The Touch of God, part 44

Warriors Arise: August 27, 2021

John 9:8-15 (NKJV) Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” 9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” 10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered and said, “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.” 12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.” 13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

His testimony does not change, because he is telling the truth. He condensed it the second time, but the facts remain the same. God's hand upon us is sure and steady. He empowers us to answer confidently. The man does not stammer nor does he back down when the questions are no longer coming from neighbors. He doesn't have anything or anyone to be afraid of. He can see. He was touched by God and he knows it. He has his opportunity to testify, to share what God has done. He can be the one to set the record straight, the questionings in the mind of the Pharisees.

If you were blind and listened to the response of the Pharisees and Sadducees toward the miracles Jesus is doing, you might think, they must need proof. Most people ignore a blind man and anyone else who has a disability. Sadly, most of us do. I grew up watching the way people reacted to my mother, who was handicapped. She has MS and lost her ability to walk over 40 years ago. I would get angry and upset at the way people would disregard my mother. She wasn't blind or deaf and she wasn't dumb. Before cell phones, my mother could recite any phone number my Dad needed. He would say, "Linda, what the number for...?" And my mother would recite the number from memory. He never even questioned if she had the right number, because she was right. It was funny, on the occasion he would say, "That can't be right." Then proceed to look the number up and he would have to say, "Well, I'll be, you're right, Linda!" Mom would snicker to herself. My mom has a lot to offer.

I have always found it odd how people think because someone is disabled they are also blind and mute, someone without a brain. Honestly, there are times it has angered me. I really get riled up when people stand in front of her at basketball games. She is there for one reason only and that is to cheer on the team, because my Dad is the coach. When people want to put her in a corner at the gym and push her back behind the edge of the bleachers, I wait till they leave and roll her forward. As long as she is in the out-of-bounds, all is good. When people come into the gym and stand in front of her talking while a game is going on, I have to say something. They can go find a seat, but she has a designated seat. She would love it if she could climb the stairs and sit in the bleachers, but she can't. It is so mind boggling to see how people can just ignore her sitting right there and it is people who know she is there. They know she can't go anywhere else. They know they are trapping her and blocking her from seeing the game. They will carry on a conversation as if she is deaf or blind. I get it, she doesn't matter to them, but she matters to the head coach and he wants his #1 supporter to be able to see the game. They carry on a conversation as if she can't hear what they are saying. Well, she can. She isn't blind nor deaf; she can't walk. This man who is now able to see, has heard what the people have said about Jesus. He has probably heard what the priests have said about Jesus. He might be thinking, "I am the proof you have been looking for."

Does the man, once blind, know why the people brought him to the Pharisees? Maybe it was because they were supposed to be the ones who declared a leper clean, the sick well, and attribute the move of God through His people. The people, this man's neighbors and all who knew him to be blind might want the Pharisees to acknowledge the miracle. They can give witness that they man was once blind and now sees. Surely, this is a miracle from the hand of God. But they didn't see it happen. They can't answer the Pharisees' question.

The Pharisees begin by asking the right question, "How had he receive his sight?". But sometimes a person's answer can be too simple, too easy; however, in its simplicity we think it can't be possible, there must be more. As the Pharisees look to those who brought this man to them, no one can back up the man's testimony. They were not there when Jesus touched his eyes. They were not there when Jesus anointed him. They were not there when Jesus sent him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. No one can verify that what the man said is true. All they can verify is that this man was blind and now he sees. The Pharisees's question really can't be answered. It took all three things for the miracle to be complete.

• The clay mixed with spit put on the man's eyes.

• The anointing.

• The washing in the pool of Siloam.

With what the man says, the healing may have been initiated by Jesus when the spit upon clay was put on his eyes, but the healing didn't happen until he washed in the pool of Siloam. The man gives testimony, never changing what happened nor how it happened. It didn't matter who was listening or who was questioning him. He gave testimony. He knew who touched Him. He knew what he was to do and he did it. He washed in the pool of Siloam.

When you share what God has done in your life and it seems those listening do not believe what you are saying, do you back down? Do you shy away? Do you quit telling? Do you change the testimony to a story they will believe? Do you take God out of the equation because you realize they don't believe God nor that He would act in such a magnificent way? Does your testimony ring true to what happened?

Father, I come before You know. I do not know that I have ever altered my testimony of what You have done in my life, my husband's life nor my children. However, I have felt the pressure of those who do not believe in You when I am sharing of Your amazing love and demonstrative power. I have felt what seemed to be their desire for me to keep my mouth shut. I have felt the shun of their looks and seen how the reposition themselves to no longer look me in the eye or full-on. I pray I will be courageous in sharing what You have done. I pray I will be bold to share Your love for others. I pray I will step up and take the next step in asking if they would like me to pray for them in any area that seems impossible. You are to be glorified. The whole reason Jesus said this man was blind was to bring glory to You. I do not want my hardship or the battle I have come through to miss the fullness of giving You glory. You are worthy to be praised for everything trial and tribulation I have been through. You are to be praised for every area of healing You have done in my life You are to be praised because You did not leave me, ignore me, or pass me by. You are my God and I will testify of what You have done in my life in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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