John chapter 9 [Archive] - BibleForums Christian Message Board

miepie

May 20th 2005, 05:48 AM

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
THE HEALING OF A MAN BORN BLIND (CHAP. 9)
Isaiah predicted that in messianic times various signs would occur. The Messiah would “open eyes that are blind” (Isa. 42:7; cf. Isa. 29:18; 35:5). Jesus often healed the blind (cf. Matt. 9:27-31; 12:22-23; 15:30; 20:29-34; 21:14). This miracle in John 9 is notable because Jesus had just proclaimed Himself as “the Light of the world” (8:12). As a public demonstration of His claim, He gave sight to a man born blind.

Isaiah 42:7
To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

Isaiah 29:18
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book,
And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

Isaiah 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Matthew 9:27-31
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" [28] And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." [29] Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." [30] And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it." [31] But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

Matthew 12:22-23
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. [23] And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"

Matthew 15:30
Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.

Matthew 20:29-34
Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. [30] And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" [31] Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" [32] So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" [33] They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." [34] So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Matthew 21:14
Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 9:1
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

JFB Commentary:
1-5. as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from birth—and who "sat begging" (John 9:8).

John 9:8
Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?"

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:1. As He went along in the city of Jerusalem, Jesus saw a man with congenital blindness. Jesus’ choice of this individual is significant (cf. 5:5-6). He is Sovereign in His works. That the man was blind from birth pointed out his seeming hopelessness. This illustrates man’s spiritual blindness from birth (9:39-41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:1-3).

John 5:5-6
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. [6] When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"

[b]John 9:39-41
And 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." [40] Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" [41] Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

2 Cor. 4:4
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Ephes. 2:1-3
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, [2] in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, [3] among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

John 9:2
And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

JFB Commentary:
2. who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born blind—not in a former state of existence, in which, as respects the wicked, the Jews did not believe; but, perhaps, expressing loosely that sin somewhere had surely been the cause of this calamity.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:2-3. The disciples faced a theological problem. Believing that sin directly caused all suffering, how could a person be born with a handicap? Therefore either this man sinned in his mother’s womb (Ezek. 18:4) or his parents sinned (Ex. 20:5). Jesus therefore answered, Neither this man nor his parents sinned. These words do not contradict the universal sinfulness of man (cf. Rom. 3:23). Instead Jesus meant that this man’s blindness was not caused by some specific sin. Instead the problem existed so that God could display His glory in the midst of seeming tragedy (cf. Ex. 4:11; 2 Cor. 12:9).

Ezekiel 18:4
"Behold, all souls are Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
The soul who sins shall die.

Exodus 20:5
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Exodus 4:11
So the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?

2 Cor. 12:9
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

John 9:3
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

JFB Commentary:
3. Neither . . . this man, &c.—The cause was neither in himself nor his parents, but, in order to the manifestation of "the works of God," in his cure.

Willmington's Bible Handbook:
John 9:1-7 When the Light gives sight. When his disciples wondered whose sin had caused a man’s blindness, Jesus said he had been born blind so that “the power of God could be seen in him” (John 9:3). Then, once more declaring himself to be the light of the world (John 9:5; see John 8:12), Jesus told the man he could be healed by washing in the pool of Siloam. The man did so and was healed. This is the only recorded time Jesus required anyone to do anything other than believe in order to be healed.
The disciples and apparently the Pharisees as well believed that suffering results from personal sin (John 9:2). Some rabbis even taught that a baby could sin in its mother’s womb. Although the issue is complicated, since the consequences of parents’ actions can profoundly affect the lives of their children, Jesus made it clear that suffering does not always result from sin (John 9:3).

John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 9:5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 9:34
They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

My commentary:
Recently I changed my signature on this board to the verse referred to here from 2 Corinthians 12. I feel very connected with Paul when he talks about his "thorn in the flesh". This in the Bible Knowledge Commentary about that verse:
So that Paul would not forget this, God gave him a constant reminder of his weakness. Countless explanations concerning the nature of his thorn in the flesh have been offered. They range from incessant temptation, dogged opponents, chronic maladies (such as ophthalmia, malaria, migraine headaches, and epilepsy), to a disability in speech. No one can say for sure what his was, but it probably was a physical affliction (for the work of Satan in this). It is understandable that Paul would consider this thorn a hindrance to wider or more effective ministry and that he would repeatedly petition God for its removal (2 Cor. 12:8). But he learned from this experience the lesson that pervades this letter: divine power (My power, v. 8; Christ’s power, v. 9) is best displayed against the backdrop of human weaknesses (cf. 4:7) so that God alone is praised. Rather than removing the problem God gave him grace in it. This grace is sufficient (arkei, i.e., adequate in the sense of providing contentment).
The thing is, that my disability and bedriddenness also keeps me from ministering to people the way I would want to. But on the other hand, my physical problems make me a more powerful witness than I would be if I would be healthy. Also now I become weaker and more ill I am starting to experience the grace of God more than ever. Instead of healing me physically I can feel God's Presence more clearly and it makes me more quiet and very peaceful. It is almost funny.... when the whole family is worried like crazy about my health I have an attitude like I don't really care what is happening because I know God is there. And I am safe in His Arms. That's where my peace comes from and that way I can deal with this disease.

Lots of love,
Mieke :kiss:

Debra R

May 22nd 2005, 05:02 AM

I was not sure if you wanted to continue with Chapter 9..... http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

It was a common belief in those days that illness or disability was the result of sin.

3) Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Jesus told them that sin did not cause this man's blindness, but God allowed him to be born blind so that Jesus could heal him-that is the works of God!

Thank you Brenda http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif,

We had decided at the beginning that we were going through the whole book of John, so I thought we better not take a break but continue on. We will get through it eventually. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

You or Mieke can post the next set of verses. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

Debra R

May 22nd 2005, 05:07 AM

Thank you Mieke, http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

And thank you especially for sharing your commentary.....
Your faith gives us strength and courage. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

My commentary:
Recently I changed my signature on this board to the verse referred to here from 2 Corinthians 12. I feel very connected with Paul when he talks about his "thorn in the flesh". This in the Bible Knowledge Commentary about that verse:
So that Paul would not forget this, God gave him a constant reminder of his weakness. Countless explanations concerning the nature of his thorn in the flesh have been offered. They range from incessant temptation, dogged opponents, chronic maladies (such as ophthalmia, malaria, migraine headaches, and epilepsy), to a disability in speech. No one can say for sure what his was, but it probably was a physical affliction (for the work of Satan in this). It is understandable that Paul would consider this thorn a hindrance to wider or more effective ministry and that he would repeatedly petition God for its removal (2 Cor. 12:8). But he learned from this experience the lesson that pervades this letter: divine power (My power, v. 8; Christ’s power, v. 9) is best displayed against the backdrop of human weaknesses (cf. 4:7) so that God alone is praised. Rather than removing the problem God gave him grace in it. This grace is sufficient (arkei, i.e., adequate in the sense of providing contentment).
The thing is, that my disability and bedriddenness also keeps me from ministering to people the way I would want to. But on the other hand, my physical problems make me a more powerful witness than I would be if I would be healthy. Also now I become weaker and more ill I am starting to experience the grace of God more than ever. Instead of healing me physically I can feel God's Presence more clearly and it makes me more quiet and very peaceful. It is almost funny.... when the whole family is worried like crazy about my health I have an attitude like I don't really care what is happening because I know God is there. And I am safe in His Arms. That's where my peace comes from and that way I can deal with this disease.

