part or to have anything to do with the church. But I will still preserve my faith and to love God forever”

But do we still remember the vision of John in revelation?

“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod.
  And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure
  the temple of God, the altar, and those who
  worship there. But leave out the court which is
  outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it
  has been given to the Gentiles. And they will
  tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. “ – John (Rev 11:1-2)

When God told John to measure the temple, he need to measure those who are worshipping there. Leave out the court which is outside the temple for it is given to the gentiles, the outsider.  If those outside the courts are the children of God, they will realise their responsibility and they will enter the temple and worship. if they choose to remain outside then do not measure them.

Usually, we find these words harsh. If the speaker were to say this, we will judge him as a bad speaker. We will question him asking “How can you judge others? He only left the church why do you regard him as a gentile?”

But this is the words written in the bible, we just read it together in the book of revelations. We need to keep this image in our heart. For Jesus instructed John only to measure those who are in the temple worshipping. We need to strive and keep our faith within the church for it is the house of God. It is the temple of God. We need to put in our effort to serve in the house of the Lord.

The Simple Task And The Difficult Task

The Book of Nehemiah also recorded the work schedule done by Nehemiah, it tells us how he divided and assigned everyone to work. Everyone had an area to work, and some of the work are easy while some of the work are difficult.

“Also the sons of Hassenaah built
  the Fish Gate; they laid its beams
  and hung its doors with its bolts
  and bars.” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:3)

The sons of Hassenaah had to lay beams and hung the doors with bolts and bars. it is a complicated work. There are some who are assigned the simple work of building a wall, while there are some who are given the task to work on the gates which require more effort. If we are assigned an easy task we can relax and thank God. But what happens when we are given the difficult work? How would we react to it?

There are some work which require great strength and it is tiring.

“And next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua,
  the leader of Mizpah, repaired another
  section in front of the Ascent to the
  Armory at the buttress. After him
  Baruch the son of Zabbai carefully
  repaired the other section, from the 
  buttress to the door of the house
  of Eliashib the high priest.”-Nehemiah (Neh 3:19-20)

There are sections of the wall that are uphill and some are in the turns. If you are assigned an downhill or flat area it is easy, but if the wall you are building is curved it will be heart. Sometimes working uphill and the turns are difficult, just like the city gate. But when we see the people accepting their duties even if they are assigned difficult areas. Even though the work is hard and tiring they are willing to put in effort. Even though the work is hard, someone would have to do it.

If everyone wants easy work and they choose to push away the difficult work for others to do Then others will also want to push away their duty and not work on the difficult work. Therefore we need to have the right attitude when it comes to doing the difficult work. Even though we are assign a difficult task, we will be able to finish it with the help of God.

Let us also consider something else.
“And next to them Meremoth the son 
  of Urijah, the son of Koz, made repairs.
  Next to them Meshullam the son of
  Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel,
  made repairs. Next to them Zadok the
  son of Baana made repairs.
  After him Meremoth the son of Urijah,
  the son of Koz,^, repaired another section,
  from the door of the house of Eliashib to
  the end of the house of Eliashib” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:4,21)

Over here we see a 3rd Generation believer, Meremoth, he is allocated 2 different area. It is already difficult work to be assigned with one section of the wall for work. Looking at the allocation he is probably a priest. If Meremoth was indeed a priest, it would have been exemplary. For it is already good that he was willing to do the work, yet he put in extra effort to complete 2 parts of the wall.

While some of us may think that such allocation is unfair, but here we can see the faith of Meremoth. He is willing to work and he did not complain even when there are extra work to do. He is willing to do extra work for the Lord. This is a trait often seen in 1st generation believers, therefore it is rare to see that in a 3rd generation believer.

On the surface, it may appear easy to divide the work and for everyone to work together. But in reality this is difficult. For there are easy work as well as difficult work, and sometimes it is easy to see the boundary of the work and there are times where the boundaries are grey and hard to define. We need to remember that all the section must be joined together and who would be in charge of the joining?  The joints within the wall is an important aspect especially when one is building a city wall.

From here we know that there are many grey areas and it is hard to allocate all the work fairly. Therefore whenever we are assigned a difficult work, we need to be understanding and accept the work. We must be willing to  put in the extra effort for we know who is our real master.

