Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder

When we read Scripture, we must "read it on our knees", at least figuratively.  Literally, with thanks to George Whitefield, would be even better.  So let's approach this story of a blind man and all the other "blind" characters, with humility and anticipation.  It really is the story of the work of God inside a human being.  May that same process happen to you and to me.

All of John Chapter nine tells this story.  It is a massive story that centers around this one story and its various sections.  As I see it, there are six sections.  Watch for the location changes, the personnel changes, and the interior/exterior actions:

1.  Temple                      Blind Man , Jesus and the Disciples
2.  Neighborhood      Blind Man and Neighbors
3. Temple                       Blind man and Pharisees
4. Temple                       Pharisees and Blind Man's Parents
5.  Temple                      Pharisees and Blind Man for second time
6.  Cast Out Place     Blind Man and Jesus for a second time

There is something here for each of us.  Let's listen "on our knees" and listen for it.

Jesus and the Jews at the Temple are arguing where Jesus and Abraham rank in relation to one another.  At the end, they'll try to stone Jesus because of Who He asserts to be.

In the meantime, Jesus drops a pearl about Abraham from 2000 years before Christ.  (BC before it was mis-appropriated by politically correct historians).  As far as I know, nowhere else in the Bible do we have this little insight about father Abraham.   He tells us about Abraham's 
attitude: rejoicing
focus: on Me
direction:  future looking
It says that Abraham saw this future promise; this future Lord; and was GLAD.

Similarly, in the Hall of fame of faith of Hebrews Chapter 11:13, we find these heroes not having receive the promises yet, but SEEing them and GREETING them from afar.  Just like Abraham.  

We have lots of spiritual information that Abraham did not yet have.  So, we know more than he did.  But there is still lots left for God to reveal.  How should we then stand?  Looking with anticipation.  And, giving God a "YouHoo!" or a "Hey-Ho" or a "Hey over here!".  Listen and let's GREET Gladly from AFAR.

The contents of this passage are serious.  "Serious as a heart-attack" we might say today.  

 In just a few verses, they go from a debate about Abraham's merits and limitations to 'we are going to kill you right now'.  Not just with words and anger, but the real deal:  with rocks.

Stoning is used as a discipline and punishment and warning.  It allows a collective disapproval, a collective punishment, yet, no one literally gets their hands bloody.  

Obviously, it is reserved for gross violations of God's law.  How about , "You shall have no other gods before me," for one.  By their behavior, we know exactly what they understand Jesus claims to be.  Their actions betray their belief, as always. For the Jews of the time, they understand Jesus perfectly.   He takes the personal, revealed, precious name of God for HIMSELF.  I am eternal.  I am highest.  I dwarf Abraham.  In fact, I made him.  I was smoking along eternally before he was a blip on the timeline.  Don't forget, Abraham was excited to see ME.  

Worship Him, or KILL Him, those are pretty much the choices.

Listen and chose today.  We have about the same options.  I recommend worship, but He let's us chose.

So I have a massive heart attack in WalMart.  And "drop dead" right there in Asile 9.

Am I dead?
It depends who you ask.

If you ask the bystanders, they will tell you a dramatic story with CPR, defibrillators, and paramedics.  My family will put an ad in the paper proclaiming my death.  There will be a funeral and stories and gatherings.

But if you ask me, I won't be "dead".  I will still be the same spirit, same essence and same person I always was.  I'll be changed, I'll eventually get a new body, I'll be the same spirit and I definitely will change ADDRESS and NEIGHBORS.  One second I'll be buying batteries, and the next moment, I will be with the LORD. 

And if you ask the Lord, I won't be dead.  He'll note something like, "I knew him before he was born, I knew him in life with a body, I know him now with me in paradise, and he'll be with me here forever".

Listen and see if I am really dead.

I think I am a pretty good person.

But what if in reality, the characteristics of my life do not align with my hopeful perception of myself?  What if I don't look like and act like who I say I am following?  What if I look more like someone who is not the father I think I align with?  What if that character is the very bad actor THE DEVIL?  That should blow me out of the water... that is, if I really want to know this information.

Let's look at the Devil's resume.  Lies.  Father of lies.  Wants a family characterized by himself and his wrongness.  Murderer.  Heritage of deception.  Wants no standing in the truth whatsoever.  If you were a mother, this is NOT whom you'd make a play date for your children!

If your father was the devil, that is, if you mostly resembled him, WOULD YOU WANT TO KNOW IT?  Listen and find out.