Lots of love,
Mieke http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/kiss.gif

Ninna

May 23rd 2005, 08:34 PM

I am going to post the next 2 verses. There is so much in these 2....

John 9

4) I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming, when no one can work.

5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (NKJV)

miepie

May 25th 2005, 10:41 PM

John 9:4
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

JFB Commentary:
4. I must work the works of him that sent me, &c.—a most interesting statement from the mouth of Christ; intimating, (1) that He had a precise work to do upon earth, with every particular of it arranged and laid out to Him; (2) that all He did upon earth was just "the works of God"—particularly "going about doing good," though not exclusively by miracles; (3) that each work had its precise time and place in His programme of instructions, so to speak; hence, (4) that as His period for work had definite termination, so by letting any one service pass by its allotted time, the whole would be disarranged, marred, and driven beyond its destined period for completion; (5) that He acted ever under the impulse of these considerations, as man—"the night cometh when no man (or no one) can work." What lessons are here for others, and what encouragement from such Example!

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:4-5. Day means the time allotted for Jesus to do God’s will (to do the work of Him who sent Me). We includes the disciples and by extension all believers. Night is the limit set to do God’s works. In Jesus’ case it was His coming death. As the Light of the world Jesus gives people salvation (cf. 8:12). After His death, His disciples would be His lights (cf. Matt. 5:14; Eph. 5:8-14)

John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Ephes. 5:8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light [9] (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), [10] finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. [11] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. [12] For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. [13] But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. [14] Therefore He says:

"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light."

John 9:5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

JFB Commentary:
5. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world—not as if He would cease, after that, to be so; but that He must make full proof of His fidelity while His earthly career lasted by displaying His glory. "As before the raising of Lazarus (John 11:25), He announces Himself as the Resurrection and the Life, so now He sets Himself forth as the source of the archetypal spiritual light, of which the natural, now about to be conferred, is only a derivation and symbol" [ALFORD].

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

My Commentary:
When I think about Yah Shua in the garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested and praying in agony I always wonder what I would have done in His Place. I probably would have quit my job a long time ago. Even if I would have made it to this point, I surely would have ran as far away from that garden as possible. But Yah Shua was determined to do what God wanted Him to do. He had no intentions of backing out, even though He had many opportunities to do so. It reminds me of a poem I once read. It was about someone in city A "seeing" the angel of death coming to get him and he decides to flee to city B.... the end of the poem is that this angel looked at the man while he knew he would have to get him later that night in city B..... so fear sometimes drives us to do everything that we want instead of listening to God and do what pleases Him. I also discovered over the years that God's view is so much wider than ours. We are thinking about life in short terms. We do not have the overview He has. I always thought it was not fair of God that I didn't have any children and that I lost the one I carried. Looking back I now see what God saw in those days. He knew that I would end up with an abusive husband and that I would never be able to break free from him if we would have had a child together. With my disease I would never have been able to raise it the proper way. I still am sad about the one I lost, but I do understand why things happened that way. If only I was a little more like Yah Shua, I would have trusted God so much more. But I am human and my feelings and thoughts often make me do things and say things that I shouldn't have. I am so grateful that Yah Shua did what was expected of Him. It literally saved my life.

journey360

May 26th 2005, 01:07 PM

(NKJ) John 9:
1) Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
2) And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Just a few thoughts here. Why did they first assume that sin was the cause of this man's blindness? Hi Debra. I think they assumed sin was the cause of this man's blindness because it had been said that back then children ended up with the iniquities of their parents/grandparents.

3) Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
Is Jesus saying that sin was not the cause of his blindness?
Scripture also says that the result of sin is death. I have always thought that sickness also was the result of sin as in from the fall of man in the garden. When the Bible says that the result of sins is death. It is speakikng of a spiritual death that seperates us from God-not a deadly death. All sickness is not a result of sin. Just as with Job, some sickness is associated with one being attacked by satan.

Likewise, all sickness is not unto death.
John 11:4 "When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

Romans 5:21 "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Philippians 2:27 "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God ad mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow."

I John 5:17 "All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death." .

Ninna

May 26th 2005, 01:32 PM

Hi Journey360! Good verses. Thank you for joining in - I hope you will continue this study with us. :hug:

Mieke, I love your commentaries. What would we do without Jesus completing the specific work God sent Him to do, and what would we be without His light? Praise God!!!

Debra R

May 27th 2005, 02:34 AM

Thank you Mieke, http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif great stuff!

John 9:4
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:4-5. Day means the time allotted for Jesus to do God’s will (to do the work of Him who sent Me). We includes the disciples and by extension all believers. Night is the limit set to do God’s works. In Jesus’ case it was His coming death. As the Light of the world Jesus gives people salvation (cf. 8:12). After His death, His disciples would be His lights (cf. Matt. 5:14; Eph. 5:8-14)

Jesus knew the time He had here on earth. He knew when He was to die and how He was to die. Jesus came to do the works of God, that the people might know God.

That they might know Him as personal God, not some far distant God who had no care for them but a God who loved them. Jesus was the light, the light of God.

I bet there was something special about Him that you could tell at a glance, that would make you stop and stare, that would make you want to talk with Him and look in His eyes. I bet He had a glow about Him. Jesus the light of the world. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

It is an awesome thing that we are to be a light, like unto Jesus. That there should be something special about us, that others would know that we had been with Jesus. That others might know this light too. That they too would want to know Jesus, that they would want to know our personal God.

John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Ephes. 5:8-14
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light [9] (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), [10] finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. [11] And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. [12] For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. [13] But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. [14] Therefore He says:

"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light."

Jesus promised that if we follow Him we will not walk in darkness. I remember what it felt like to walk in darkness. But I didn't know I was walking in darkness until Jesus shined forth His light on me. That is the way of those who are walking in darkness, they don't realize that they are. That is why we have to shine His light, so they can see.