Let us not be calculative and not be complainers, but we ought to remember our master. For if we do not do so, we will allow our imagination to run while and we will have a feeling that we are being bullied. Often these are test to see if we truly know who we are serving while we serve. Are we working for Nehemiah or are we working for God? If we are unable to answer this question we will continue to be unhappy with our work allocations. That unhappiness will eventually lead to conflict with others.

Different Gifts But The Same Master

There was a story that I would like to share. In a carpenters workshop there were a quarrel among the tools. The wooden plank is protesting complaining about the nails are too sharp and they were trying to hurt him. But the nails replied in defence “I am not trying to hurt you, it was the hammer forcing me to do so. It was the hammer that made me pierce you. When Hammer heard it, he replied “I did not force the nail to poke you, but it was the ruler who decides where I should hammer.” While everyone is staring at the ruler. The Ruler replied “Please do not accuse me of hurting the plank, my work is to give the right measurement” But the saw got angry and he spoke “He claims that he had the right measurement , but in fact he asked me to saw the extra off. While I am working non stop, I became hot and angry”

While all the tools are still fighting, the carpenter entered the workshop. He took the ruler and measured the plank. He took the saw and saw the wood. Then he used the hammer to nail the nails based on his measurement. The carpenter is trying to make a pulpit, for there will be a special service tonight, and the speaker will be using the pulpit to preach the gospel of Jesus.

This is what the bible is trying to tell us.

“And He Himself gave some
  to be apostles, some prophets,
  some evangelists, and some pastors
  and teachers,  for the equipping of
  the saints for the work of ministry,
  for the edifying of the body of Christ,” – Paul (Eph 4:11-12)

God had given everyone different gifts. It doesn’t matter what roles we are playing and where our talents lies. But we need to be clear about the objectives of our work for God had given us this gift to edify the saints. It is to equip the saints to teach them and train them into acceptable worker for the Lord. So that they can perform their duties and edify the body of Christ

We are here to build up the body of Christ, that is the work of each and everyone of us. This is not just the responsibly of the apostles, the prophets, the preachers and the teachers, it is our work altogether. We need to ask God to help us in our roles and responsibly and we need to stop comparing and murmuring against one another.

Those Unwilling To Do The Work

We know that the plans and work allocation of Nehemiah is perfect and well thought. We will assume that all is perfect and everyone will be willing and happy to do their duty. But the truth is, there are people who are unwilling to do the work.

“Next to them the Tekoites made repairs;
  but their nobles did not put their shoulders
  to the work of their Lord.” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:5)

Here records that the nobles of the Tekoites did not take up their part of the work. Even though the Tekoites are willing to do the work, but their nobles did not take part in the work. For they think they are nobles and they are high and mighty. Sometimes this amuses us. For we will ask “Didn’t they see the high priest working as well as the district leaders? aven’t they heard of the children of the nobles working?  Even the daughters are willing to do their part. What makes them think that they are so noble and are unable to shoulder the responsibility?”

But the bible tells us that the Tekoites were unaffected by their nobles who refuse to take up the work. They just let them be even though it will mean that the work would be harder since they have less manpower. Even if it means that they must do extra work they are alright with the arrangement. In fact The Tekoites did 2 sections of the wall. This was recorded in Nehemiah

“After them the Tekoites repaired another
  section, next to the great projecting tower,
  and as far as the wall of Ophel.” – Nehemiah (Neh 3:27)

The Tekoites had every reason not to take up additional work and even if they were to reject it it would have been acceptable. But they knew that if they did not do their part, it will affect the other work arrangement. They are unwilling to hinder the work even if their nobles refuse to work. They continue to work on their allocated sections no matter what happens.

Even as Nehemiah allocated all the work, there are still people unwilling to cooperate with him. But the whole organisation remains unaffected. The rest of the Jews did not stop working just because some of them refuse to cooperate. Human beings tend to follow the crowd, do as what the others do. We tend not to follow the good example, but we choose to follow the bad examples. In church we often do an attendance check and we say “Since this person is not here I should not come as well”. But we never asked ourselves “Why are you not following the examples of those who are here”"?”

