Monthly Archives: March 2008

Palmer St. Podcast: John 9

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This chapter begins with a man who was blind from birth.  The disciples, displaying little or no insight, ask, “Who sinned this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”  Jesus responds by declaring Himself to be the Light of the World, and healing the blind man.

It’s difficult to argue with a man just healed from a lifetime of blindness, but that’s exactly what the Pharisees try to do as they confront him about his healing.  The chapter ends with the Pharisees rejecting Jesus and the formerly blind man worshiping Him.

Audio: John09.mp3

Study Notes: John09.pdf

To see some photos and get some archaeological insights regarding the Pool of Siloam mentioned in this chapter, check out the following link: Bible Places

The Authority of a Transformed Life

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Theology doesn’t matter much to those who observe genuine transformation.  In John Chapter 9 Jesus heals a man born blind.  His neighbors immediately begin to talk about it.

Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”

Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”

He said, “I am he.”

Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”

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.”     – John 9:8-11

When Jesus makes big and obvious changes in us, the world can’t help but notice.  While a pathetic Christian life makes for a pathetic Christian witness, a transformed life wields remarkable authority.  Once the changes are made all we need to do is give Him the glory for the great things He has done. 

Let’s allow Him to do all that He wants to within us and give the world something to notice as we change.

Praying about Prayer

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I’ve often considered that if Jesus never prayed, or didn’t pray much, I’d be OK with that.  He was, after all, God the Son.  If He interacted with the Father by means of some spiritual osmosis, which just happened without actual prayer taking place, who could really argue or challenge the concept? 

Still, pray He did, frequently and for long periods.  So much so that it made a real impression on His disciples.  It also impresses me.  And so, I want to join with the disciple mentioned in Luke 11:1, by asking Jesus about prayer.

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.'” – Luke 11:1 (NKJV)

I need to pray more and pray better – and I sense I’m not alone in this need.  What better way to start than by asking Jesus to teach us?  If we’re looking for something to pray about, let’s begin by praying about prayer.  It seems like just the kind of prayer that the Lord would love to answer.

Giving Christ the Credit

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The woman with the flow of blood illustrates that faith need not be very vocal to be real and effective.  But the story also shows us that it’s important to give Christ the credit for all He does for us.  Let’s look at the story:

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.  And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’“

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”– Luke 8:43-48 (NKJV)

Perhaps she was simply shy; perhaps embarrassed about her condition.  People have many reasons to be less than public about their faith.  Nonetheless, many of our most private blessings deserve public attention for at least two reasons:

  1. Jesus deserves the credit in the eyes of others for what He does for us.
  2. Because others may be encouraged to trust Jesus for their own very private concerns.