It seems hard sometimes though to shine as Jesus' lights. But it is not our light we are shining, it is the light of Jesus, letting Him shine through us.

At work today we had a team meeting and we had to pair up and find out what the other persons job consists of and then we were to share with everyone the good things about that person and how their ability to do their job helped us.

I have to say I was amazed, especially with the stressful time with what Nathaniel is going through, that they said how well I was holding up and taking care of all my responsibilities and that they considered me the spiritual light of our workplace.

And then my supervisor said that I was the first born again person that he had ever met that was truly a christian, that walked the walk. It amazed me because I don't see what I do. But then I immediately thought of this verse,

Matthew 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. I was humbled that they could see Jesus in me and happy that my Father was glorified through me.

Mieke...My Commentary:
When I think about Yah Shua in the garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested and praying in agony I always wonder what I would have done in His Place. I probably would have quit my job a long time ago. Even if I would have made it to this point, I surely would have ran as far away from that garden as possible. But Yah Shua was determined to do what God wanted Him to do. He had no intentions of backing out, even though He had many opportunities to do so. It reminds me of a poem I once read. It was about someone in city A "seeing" the angel of death coming to get him and he decides to flee to city B.... the end of the poem is that this angel looked at the man while he knew he would have to get him later that night in city B..... so fear sometimes drives us to do everything that we want instead of listening to God and do what pleases Him. I also discovered over the years that God's view is so much wider than ours. We are thinking about life in short terms. We do not have the overview He has. I always thought it was not fair of God that I didn't have any children and that I lost the one I carried. Looking back I now see what God saw in those days. He knew that I would end up with an abusive husband and that I would never be able to break free from him if we would have had a child together. With my disease I would never have been able to raise it the proper way. I still am sad about the one I lost, but I do understand why things happened that way. If only I was a little more like Yah Shua, I would have trusted God so much more. But I am human and my feelings and thoughts often make me do things and say things that I shouldn't have. I am so grateful that Yah Shua did what was expected of Him. It literally saved my life.

Thank you for sharing your heart with us Mieke. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/kiss.gif

I sometimes wish that we did have the overview that God has and could understand more of the why of things that happen. I would like to know the reason for the suffering.

And we do tend to look at the short term and there is so much more that we can't see now. The spiritual life with God for eternity does far out weigh anything that happens here, even though at times the suffering here seems like a long time to us.

I am thankful that when we are with our Lord Jesus that all the things here that we have gone through will be wiped away and they will be as nothing and we will have joy with our God forevermore.

Thank you Mieke, love you http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Debra R

May 27th 2005, 02:51 AM

Hi journey http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

journey360... Hi Debra. I think they assumed sin was the cause of this man's blindness because it had been said that back then children ended up with the iniquities of their parents/grandparents.

That is true because of what it says in Exodus....

Exodus 20:5) you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

journey..
When the Bible says that the result of sins is death. It is speakikng of a spiritual death that seperates us from God-not a deadly death. All sickness is not a result of sin. Just as with Job, some sickness is associated with one being attacked by satan.

I take this scripture in Genesis to mean what God told them that if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that they would die a physical death. I know that there also was a spiritual death and their disobedience cost them their closeness with God, their sin separated them from God.

I believe that if they had not disobeyed God that they would not have died a physical death. I also believe that since the Lord Jesus did not have sin, He was not born of the seed of man, there was no sin in Him, Jesus was sinless, therefore I believe if He had not chosen to lay down His life that He would not have died a physical death. That is why I think that spiritual death and physical death came from sin.

Genesis 2:

16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

Likewise, all sickness is not unto death.
John 11:4 "When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

Romans 5:21 "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Philippians 2:27 "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God ad mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow."

I John 5:17 "All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death."

Thank you journey, for your thoughts and for the wonderful Scripture.

God bless you http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Debra R

May 27th 2005, 10:37 AM

http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif A few more verses this morning....

(NKJV) John 9:

6) When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

7) And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

Have a blessed day! http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Ninna

May 27th 2005, 12:38 PM

(NKJV) John 9:

6) When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

Clay was used in those times for eye infections.

7) And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

Jesus had just told the disciples in verse 4 that God had sent Him! "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day......" What a lesson in faith! He told the blind man to go and he went and did what the Lord told him to do. He believed Him!!

Debra R

May 30th 2005, 03:21 AM

Debra R

May 30th 2005, 03:27 AM

A few more thoughts on these verses. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

John 9:6) When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

7) And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus mixed his saliva with the dirt and made clay to put on the mans eyes? Couldn't Jesus have just spoke a word to the man and he would have been able to see? I think He could have.

So why did Jesus heal him in that way? It says the man was born blind, so I am assuming that to the man it was natural to not be able to see, to him it was a normal way of life.

I think that maybe Jesus did that for the man to understand what was happening. I think he had to realize that he was blind before Jesus allowed him to see. Kind of the same way with us, Jesus had to make known to us that we were "blind", before He could enable us to "see".

Here are a few of the cross references. This in 2 Kings 5:1-14, it talks about Naaman who was a leper and Elisha told him to do a simple thing as dipping himself seven times in the Jordan river and he was cleansed. I think it was his act of obedience that caused him to be cured. As well with this blind man who obeyed Jesus, he went and washed in the pool of Siloam and his sight was given to him. It was his obedience and that he believed Jesus.

2 Kings 5:

13) And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, "Wash, and be clean'?" 14) So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

I love this Scripture from the Old Testament, they foretold of the things that our Messiah would do. And these are the things that Jesus did.

Isaiah 35:

5) Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Isaiah 42:

6) "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,

7) To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

Matthew 11:

2) And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples

3) and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"

4) Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:

5) The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

I had to add this from Revelation... http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

Revelation 1:

8) "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Ninna

May 30th 2005, 01:23 PM

Debra: I think that maybe Jesus did that for the man to understand what was happening. I think he had to realize that he was blind before Jesus allowed him to see. Kind of the same way with us, Jesus had to make known to us that we were "blind", before He could enable us to "see".

Absolutely! That is how it was for me. I had to recognize that I was blind, lost and in darkness. That is when Jesus' light shone on me. He rescued me -saved me eternally, and allowed me to see. It was like I was searching in darkness and He found me!!!

Debra R

May 30th 2005, 02:05 PM

Absolutely! That is how it was for me. I had to recognize that I was blind, lost and in darkness. That is when Jesus' light shone on me. He rescued me -saved me eternally, and allowed me to see. It was like I was searching in darkness and He found me!!!