Those who do not wish to work will always find reasons not to work, they will choose only to look up to those who do not work and pass comments. They will think “There must be a problem that is why these men refuse to work” “Nehemiah must be biased in his work allocation and allocated unfairly to them”. Then they will continue to find more evidence to prove that he is unfair.

But if we were to look at the facts, we know that Nehemiah’s work schedule includes the high priest as well as the leaders. He is fair and he did not make life easy just for the priest and the leaders. He encourage them to work and to be an example for others to see.

Why Didn’t The Holy Spirit Move Everyone?

Sometimes as we read the story of Nehemiah we would wonder “Why didn’t the Holy Spirit move all the Jews, why are there people choosing not to work?”

In fact this is not something strange. For we also read of the moving of the Holy Spirit in acts of the apostles. Many sold their belonging and shared whatever they had with others. It is suppose to be a time where the church is perfect in love as well as faith. But yet there are Christians who neglect the Christian widows who were Hellenist. That created a conflict within the church and the apostles have to resolve the problem.

They appointed 7 deacons to handle to problem so that it would not become a big issue. Indeed the Holy Spirit can move people but there will always be people who refused to be moved by him. They will continue to pursue their selfish agenda and ambition. They will follow their own plan and refuse to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

If such people exist even at the time of the Apostles where the Holy Spirit is working mightily. What more will it be in the last days?

That is why we need to look at the big picture, so that we can reach the goal that God intended. There will always be people who oppose and are unwilling to work. We should just leave them be, for God is watching and he will record what they have done in his book of remembrance.

Just like how he recorded the Tekoites nobles being unwilling to take part in the work.

Today our church is trying to be like the apostolic church of the end times. Are we going to help or will we put in effort to obstruct the work?

Conclusion Of The Point

No matter what, there will always be people wiling to help the church. There will always be people willing to pay the price and do the work. They did not because they know they are working for God and their reward will be in heaven.

Likewise there will always be people who will obstruct slander and attack the church. We have experienced this in many places. and many of us are affected by it.

It is time we ask ourselves “When Jesus come again and meet us, he will ask us “What have you done during you time on earth? Who are you working for? What did you do?” What will our answer be before God?

May God help each and everyone of us, so that we will continue to put in effort to build up the church in this time of need. Let us all rise up and build the wall so that our Jerusalem will be strong and perfect before God.

 

Introduction

“And truly Jesus did many other signs
  in the presence of His disciples, which
  are not written in this book;  but these
  are written that you may believe that
  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
  that believing you may have life
  in His name.”- John (Jn 20:30-31)

John tells us that there are many miracles performed by Jesus which were not recorded in the gospel. But He had specially chosen 7 for us to read. He did that so that we can believe that Jesus is indeed the Christ and we can have life through his name.

So far we have taken a look at his first miracle

1. Jesus turning water into wine (Part 1, Part 2)
2. Jesus Healing The Nobleman’s son (Part 3, Part 4)
3. Jesus Healing By The Pool Of Bethesda (Part 5, Part 6)
4. Jesus feeding 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 Fishes (Part 7 , Part 8)
5. Jesus Walking on Water (Part 9, Part 10)

Let us take a look at the 6th Miracle

Healing Of The Blind Man

 
A Picture Of The Pool Of Siloam Where  Many Believed To Be The Location Where He Washed His Eyes

“A Man called Jesus made clay and
  anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘
  Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’
  So I went and washed, and I received
  sight.”- The Blind Man (Jn 9:11)

In the sixth miracle Jesus healed a man who was born blind. He is a pitiful man who need to beg for survival. He is unable to see any light, and he had no sense of security for he cannot see what is going on around him. Indeed if he hears everyone running away, he will not know the reason behind it, and he cannot make his response to run towards it or away from it. It is a helpless sight that brings sadness. Even if he encounter a beautiful day, he is unable to see it.

Sometimes man could only help by giving money, but that could only help him physically. But Jesus is able to help his life, for Jesus can open his eyes, as the result he is able to see light and experience hope and to witness the beauty of his creation.

Jesus did it by mixing clay with his saliva and anointing his eyes with it.

A Healing That Is Hard To Accept

so now if we are the blind man, how would we react to the actions from Jesus? As far as we know he had not healed anyone with his saliva. The man must have encountered many healers and none of them would use this method to help him.