Jesus accuses his listener's MOTHER in this passage.  

Obviously that is incredibly offensive.  Then He gives the data:  You don't look like the father that you are claiming.  You walk and talk and have the mannerisms of another father.  That guy turns out to be the DEVIL, so this gets even worse tomorrow.

Someone has snuck into your family, into the walled garden, impregnated your mother, infected it, influenced it, and you demonstrate behaviors of it AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.  Wow.

Here are the characteristics of being in MY family:
1.  My Word, my people, my pastors, my Church finds a home with you.  Finds a place of INFLUENCE and of POWER and of change.  Here's one frequent characteristic of this being genuine:  YOU WON'T LIKE IT.  Why?  It is holy.  It is HARD.  It involves consideration and wonder.  It involves change.  Nope, I definitely don't like all of that.

2.  That I love Jesus.  I cannot wait to be with Him in the morning.  I am glad you are here.  Listen!

BTW the Cavalry arrives after Calvary. ;-)

Question:  Do you Want to be FREE?
Answer:  Does His Word FIND A PLACE in you?  
Would you describe your relationship with Him and His Word as ABIDING?

This might be the most attractive thing about becoming a believer for some.  Jesus gives us a "get out of jail card" that has two aspects:
The first is freedom from the PENALTY of Sin.  That is not what this passage is about.
The second is freedom from the PRACTICE of Sin.  That IS what this passage is about.

Perhaps you are one that feels trapped in an ongoing sin; a "besetting sin", a habitual sin, a repeated sin.  The words used in the passage are even more startling:  Are you a SLAVE TO SIN.  That will get your attention, all right.  

The answer is given:  Make a place for His Word.  Have the Lord be able to FIND a PLACE, inside you that is open, fertile and cleared for His Word, His revelation of Himself, the experience of Him, the wrestling with Him, The teaching by Him, the ABIDING in His Word.  Today, especially if you feel enslaved, MAKE A PLACE.  If you've been a Christian for a while, make your place BIGGER.  Listen and be FREE.  Who wouldn't want that?

Wouldn't it be great if BELIEF was just the first step?

Wouldn't it be great if The Good Lord wants to help us attack our stickiest problems?

Wouldn't it be great if that which I have unsuccessfully tried to change could actually be changed?

Wouldn't it be great if my "get out of jail card" was not just for the FUTURE, but also for the PRESENT?

Wouldn't it be great if I could have help not only with the PENALTY of sin but also the PRACTICE of sin.

If so, I'd like to sign up for news like that.  Listen and see if it is true.

Don't say Jesus never claimed to be God.  He does so definitively in this passage.

In fact, He did yesterday in Episode #218 as well.  After hearing that Jesus claimed a piece of spiritual real estate of Exodus 3:14, today they ask a real question:

WHO ARE YOU?

Well, Jesus answers today.  Clearly.  
With an eye to HISTORY:  Lifting up the serpent in the wilderness of Numbers 21
With an eye to PRESENT:  Being lifted up on the cross John 12:33
With and eye to the FUTURE:  I saw the Lord (in heaven) High and lifted up Isaiah 6:1

and, remembering yesterday, without BELIEF in what Jesus is here claiming, we will die in the condition of sin; with our collection of sin; in the company of sin and with the consequences of sin.

So dear listener, ask the question for yourself:  Jesus, who are you?  Then listen to His answer.

Imagine playing a game of SPIRITUAL HOT POTATO.  Except you have no one to off load your hot potato to.  Just you.  When the buzzer goes off you are holding the HOT POTATO.  You lose.

Similarly, this is the problem that every single one of us has.  We have this sin problem.  This passage centers around the question, "What will you do about your sin?"  Popular choices are to DENY or to try to WORK it off.  Neither of those work.  3 Times in this passage Jesus observes that "YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SIN."  That is, at the end of your life, not only will you end up with the CONDITION of sin, but also in the COMPANY of sins, and also with a COLLECTION of historical sins.  Yikes. Is there a way out?

In a way only He can do, He says that BELIEVING counts.  Incredible.  Almost unbelievable.  Believing in what?  That He is the I AM.  This is Jewish-Old Testament-code for the one true God.  Belief is the way we off load our HOT POTATO of sin to Him.  I am glad He thought of this.  Listen and see if you wanna play. Oh wait, you ALREADY ARE playing.  Listen and see if you wanna win.  Belief is the way out.