That is how it was with me too. I remember when I finally realized my need for Christ and surrendered myself to Him. What Joy I felt to know He loved me and how He had sought me. Even when I was so stubborn, so hard headed, and even tried to run from Him for awhile. But He didn't give up on me.

And I remember when I read this in the Psalms for the first time, this in the KJV, because that was where I first read it....

Psalm 56:

8) Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

9) When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

10) In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

11) In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12) Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

13) For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

It was as if it were speaking of me and that God had seen all my wanderings, had seen all my tears. And He delivered me from the darkness and brought me into His marvelous light.

Thank you Brenda! Love you! http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Debra R

May 30th 2005, 02:11 PM

http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif A few more verses.....

John 9:

8) 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."

Ninna

May 31st 2005, 03:46 PM

John 9:

8) 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."

This man did not know much about Jesus but he knew what Jesus had done for him! He was a witness - first-hand experience of what Jesus did in his life. That is what we can do too - let it be known what Jesus has done in our lives - first-hand experience!!

Ninna

Jun 2nd 2005, 02:31 PM

A few more verses.....

John 9 (NKJV)

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."

Now the man is telling the Pharisees what Jesus had done for him! (And on the Sabbath, no less!)

Ninna

Jun 7th 2005, 03:48 PM

Let's add a few more verses....

John 9 (NKJV)

16) Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.

17) They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

Debra R

Jun 15th 2005, 02:49 AM

Thank you Brenda, http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

sorry I have been so slow in returning to this.

John 9 (NKJV)

16) Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.

17) They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

I was reading the Adam Clarke Commentary on this and I thought it was really good. Here are for verses 16 and 17.

Verse 16. This man is not of God
He can neither be the Messiah, nor a prophet, for he has broken the Sabbath. The Jews always argued falsely on this principle. The law relative to the observation of the Sabbath never forbade any work but what was of the servile and unnecessary kind.

Works of necessity and mercy never could be forbidden on that day by him whose name is mercy, and whose nature is love; for the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath; were it otherwise, the Sabbath would be rather a curse than a blessing.

How can a man that is a sinner, though magicians and impostors might do things apparently miraculous, yet nothing really good could be performed by them.

We might have safely defied all the magicians in Egypt, who are said to have been so successful in imitating some of the miracles of Moses, to have opened the eyes of one blind man, or to have done any essential good either to the body or to the soul.

Verse 17. He is a prophet.
They had intended to lay snares for the poor man, that, getting him to acknowledge Christ for the Messiah, they might put him out of the synagogue, John 9:22, or put him to death, that such a witness to the Divine power of Christ might not appear against them.

But, as the mercy of God had given him his sight, so the wisdom of God taught him how to escape the snares laid for his ruin. On all thy glory there shall be a defense, says the prophet, Isaiah 4:5.

When God gives any particular mercy or grace, he sends power to preserve it, and wisdom to improve it.

The man said, He is a prophet. Now, according to a Jewish maxim, a prophet might dispense with the observation of the Sabbath. See Grotius.

If they allow that Jesus was a prophet, then, even in their sense, he might break the law of the Sabbath, and be guiltless: or, if they did not allow him to be a prophet, they must account for the miracle some other way than by the power of God; as from Satan or his agents no good can proceed-to do this it was impossible.

So the wisdom of God taught the poor man to give them such an answer as put them into a complete dilemma, from which they could not possibly extricate themselves.

Debra R

Jun 15th 2005, 02:59 AM

So the wisdom of God taught the poor man to give them such an answer as put them into a complete dilemma, from which they could not possibly extricate themselves.

I really liked this. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

And it reminded me of this verse in Luke. I had to find it I couldn't remember where it was .

NKJ) Luke 21:15) for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

I like how this is worded in the NIV...

NIV) Luke 21:15) For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Debra R

Jun 15th 2005, 03:02 AM

http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif A few more verses.....

NKJ) John 9:

18) 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.

19) And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

20) His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

21) 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."

22) His 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.

23) Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

Blessings http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

qbee

Jun 15th 2005, 08:43 AM

Thank you Debra :hug: and Momof5 :hug:

Your posts here have been such a blessing to me

Ninna

Jun 15th 2005, 03:21 PM

Thank you, qbee. :hug: I have been so blessed by doing this study of John -we began last year sometime and who knows when we will get done. And the bonus is friendships made on this board!!

NKJ) John 9:

18) 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.

19) And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

20) His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

21) 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."

22) His 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.

The Pharisees were determined to try to explain away this miracle by interrogating the man's parents.

Verse 22 explains why the man's parents told them to go ask the man. They did not want to be put out of the synagogue. That was to be excommunicated. I read that there were three types of excommunication. One lasted 30 days. During that time, the person could not come within six feet of anyone else. One was for an indefinite time, in which the person was excluded from all fellowshp and worship. The last one was expulsion forever. In all of them, no one could conduct business with a person who was excommunicated.

23) Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

Ninna

Jun 16th 2005, 02:54 PM

I had a huge amount ready to post and I had a power surge :B So I am doing this again. Here are several more verses...

KJV John 9

9:24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

When they told the man to "give God the praise" (some versions say glory), they meant "tell the whole truth." See Joshua 7:19

9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

9:26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

9:27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

9:28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

9:29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

9:30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

This man did what his parents did not do. He was not intimidated by the Pharisees. The restoration of his sight was such a blessing that all he could do is tell the truth. The truth gives God the glory!

Debra R

Jun 17th 2005, 03:07 AM

Verse 22 explains why the man's parents told them to go ask the man. They did not want to be put out of the synagogue. That was to be excommunicated. I read that there were three types of excommunication. One lasted 30 days. During that time, the person could not come within six feet of anyone else. One was for an indefinite time, in which the person was excluded from all fellowshp and worship. The last one was expulsion forever. In all of them, no one could conduct business with a person who was excommunicated.

I didn't know that, thank you Brenda. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

That would have been really tough. But, I could not live without Jesus so they would have to excommunicate me.

Debra R

Jun 17th 2005, 03:34 AM

I had a huge amount ready to post and I had a power surge http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/banghead.gif So I am doing this again. Here are several more verses...

I hate when that happens. After all that work and you lose it all http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/banghead.gif.
But I see you are like me, you are determined and don't let it stop you. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif
Thank you for the new verses. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

KJV John 9

9:24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

When they told the man to "give God the praise" (some versions say glory), they meant "tell the whole truth." See Joshua 7:19

9:25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

9:26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

9:27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

I like this. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif He says, I have told you already, why do you want to hear it again? You want to be His disciples too?

I can imagine their faces when he said that. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/biggrin.gif
They were trying to make him change his story. But they couldn't do it. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

It is amazing though that they would be so stubborn and not want to hear. And even be so determined not to give God glory for the marvelous thing He had done. So sad.

