November 3 – Shalom Shabbot

Jesus heard that they had put him (the blind man He healed) out (of the synagogue), and finding him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you." And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, "We are not blind too, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains."  John 9:35-41

Since Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath, it is possible that it was still the Sabbath when He spoke to him again. He may have greeted the man with Shalom. Then with these red letter words, Jesus asked the man He had healed, "Do you believe?" Jesus didn’t very often ask people if they believed in Him. Here was a man that had been put out of the synagogue for standing up for what Jesus had done for Him, for bolding talking to the Pharisees about his comprehension of Jesus’ compassions and healing—that Jesus was from God or He wouldn’t have been able to do such a miracle as restoring his sight. He said, “I once was blind, but now I see.” This man who was blind from birth and now could see was seeking to believe—so this encounter with Jesus provided that opportunity to believe and worship. How do we encounter and worship Jesus today? If He walked up to us on the street, would we fall at His feet and praise Him? Think about it—what would you do if you personally encountered Jesus? What do you do as you encounter Him as you read your Bible? Do you stop what you are reading and just praise Him? Like the Pharisees do you ask, am I blind, too? Open your eyes, your heart and your mind to Jesus’ truth. Feast on His words and encounter Him in a new and refreshing way—with your whole heart, mind and strength.  

Dear Jesus, I pray that You would open my eyes to Your truth and Your way, just as you opened the eyes of that blind man. I praise You for You are worthy of praise, honor, and glory.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).