Bob Cassell, Messenger, RFTC
The amazing grace of God is not always expressed in things that are joyous, but to the contrary in afflictions that appear impossible to endure and difficult to comprehend. Such an instance as this may be found in John Chapter nine wherein is recorded the miracle of Jesus giving sight to man who was born blind.
The disciples were present during this miracle, and they sought to know more about the nature and cause of the man’s blindness. They asked, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2). They did not know where to look so they tried to come up with a rational and logical reason for the blindness. They thought the blindness surely had to be just punishment for sin or breaking the law. If you had been living as an Israelite at this time you too would have understood there was no other way to view suffering, as temporal blessings were promised Israel if they kept the law, and curses if they failed to do so (Deut. 28).
“Jesus answered, neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:3). Notice, Jesus completely dismissed the sin question and any thought that the blindness was caused by punishment from God. This poor man had suffered this blindness that the works of God should be made manifest in him. The works of God were not wrought by this man but in him by Jesus Christ. This is perpetually true of the life under God’s grace. The suffering was permitted in order that the grace of God might be displayed. Other events such as the sickness of Lazarus was “. . . for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified” (John 11:4).
The Apostle Paul was a trophy of God’s grace in that through him the mysteries of God were revealed in a unique way. It was said of him “For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:16). Please observe, there is suffering that is entirely separate from sin; the purpose which is to display the grace and glory of God. All believers in Christ have been chosen to serve before God in love and have been predestinated unto the adoption of children, “To the praise of the glory of his grace” (Eph. 1:4-6). This praise to His glory is His ultimate purpose in His so great salvation. It should not seem strange or exceptional that suffering is permitted that the glory of His grace might appear in the lives of believers during their sojourn on the earth.
The work of grace was not only to be extended to humanity, but it must be accomplished by Jesus Christ and “while it is day” because “the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). These eternal words teach that there is a day of grace; a day during which God through Jesus Christ works on the principle of grace, but that day, as many other days, shall be followed by night when no works of grace will be accomplished. Similarly, before the judgment of the flood God said, “My spirit shall not always strive with men” (Genesis 6:3). So also, the Lord will not always work the works of grace in His creatures.
In giving sight to this blind man Jesus used a method entirely different from what had been used at any other time. He made clay and with it He anointed the eyes. “And said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (the meaning is sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing” (John 9:7). Three things are said of this helpless man. He went his way. He washed. He came seeing. The first two he did himself in compliance to the words of Jesus. The third was done for him because he obeyed and did the first two. These three things illustrate three conditions that are essential to a life under grace.
He went his way. This was done while yet blind but under the authority and command of Jesus. He did not see the pathway, but he walked step by step in faith. So also, the child of God is to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). He obeyed and washed. What was washed away? It was the clay that covered his eyes. As clay is earth and stands of things of this world, it should be detected that he obeyed and washed. Herein is an instance where Jesus made the healing conditioned upon obedience from the one to be healed. As soon as he had washed, he came seeing. The accomplishment of grace was complete. All of this information points to the things of the world that the believer must himself put out of his ability and control before he can receive full spiritual vision. This effort by man must not be confused with receiving eternal life for that free gift is bestowed to all who will accept it.
Paul prayed for the saints who were to have “faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints. That the eyes of their understanding might be enlightened, that they may know what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints is and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward those who believe” (Ephesians 1:15,18, 19).
This vision of the future glory cannot be seen until earthly things have been removed from before the eyes.
Years of suffering blindness had prepared this man to obey the command to “go wash” so that the work of God might be made manifest in him. The suffering in a believer may be a part of God’s plan to bring him to the point where he will remove from his mind the things of this world so that God may give him a clear vision of the riches of the glory of Christ’s inheritance in the saints. This is accomplished entirely by means of grace which came by the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Law given by Moses knew nothing of these things, and it could not as it did not rise above a human level. Nor is there any incentive to righteousness in the law that can be compared with the incentive to right living that comes from a vision of the glory to come.