Even though he may not see the clay mixed with saliva but he would have be able to feel it, especially if it is applied on his face. But yet this man did not reject Jesus. The reason for that is that he believed in the actions of Jesus. When Jesus told him to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam he need to travel all the way there. This is a tall order especially for those who are blind.

Sometimes we wonder why did Jesus choose to make life difficult for him? Yet the man did not doubt, he believed in the words of Jesus and he did all that was instructed. After washing his eyes, he received sight and it was a wondrous miracle that testified that Jesus is indeed Christ the son of God. 

The First  Testimony Of The Man

“A Man called Jesus made clay and
  anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘
  Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’
  So I went and washed, and I received
  sight.”- The Blind Man (Jn 9:11)

This was the testimony given by this man about Jesus. He admitted that he is the son of God. It means that he must be from heaven and he is no ordinary person. Even in todays advance medical sciences, doctor could heal organs, they could transplant most organs and they could even restore sight to some with problems in the eye. But medical science is still unable to help a man who was born blind and that is a demonstration that only the power of God that could allow a man born blind to see. Jesus had manifested this power and tell us once again that he is from heaven and he is God.

This man testified like this because there were many who are unbelieving and they even denied that Jesus performed the miracle.

“But the Jews did not believe concerning
  him, that he had been blind and received
  his sight, until they called the parents of
  him who had received his sight.” – John (Jn 9:18)

Even though they had asked how the man was healed, and he said that it was a man called Jesus who opened his eyes, they choose to disbelieve and they even called his parents in for questioning.

The Testimony Of His Parents

They asked them if the man was their son and if he was indeed born blind. Yet we can see his parents giving a very strange response in Verse 20

“We know that this is our son, and
  that he was born blind;  but by what
  means he now sees we do not know,
  or who opened his eyes we do not know.
  He is of age; ask him. He will speak for
  himself.”- The Parents (Jn 9:20-21)

The parents knew that their sons was blind and he can now see, I believed that he must have told his parents that it was Jesus who healed him. But why  are they unable to testify for Christ? They even dodged the question from the people.

Verse 22 gave the reason
“is parents said these things because
  they feared the Jews, for the Jews
  had agreed already that if anyone
  confessed that He was Christ, he would
  be put out of the synagogue.” – John (Jn 9:22)

If a man is “put out of the synagogue”, he is no longer allowed to worship God in the synagogue as well as any other around him. This is as serious as being excommunicated and he will not be able to take part in any social activities of the Jews. They will become outcaste and that will affect their life in the future. His parents felt threatened and and they are worried about their difficulties in the future therefore they did not have the courage to testify that it was Jesus who healed their son. They are unlike their son who testify bravely before the Jews.

The Second Testimony Of The Man

Now this time, the Jews called the man in and ask him one more time. This time the question came with a threat

“Give God the glory! We know
  that this Man is a sinner.” – Pharisees (Jn 9:24)

In fact they are saying “Think carefully before you answer, you must give God the glory,  they even went one step ahead to claim that Jesus is a sinner and he cannot come from God.” They are denying his authority and they claim that Jesus cannot have open his eyes.

“Whether He is a sinner or not I do
  not know. One thing I know: that
  though I was blind, now I see.

  …….

  Now we know that God does not hear
  sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper
  of God and does His will, He hears him.

    Since the world began it has
  been unheard of that anyone
  opened the eyes of one who was
  born blind.  If this Man were not
  from God, He could do nothing.”- The Blind man (Jn 9:25,31-33)

He defended Jesus saying that if he is indeed a sinner without the power of God how than can his eyes be opened? For God does not listen to sinner but only those who worship him.

Even this blind man wonder why these Jews are so hard hearted. For these man saw Jesus performing this miracle and they knew as a fact that this man was born blind and he was a beggar living among them. They are aware that it was Jesus who healed him. This miracle is a power and clear testimony and they have seen it with their own eyes. Yet they question it among themselves and they choose not to believe in Jesus. They would not even agree that Jesus is the Christ and the saviour in the flesh.

