Today’s mini-sermon is the 8th of a 12-part series on the 9th chapter of John. It will be appearing in the Saturday, Sunday and Thursday additions of the Answers2Prayer newsletters.
“Finally they turned again to the blind man, ‘What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ The man replied, ‘He is a prophet.’ The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. ‘Is this your son?’ they asked. ‘Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?’ ‘We know he is our son,’ the parents answered, ‘and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’” (John 9:17-23)
Last time we saw the difference between being religious and being a Christian. Being religious leads to intolerance. Being a Christian leads to loving others. Being religious is following a book of rules and make sure others do as well. Being a Christian is following Christ.
This reminds me of story where a woman (let’s call her a believer) was married to a man who was very strict to rules (let’s call him Religious). Every morning before leaving for work, he would leave her a set of orders that she had to follow through before he came back home. For example, make the beds, do the groceries, change the oil in the car… She hated it and felt her life was a burden.
Luckily for her (and sadly for him) he passed away. She met another man (let’s call him Christian) who she finally married. She was anxious at first that he would be like her first husband. But he was quite the opposite. He loved her so much that he always paid attention when she talked (Husbands, you earn lot’s of bonus points with you wife on this one!), bought her flowers and presents on a regular basis (Even more bonus points!), never criticized her (This makes you a king in your wife’s eyes!), and best of all, he never left her a note telling her what to do. She felt like she was in heaven! After a while, she noticed that her lifestyle was not that different from before. She still made the beds. She still shopped for groceries. She still had the oil changed in the cars. But her attitude was different. She loved doing those things!
Why the difference? The first husband (Religious) she was married to make her life unbearable. She was constantly criticized. Her life was like a rulebook she had to obey. She did not feel loved. The second husband (Christian) appreciated her. He loved her and never criticized her. There were no more rules in her life, but she was doing the same things her first husband required her to do, because she felt compelled by love.
God’s love has the same effect on us. It changes us into beings that are joyous and truly happy. It makes us love others, and transforms us into moral people.
Have you noticed what the religious people in Jesus days would do to anyone who did not abide to their rules? Look at verse 22: “Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.” How often do religious people threat their members to abide to their rules, otherwise they will be banned from the church. And banned from the church means loosing your salvation. No wonder that the word “Christianity” leaves a bad taste to many!
How different was Jesus attitude! When confronted with a woman who had committed adultery, the religious people of His day were ready to stone her. She was a sinner! She did not deserve to live! She was breaking the rules! But did Jesus agree with them? John 8:10-11: “’Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” This is love. I can assure you that this woman never committed adultery again. Why? Because she had met love in person. But if Jesus did not condemn that sinner, why should we?
Have you accepted Jesus in your life? Have you experienced the divine love of God in your heart? Have you experienced that hatred towards sin and that love towards sinners? Only God can give you this. Will you let Him?
In His love,
Rob Chaffart
Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org
(To access the entire “I was Blind, but now I See” mini-series, please click here.)