9:28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

9:29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

9:30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

I like this for us too, that if we do God's will, if our heart is right with Him, that He hears us.

I love this in the Psalms

(NKJ) Psalm 66:

18) If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.

19) But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

This man did what his parents did not do. He was not intimidated by the Pharisees. The restoration of his sight was such a blessing that all he could do is tell the truth. The truth gives God the glory!

So many wonderful, amazing things that Jesus did. It was not possible for Him to do the things He did unless He was sent from God. Unless He was indeed God. So amazing is our God. How wonderful, how awesome He is!

Blessings! http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Debra R

Jun 17th 2005, 03:42 AM

http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif A few more verses....

John 9:
34) They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

35) 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?"

36) He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"

37) And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you."

38) Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.

Debra R

Jun 17th 2005, 03:45 AM

Thank you Debra http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif and Momof5 http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Your posts here have been such a blessing to me

Thank you qbee, http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif
you are also a blessing to us. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

Debra R

Jun 18th 2005, 03:35 AM

This is the Adam Clarke Commentary on verses 34-38 on the King James Version....

Adam Clarke Commentary

Verse 34. Thou wast altogether born in sins

Thou hast not only been a vile wretch in some other pre-existent state, but thy parents also have been grossly iniquitous; therefore thou and they are punished by this blindness:

Thou wast altogether born in sins-thou art no other than a sinful lump of deformity, and utterly unfit to have any connection with those who worship God.

And they cast him out.

They immediately excommunicated him, as the margin properly reads-drove him from their assembly with disdain, and forbade his farther appearing in the worship of God.

Thus a simple man, guided by the Spirit of truth, and continuing steady in his testimony, utterly confounded the most eminent Jewish doctors.

When they had no longer either reason or argument to oppose to him, as a proof of their discomfiture and a monument of their reproach and shame, they had recourse to the secular arm, and thus silenced by political power a person whom they had neither reason nor religion to withstand.

They have had since many followers in their crimes. A false religion, supported by the state, has, by fire and sword silenced those whose truth in the end annihilated the system of their opponents.

Verse 35. Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

This was the same with, Dost thou believe on the Messiah? for these two characters were inseparable; see John 1:34,49; 10:36; Matthew 16:16; Mark 1:1.

Verse 36. Who is he, Lord?

it is very likely that the blind man did not know that it was Jesus the Christ who now spoke to him; for it is evident he had never seen him before this time; and he might now see him without knowing that he was the person by whom he was cured, till our Lord made that discovery of himself, mentioned in the following verse.

Verse 38. And he said, Lord, I believe.

That is, I believe thou art the Messiah; and, to give the fullest proof of the sincerity of his faith, he fell down before and adored him.

Never having seen Jesus before, but simply knowing that a person of that name had opened his eyes, he had only considered him as a holy man and a prophet; but now that he sees and hears him he is convinced of his divinity, and glorifies him as his Saviour.

We may hear much of Jesus, but can never know his glories and excellencies till he has discovered himself to our hearts by his own Spirit; then we believe on him, trust him with our souls, and trust in him for our salvation.

The word κυριε has two meanings: it signifies Lord, or Sovereign Ruler, and Sir, a title of civil respect. In the latter sense it seems evidently used in the 36th verse, John 9:36, because the poor man did not then know that Jesus was the Messiah; in the former sense it is used in this verse-now the healed man knew the quality of his benefactor.

Debra R

Jun 18th 2005, 03:43 AM

http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif Here are the last verses in Chapter 9

(KJV) John 9:

39) And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

40) And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

41) Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Adam Clarke Commentary

Verse 39. For judgment I am come

I am come to manifest and execute the just judgment of God:

1. By giving sight to the blind, and light to the Gentiles who sit in darkness.

2. By removing the true light from those who, pretending to make a proper use of it, only abuse the mercy of God. In a word, salvation shall be taken away from the Jews, because they reject it; and the kingdom of God shall be given to the Gentiles.

Verse 40. Are we blind also?

These Pharisees understood Christ as speaking of blindness in a spiritual sense, and wished to know if he considered them in that state.

Verse 41. If ye were blind

If ye had not had sufficient opportunities to have acquainted yourselves with my Divine nature, by the unparalleled miracles which I have wrought before you? and the holy doctrine which I have preached, then your rejecting me could not be imputed to you as sin;

but because ye say, we see-we are perfectly capable of judging between a true and false prophet, and can from the Scriptures point out the Messiah by his works-on this account you are guilty,

and your sin is of no common nature, it remaineth, i.e. it shall not be expiated:

as ye have rejected the Lord from being your deliverer, so the Lord has rejected you from being his people.

When the Scripture speaks of sin remaining, it is always put in opposition to pardon; for pardon is termed the taking away of sin, John 1:29; Psalm 32:5. And this is the proper import of the phrase, αφεσιςτωναμαρτιως, which occurs so frequently in the sacred writings.

Blessings http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

miepie

Jun 18th 2005, 09:16 AM

Did y'all miss me? :D I am back...... :pp It does not look very good right now and we have to go to hospital next week, but last night I was able to do my part of the study, so here it comes...... :D

John 9:6
When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

JFB Commentary:
6, 7. he spat on the ground, and made clay . . . and he anointed the eyes of the blind man—These operations were not so incongruous in their nature as might appear, though it were absurd to imagine that they contributed in the least degree to the effect which followed. (See Mark 6:13)

Mark 6:13
And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:6-7. Jesus placed clay (mud with saliva) on the man’s eyes. Interestingly man was made from this same substance—the dust of the earth (Gen. 2:7). Jesus probably used the clay as an aid to develop the man’s faith, not as a medicine. Jesus’ making of clay broke the Rabbinic regulations against kneading clay on the Sabbath (cf. John 9:14). Jesus then told the man, Wash in the pool of Siloam (this word means Sent). This is located at the southeast corner of Jerusalem, where Hezekiah’s tunnel channeled water inside the city walls from the Gihon Spring. The man was “sent” there and Jesus was the One “sent” by the Father. The man washed and went home seeing!

Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

John 9:14
Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.

John 9:7
And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

JFB Commentary:
7. Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, . . . Sent, &c.—(See 2 Kings 5:10, 14). As the prescribed action was purely symbolical in its design, so in connection with it the Evangelist notices the symbolical name of the pool as in this case bearing testimony to him who was sent to do what it only symbolized. (See Isaiah 8:6, where this same pool is used figuratively to denote "the streams that make glad the city of God," and which, humble though they be, betoken a present God of Israel.)