After this most blessed man had received his sight, those that knew him said, “Is this he that sat and begged?” To this correct understanding the blind man confessed, “I am he” (John 9: 8,9). Prior to a child of God receiving spiritual sight and the reality of God’s amazing grace he sits as this blind man and is in deep need of the grace of God. In his blindness he may ask God incessantly for the things that His grace has already provided. “God be merciful unto us.” “God grant that we may dwell in heaven with you.” “Help us thy law to keep.” “Extend your grace to us day by day.” These are only a few of the empty petitions to God which indicate a blindness to what God in grace has already accomplished for His children and is already their sure and present possession.
After his blind eyes had been opened and this privileged man had seen the Son of God through whom a marvelous work of grace had been performed in his life, he worshipped Him (John 9: 35-38). There was nothing left for him to do; the doing was done, and it was finished completely. Does this remind you of all that has been done to provide salvation as a complete and finished work? No one can do more than this blind man did to affect his recovery from blindness. That is… absolutely NOTHING. The work has been done and done so perfectly by a perfect savior that imperfect man can contribute noting but imperfection. If man could contribute anything at all to appropriate salvation his contribution would be null and void and unacceptable to a Holy and Righteous God, as all of his efforts have already been declared by God as unacceptable filthy rags.
The very best that man can offer is the work from his own hands. All that can come from imperfect man is imperfect and relative righteousness. The relative and imperfect righteousness of man cannot redeem or establish relationship with a perfect, righteous, and holy God. This view is the result of clear vision of God’s grace, for this view as nothing else reveals to the redeemed individual his own nothingness and God’s infinite grace.
As was the healing of the impotent at Bethesda, so the giving of sight to the man born blind aroused the anger and opposition of the legalists, because this marvelous work of grace had been done on the sabbath. It is most difficult to comprehend that this true miracle from the Son of God meant less to the staunch legalists than to see their need to bow before the Son of God in amazement over the magnitude of this miracle. What was more important a miracle that altered this man’s life or their ritualistic and hypocritical attendance in their legalistic Sunday school? (Sabbath day school). What was their reaction? They said, “This man is not of God, because he keeps not the sabbath day” (John 9: 16). And again, “we know that this man is a sinner” (v. 24), and again, “We know that god spoke unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is” (vs. 29). The blindness of legalism does not and cannot, understand God’s amazing grace as the two have nothing in common. Legalism says teaching grace leads to carelessness (i.e. Sin) but the law is God’s word for right spiritual living and guidance.
The pompous and self-righteous legalists would have nothing to do with Him by whom came absolute grace and truth. In so doing they also would have nothing to do with the true object of grace by whom all must enter as the only door into heaven. In their blindness and rank legalism they blasphemously said to the Holy One who created the very ground they were standing on, “Thou wast altogether born in sins, and doest thou teach us? And they cast him out” (John 9: 34).
This is utter rejection of the only Savior. In making this choice to reject him they were still alive and possessed the ability to change their minds regarding His so great salvation. For those who were not a party in casting Him out, they could stop, look, listen and be saved. What about you? You are alive and can realize that it is never too late. The time to stop is now, not tomorrow or the next day! The issue is “Choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). It is possible that someone reading this message has never made the most important decision in life. There is nothing between you and God but your own rejection of Jesus Christ. The appropriation of salvation is non-meritorious. It is simply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). “That whosoever believeth in Him shall never perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:15). This is what it means to be a believer. A believer in Christ, by the operation of the grace of God becomes a member of His Royal family, by a simple act of faith in the only Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
Rest in Him and not in your own works or best efforts. All of our works of righteousness are not acceptable as they are the filthy rags from the works of our own hands. Perfect righteousness resides only in Jesus Christ and the kind of righteousness that is required is the kind righteousness that His righteousness requires Him to require. It is not in you it is only in Him, and you can appropriate His righteousness and possess eternal life by means of a simple act of faith in Him. Abandon any self-efforts of human works and rest in His finished and perfect work for you. This faith in Him is how eternal life is appropriated. It is not in you. Look to Him and away from yourself. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12: 2).
Here is a last and critical word for YOU… “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). ebrewqa((HebrewwH