The Judgement Of Jesus

That is why Jesus said

“For judgment I have come into
  this world, that those who do not
  see may see, and that those who
  see may be made blind.”- Jesus (Jn 9:31)

We know that Jesus is the saviour but why is he here for judgement? Jesus came to save man so that man can escape the judgement on the last day. For he is the one who created the heavens and the earth and he is the one that will judge. Perhaps we may not know him in the past but when he dwelt among us. During that time he told us that he is the God who created the heaven and the earth. At the same time he also tells us that he is the judge and he will judge this world in the future.

But God loves mankind and is willing to give us a chance, that is why he came to earth and take it upon himself to save man. He is without sin but he had to die for our sins, and through his death he can save us. This is the chance that God give to mankind but to receive this forgiveness of sin, one need to believe in his salvation grace. It is because of this grace  we are not judged in the future and we can enter  his kingdom to enjoy eternal life. That is why Jesus came to the world. He came to prove to us that he is the Christ and saviour. This blind man had experienced Jesus on the first hand, he had experienced the miracle of Christ. That is why he believed and became the disciples of Christ 

Blinded By Hard Heartedness

But there are many who  do not believe even if they saw the miracle before their eyes. Their heart blinded by hard heartedness. When the Pharisees heard the words of Jesus, they became unhappy and they confronted Jesus asking “Are we blind also?”

But Jesus replied

“If you were blind, you would have no sin;
  but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your
  sin remains.” – Jesus (Jn 9:41)

For if they are truly blind then they can say that they did not see and they did not know of Jesus, but since they witness it with their eyes, and deny it, their sins remain in them. Everyone must bear the sin for their hard heartedness.

Similarly today when we can see this miracle by reading of it through the bible. We understand that this miracle proves that Jesus is the saviour. John recorded these miracles so that we can believe that he is the Christ and he is the son of God. Those who believe in him will receive salvation and enter the kingdom of God. Jesus had use this miracle to  manifested his power for all to see. From this story, even though the blind men is unable to see initially. He believe in his heart even when Jesus anointed his eyes with clay and saliva. That is why he followed his instruction and went to the pool of Siloam to wash his eyes. As he was walking he was still unable to see, but he heard what Jesus can do and that he wanted to his his eyes to be healed. So he willingly do it, and that is how he received this grace of God and became his disciple.

Jesus Visiting The Man

In Jn 9:35-38  Jesus came to meet this man after he heard that the unbelieving Jews had chased him out from the synagogue for his testimony of Jesus being the son of God. This man testified bravely and did not waver even before their threats.  He continued to testify bravely saying that it was Jesus who opened his eyes. 

That is why Jesus came to meet him

“Jesus heard that they had cast him out;
  and when He had found him, He said to
  him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?””- John (Jn 9:35)

This is not an encounter by chance, for Jesus came to him intently so that he can believe in him and receive salvation.

But yet the man asked

“Who is He, Lord, that I may
  believe in Him?” – The blind man (Jn 9:36)

It appears as if he did not know Jesus, but yet we find him testifying about him. Perhaps he did not see Jesus with his eyes and was unable to recognise him. Perhaps he tried to return to the place and found that Jesus is no longer there. As he had never seen Jesus and he may not be aware that he is speaking to Jesus.

so when Jesus told him “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” he immediately said “Lord I believe” and he worship him.

Do you Believe In The Son Of God

Today Jesus is asking us, “Do you believe In The Son Of God?”

He wanted to know if we believe that he had the power to forgive sin and that he had the power to save us and give us eternal life. But what will our response be? We will chose to be like the blind man to worship him, or will we choose to disbelieve just like the Pharisees. The Pharisees had rejected Jesus because of their hard heartedness. 

“For God so loved the world that He
  gave His only begotten Son, that
  whoever believes in Him should
  not perish but have everlasting
  life.” – Jesus (Jn 3:16)

Those words are indeed true, but not everyone in the world wants to believe and receive his salvation. Jesus will not force everyone to believe in him, so only those who believe will receive this grace of everlasting life.  Those who choose not to believe must face with their own judgement. God is not unfair and he will not judge them for not believing in him. But they are judged for the many things they do in this life that is against his words. They are judge because of the many things they have done against moral.

Jesus is the only way one can obtain forgiveness and besides him there is no other salvation, no other chance to receive forgiveness. We must seize this chance to know him and to receive him as saviour.