2 Kings 5:10
And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."

2 Kings 5:14
So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Isaiah 8:6
Inasmuch as these people refused
The waters of Shiloah that flow softly,
And rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah's son;

My Commentary:
Siloam, Greek 4611, Strong’s
Siloam, sil-o-am'; of Hebrew origin [Hebrew 7975 (Shiloach)]; Siloa`m (i.e. Shiloa`ch),[/b] a pool of Jerusalem :- Siloam.

It comes from the rootword:
apostello, Greek 649, Strong’s
apostello, ap-os-tel'-lo; from Greek 575 (apo) and Greek 4724 (stello); set apart, i.e. (by implication) to send out (properly on a mission) literal or figurative :- put in, send (away, forth, out), set [at liberty].

John 9:4-5
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. [5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

The pool is comparable with the church. As Yah Shua sent this man to the pool, and sends His Disciples in the world, He also sends us into the world to spread the Word. As long as He was in the World, He was the Light of the world, and now He sends us to be the Light of the world, like He sent the man to the pool to get back the "light in his eyes".

Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
nowledge Commentary: [/b]

miepie

Jun 18th 2005, 09:17 AM

John 9:8-9
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."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:8-9. People argued over whether he was the same man who used to sit and beg. If so, it was incredible that he could see. Perhaps, they said, it was a case of mistaken identity. But he himself insisted, I am the man.

John 9:10-12
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."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:10-12. But if he were the same man, how was this possible? He gave a simple and factual account of how the miracle occurred. He referred to the Lord as the Man they call Jesus. Since he was blind at the time of the miracle, he had no idea where Jesus went.

My Commentary:
The people around this man doubted if this could be true. Even when the man says that he is the man that was blind, they still are looking for proof that he was healed by asking where Yah Shua did go. Maybe they wanted to see themselves what this Man was capable of. I think it is funny that they ask the man where He went, since he was blind at the time, but maybe they wanted to make sure that he really was blind to begin with. I think we are blind to some of Yah Shua's miracles too. If we speak about a miracle we always think of big spectacular things, while miracles also happen in the little things of life. If you see what is happening in the world today,it is a miracle to have food every day, to have a roof over our heads, to have the medical care that we need. I experience miracles in the fact that even though my situation is not too good, somehow I always find a way back to get out of the sadness. That is a miracle to me. I would not be able to do that without the power of God.

miepie

Jun 18th 2005, 09:19 AM

John 9:13-14
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.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:13-14. Since this miracle was so unusual, the people brought the man to the Pharisees, who were highly respected in religious matters. To the Pharisees, healing (unless life was in danger) and making or kneading clay violated the Sabbath Law.

John 9:15-16
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." [16] Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:15-16. When the Pharisees asked him about his situation, he briefly told what happened (cf. v. 11). The Pharisees believed that since Jesus “violated” the Sabbath He was a false prophet turning the people away from God (Deut. 13:3-5). So they concluded, This Man is not from God. Later they said Jesus was “a sinner” (John 9:24). Others concluded that the signs were so impressive that a sinner could not do them. (Of course a false prophet could do deceptive signs [cf. 2 Thes. 2:9].) The Pharisees then were divided (cf. John 7:43; 10:19).

Deut. 13:3-5
you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. [4] You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. [5] But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.

John 9:24
So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner."

2 Thes. 2:9
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

John 7:43
So there was a division among the people because of Him.

John 10:19
Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.

John 9:17
They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:17. The healed blind man’s opinion was that Jesus is a prophet. Old Testament prophets sometimes performed miracles which marked them out as God’s men.

My Commentary:
It seems to me that the Pharisees were very traditional people and holding on to what they thought was right, and to old traditions. Healing or doing any work on the Sabbath had been forbidden for years and they did not want to break that. I see that happen in the church of today too. Here out in the Netherlands churches try to work together to become one big church. Not too long ago a few churches became one. There was a lot of protest against it, but mostly from the old people that wanted to hang on to old traditions. Not all the changes in the church are good ones, for instance, having a wedding in the church for two people of the same gender, but I think it is very good to work together as one instead of being divided. I also think that the Pharisees, and in some churches it still works the same, thought they were closer to God than the rest of the people. Because of Yah Shua's Sacrifice that is not true at all. He is the missing link between us and God, we don't need any preacher to accomplish that anymore.

miepie

Jun 18th 2005, 09:21 AM

John 9:18-20
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. [19] And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" [20] His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;

JFB Commentary:
18-23. the Jews did not believe . . . he had been born blind . . . till they called the parents of him that had received his sight—Foiled by the testimony of the young man himself, they hope to throw doubt on the fact by close questioning his parents, who, perceiving the snare laid for them, ingeniously escape it by testifying simply to the identity of their son, and his birth-blindness, leaving it to himself, as a competent witness, to speak as to the cure. They prevaricated, however, in saying they "knew not who had opened his eyes," for "they feared the Jews," who had come to an understanding (probably after what is recorded, John 7:50, &c.; but by this time well known), that whoever owned Him as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue—that is, not simply excluded, but excommunicated.

John 7:50
Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them,

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:18-20. The Jews still could not believe this man had been blind. Surely some mistake had been made. So they sent for his parents, who affirmed that he was their son who had been born blind.

John 9:21-23
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." [22] His 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. [23] Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:21-23. But the parents were afraid to hazard any opinions about the cure or the Healer. The Pharisees and other Jewish authorities (the Jews) had already decided that Jesus was not the Messiah. Those who held such a heresy would be excommunicated from the synagogue. (Some scholars argue that this verse was added later by an editor, but there is nothing unthinkable about this kind of persecution during Jesus’ ministry.) The parents shifted the pressure from themselves by noting that their son was of legal age to testify for himself (vv. 21, 23).

miepie

Jun 18th 2005, 09:25 AM

This is what I have so far. I will try to do the last two parts tonight. :) Thank you all for your patience and wonderful opportunity to study together. Now my disease is getting worser, it feels even better to study Gods Word. It makes me feel that there is something more important than my own personal problems, and it seems to be a good and great distraction. I love you all very much. :kiss:

John 9:24
So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner."

JFB Commentary:
24-34. Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner—not wishing him to own, even to the praise of God, that a miracle had been wrought upon him, but to show more regard to the honor of God than ascribe any such act to one who was a sinner.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:24. The authorities tried to pressure the healed man into withdrawing his testimony about Jesus: Give glory to God (cf. Josh. 7:19; 1 Sam. 6:5; Jer. 13:16) was a call to admit his guilt in siding with Jesus, whom they called a sinner. When they said We know, they were pressuring him. Unbelief often claims to be scientific, but here it was just stubborn and willful.

Joshua 7:19
Now Joshua said to Achan, "My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."

