How do you respond to a miracle?

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Have you ever seen one?  Some have.  Some haven’t.  Sometimes, I think we’ve seen miracles, but we’ve rationalized them away.  But what is your response when you see something that only is understood as a “But God” moment?

We’ve been covered the story of the healing of the man born blind for several weeks.  We’ve seen different reactions from different people. Today, we conclude the story in John 9:35-41.

 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.  

John 9:35-41
New International Version

The man who had been healed was excommunicated from the Jewish synagogue because he would not denounce Jesus as a miracle worker.  After this, Jesus found him again and dealt with the issue of his heart.

This man knew the term for “Son of Man” but we may not.  Short version: this was code for the Messiah of Israel.  The man would believe in the Messiah if he saw Him.  Jesus tells the man that He is the Messiah.  At the revelation from God Himself to the man, he worshiped Jesus.

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By contrast, the Pharisees were still busy attempting to find fault with Jesus and the man.  Remember from a few weeks ago: the crime they accused Jesus of was working on the Sabbath.  As a “lawbreaker,” there was no way they could see Him as the Messiah.

The contrast between the revelation of God to the man and the Pharisees could not be starker and more ironic.  A man born physically blind was given physical sight and eventually spiritual sight.  The Pharisees, who were born with physical sight, were spiritually blind and stayed that way.

As the light of the world (John 8:12), Jesus has illuminated the souls of anyone who comes to Him in belief.  His light defeats the darkness of our souls.

This question has been asked before, but it’s worth pausing and asking again.  What is your response to Jesus?  Has His light pierced the darkness of your soul or are you still insisting on another method to satisfy your soul?

The man’s response to Jesus is a model for us of belief and conversion from sinner to saint.  The man didn’t just have an intellectual encounter with Jesus.  He experienced the goodness and grace of Jesus and his heart was turned.

Please know: the real miracle of the story is not that his blindness was solved.  The real miracle is that he was given eternal life.  While his physical healing is important, the healing of his soul was more important. 

Don’t miss the new life Jesus offers you because you’re either waiting on a physical miracle or because you haven’t seen one yet.  Real belief in Jesus isn’t based on the sensational.  It’s based on a spiritual experience with Him.

Believe in Him.  Trust Him.  Follow Him.  Worship Him.