1 Samuel 6:5
Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.

Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to the Lord your God
Before He causes darkness,
And before your feet stumble
On the dark mountains,
And while you are looking for light,
He turns it into the shadow of death
And makes it dense darkness.

John 9:25
He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."

JFB Commentary:
25. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, &c.—Not that the man meant to insinuate any doubt in his own mind on the point of His being "a sinner," but as his opinion on such a point would be of no consequence to others, he would speak only to what he knew as fact in his own case.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:25-26. His witness was clear, and he refused to deny what he knew for certain: I was blind, but now I see! They asked him to go over the story again, hoping to find some contradiction in the man’s report.

John 9:26
Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?"

JFB Commentary:
26. Then said they . . . again, What did he to thee? &c.—hoping by repeated questions to ensnare him, but the youth is more than a match for them.

John 9:27
He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?"

JFB Commentary:
27. I have told you already . . . will ye also be his disciples?—In a vein of keen irony he treats their questions as those of anxious inquirers, almost ready for discipleship! Stung by this, they retort upon him as the disciple (and here they plainly were not wrong); for themselves, they fall back upon Moses; about him there could be no doubt; but who knew about this upstart?

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:27. The ex-blind man got impatient. He had already told how he was healed (v. 15), but they did not listen to him. That is, they rejected it. He sarcastically asked if their request for him to repeat his report indicated that they had changed their hearts. Were they inquiring because they were interested in becoming Jesus’ disciples?

John 9:28-29
Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. [29] We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:28-29. The idea of this illiterate beggar sarcastically suggesting they were interested in Jesus was more than their pride could take. They insulted him and then claimed that they were Moses’ disciples. Jesus to them was an unknown. We don’t even know where He comes from. Yet they claimed to know Moses who, Jesus said, wrote about Him (5:46).

John 5:46
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.

John 9:30
The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes!

JFB Commentary:
30. The man answered, Herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes—He had no need to say another word; but waxing bolder in defense of his Benefactor, and his views brightening by the very courage which it demanded, he puts it to them how they could pretend inability to tell whether one who opened the eyes of a man born blind was "of God" or "a sinner"—from above or from beneath—and proceeds to argue the case with remarkable power. So irresistible was his argument that their rage burst forth in a speech of intense Pharisaism, "Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?"—thou, a base-born, uneducated, impudent youth, teach us, the trained, constituted, recognized guides of the people in the things of God! Out upon thee!

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:30-33. The beggar proceeded to teach them since they admitted ignorance of Jesus’ origin. The irony is strong for the reader knows His origin (1:14, 18). According to the beggar’s logic, this miracle was notable and unique. He said that no one had ever heard of a man born blind receiving sight. He reasoned that God grants not the requests of sinners but those of the righteous (cf. Elijah, James 5:16-18). Therefore this Man, he said, is from God. Otherwise He could do no miracles.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:18
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

James 5:16-18
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. [18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

John 9:31-33
Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. [32] Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. [33] If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."

JFB Commentary:
31. they cast him out—judicially, no doubt, as well in fact. The allusion to his being "born in sins" seems a tacit admission of his being blind from birth—the very thing they had been so unwilling to own. But rage and enmity to truth are seldom consistent in their outbreaks. The friends of this excommunicated youth, crowding around him with their sympathy, would probably express surprise that One who could work such a cure should be unable to protect his patient from the persecution it had raised against him, or should possess the power without using it. Nor would it be strange if such thoughts should arise in the youth's own mind. But if they did, it is certain, from what follows, that they made no lodgment there, conscious as he was that "whereas he was blind, now he saw," and satisfied that if his Benefactor "were not of God, He could do nothing" (John 9:33). There was a word for him too, which, if whispered in his ear from the oracles of God, would seem expressly designed to describe his case, and prepare him for the coming interview with his gracious Friend. "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word. Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; BUT HE SHALL APPEAR TO YOUR JOY, and they shall be ashamed" (Isaiah 66:5). But how was He engaged to whom such noble testimony had been given, and for whom such persecution had been borne? Uttering, perhaps, in secret, "with strong crying and tears," the words of the prophetic psalm, "Let not them that wait on Thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake; let none that seek Thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel; because for Thy sake I have borne reproach . . . and the reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon me" (Psalm 69:6-7, 9).

Isaiah 66:5
Hear the word of the Lord,
You who tremble at His word:
"Your brethren who hated you,
Who cast you out for My name's sake, said,
'Let the Lord be glorified,
That we may see your joy.'
But they shall be ashamed."

Psalm 69:6-7
Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed because of me;
Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel.
[7] Because for Your sake I have borne reproach;
Shame has covered my face.

Ninna

Jun 18th 2005, 11:44 AM

Mieke!! :hug: Lots of good commentary..What an excellent study this has been, Debra! :hug:

Once the man who had been blind was cast out, Jesus found him and revealed who He is. Isn't that the was it is - when we are free of "religion" - the rules and traditions - that Jesus find us and reveals Himself?

Unlike the Pharisees, who deliberately rejected Jesus, we can see the spiritual truth when Jesus opens our eyes!

I was blind, but now I see......

:hug: :hug: :hug:

miepie

Jun 21st 2005, 05:45 PM

Ok.... the last of John 9 then.....

John 9:34
They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:34. Upstaged by a beggar, they could only insult him again and throw him out of the synagogue (cf. v. 22). They reasoned that his blindness must have been due to some specific “sin” (they forgot the Book of Job). But they were irrational. How could anybody be steeped in sin at birth?
Everybody is born with a sinful nature (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12), but a baby can hardly commit numerous acts of sin moments after it is born!

John 9:22
His 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.

Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.

Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--

John 9:35
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?"

JFB Commentary:
35-38. Jesus heard—that is, by intelligence brought Him. that they had cast him out; and when he had found him—by accident? Not very likely.
Sympathy in that breast could not long keep aloof from its object. he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?—A question stretching purposely beyond his present attainments, in order the more quickly to lead him—in his present teachable frame—into the highest truth.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:35. Taking the initiative again (cf. v. 6), Jesus found the former blind man. Do you (emphatic in the Gr.) believe in the Son of Man? This was a call to commitment. “Son of Man” is a title of Messiah which includes a rich background (cf. Dan. 7:13; and Mark 2:10).

Daniel 7:13
"I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, One like the Son of Man,
Coming with the clouds of heaven!
He came to the Ancient of Days,
And they brought Him near before Him.

Mark 2:10
But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic,

John 9:36
He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"

JFB Commentary:
36. He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?—"His reply is affirmative, and believing by anticipation, promising faith as soon as Jesus shall say who He is" [STIER].

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:36-37. The beggar responded that he was willing to believe but he was ignorant. Jesus then disclosed Himself and gave the beggar the necessary knowledge for faith. Faith involves an act of the will, based on information.

John 9:37
And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you."

JFB Commentary:
37. Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him—the new sense of sight having at that moment its highest exercise, in gazing upon "the Light of the world."

John 9:38
Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.

JFB Commentary:
38. he said, Lord, I believe: and he worshipped him—a faith and a worship, beyond doubt, meant to express far more than he would think proper to any human "prophet" (John 9:17) —the unstudied,
resistless expression, probably of SUPREME faith and adoration, though without the full understanding of what that implied.

John 9:17
They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:38. After Jesus revealed that He is the Son of Man, the man responded in faith (Lord, I believe) and worshiped Him. His worship of Jesus replaced his worship in the synagogue. The Jews had cast him out of the synagogue, but Jesus does not cast out those who come to Him (6:37). One goal of salvation is worship of the One who saves (4:23).

John 6:37
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

John 4:23
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

miepie

Jun 21st 2005, 05:51 PM

John 9:39
And 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."

JFB Commentary:
39-41. Jesus said—perhaps at the same time, but after a crowd, including some of the skeptical and scornful rulers, had, on seeing Jesus talking with the healed youth, hastened to the spot.that they which see not might see, &c.—rising to that sight of which the natural vision communicated to the youth was but the symbol. (See on John 9:5, and
compare Luke 4:18). that they which see might be made blind—judicially incapable of apprehending and receiving the truth, to which they have
wilfully shut their eyes.

John 9:5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:39. Does this verse contradict 3:17? According to that verse (and 12:47) Jesus was not sent “to condemn the world.” But here Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world. Jesus meant He came to
pronounce decisions on the ungodly, like a judge (cf. 5:22, 27). The blind who come to sight are those who, admitting their helplessness and inability, trust Jesus for salvation. Those who see and become blind are those whose self-trust and pride blinds them to the wonders of Jesus. He does not condemn them by making them blind; they blind themselves by rejecting Him and Satan contributes to that blinding (2 Cor. 4:4).

John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 12:47
And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

John 5:22
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,

John 5:27
and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

2 Cor. 4:4
whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

John 9:40
Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"

JFB Commentary:
40. Are we blind also?—We, the constituted, recognized guides of the people in spiritual things? pride and rage prompting the question.

Bible Knowledge Commentary:
9:40-41. Some of the Pharisees asked, literally, “We also are not blind, are we?” They expected a negative answer because they assumed that certainly they, of all men, possessed spiritual perception. Sin constantly deceives people so they live in falsehood. Jesus replied, If the Pharisees
were blind to spiritual things absolutely, they might have claimed ignorance as a defense. But their claims and pretentions of spiritual insight (you claim you can see) and leadership made them culpable. They were responsible for their sins because they sinned willfully. It is
dangerous to be a teacher of spiritual truths (cf. 3:10; Rom. 2:19-24; James 3:1).

John 3:10
Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

Romans 2:19-24
and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, [20] an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. [21] You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? [22] You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? [23] You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? [24] For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.

James 3:1
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

John 9:41
Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

JFB Commentary:
41. If ye were blind—wanted light to discern My claims, and only waited to
receive it. ye should have no sin—none of the guilt of shutting out the light. ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth—Your claim to possess light, while rejecting Me, is that which seals you up in the guilt of unbelief.

It has been great doing this study with you girls...... up to 10! :kiss:

Debra R

Jun 21st 2005, 10:15 PM

Did y'all miss me? http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/biggrin.gif I am back...... http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/jfj.gif It does not look very good right now and we have to go to hospital next week, but last night I was able to do my part of the study, so here it comes...... http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Yes, we did miss you, http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/kiss.gif http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif, We were waiting patiently http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/smile.gif.

Debra R

Jun 21st 2005, 10:21 PM

My Commentary:
The people around this man doubted if this could be true. Even when the man says that he is the man that was blind, they still are looking for proof that he was healed by asking where Yah Shua did go. Maybe they wanted to see themselves what this Man was capable of. I think it is funny that they ask the man where He went, since he was blind at the time, but maybe they wanted to make sure that he really was blind to begin with. I think we are blind to some of Yah Shua's miracles too. If we speak about a miracle we always think of big spectacular things, while miracles also happen in the little things of life. If you see what is happening in the world today,it is a miracle to have food every day, to have a roof over our heads, to have the medical care that we need. I experience miracles in the fact that even though my situation is not too good, somehow I always find a way back to get out of the sadness. That is a miracle to me. I would not be able to do that without the power of God.

Amen! Mieke! http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

I think the most wonderful things our Lord does, are the small things in our lives. It just shows how much He loves us and cares about even the little things that affect us.

I experience miracles in the fact that even though my situation is not too good, somehow I always find a way back to get out of the sadness. That is a miracle to me. I would not be able to do that without the power of God.

Without the power of our God in our lives we would be without hope and in much despair. I am thankful for our God and that He is faithful. I am so thankful that we are His.

Love you Sis, http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/kiss.gif http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Debra R

Jun 21st 2005, 10:23 PM

I have to go now but I'll be back. That is some great stuff you posted Mieke. http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Debra R

Jun 25th 2005, 12:35 PM

John 9:

28) Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. 29) We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from."

John 5:

46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

John 9:

40) Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"

As I was reading over this and thinking about the Pharisees and this verse you quoted from John 5:46. I kept wondering how could they be so blind? How could they refuse to see who Jesus is? Why couldn't they "see" and understand?
Then I thought of this verse in 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 3:

14) But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15) But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16) Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

The Pharisees were truly blind. When they read what Moses said, it was veiled to them. They couldn't see that he was talking about Jesus. Even today, those who don't know the Lord can read the bible all day long and still not comprehend it. They are blind. And what is so sad about it and even a little scary to me is that they don't even know that they are blind. I didn't realize I was blind until Jesus enabled me to see.

It is only by Jesus that they can "see" and "comprehend" truth. Because Jesus is the Truth.

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Thank you Lord Jesus for opening our eyes so we could "see". http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/jfj.gif

Mieke!! http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif Lots of good commentary..What an excellent study this has been, Debra! http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif

Once the man who had been blind was cast out, Jesus found him and revealed who He is. Isn't that the was it is - when we are free of "religion" - the rules and traditions - that Jesus find us and reveals Himself?

Unlike the Pharisees, who deliberately rejected Jesus, we can see the spiritual truth when Jesus opens our eyes!

I was blind, but now I see......

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This has been an excellent study!! Thank you girls!!
I am so thankful to our Father for you! http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif http://bibleforums.org/images/smilies/hug.gif