Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel narrative of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as it was written and recorded by the apostle John. More specifically today’s passage is found in the first thirty-four verses of the ninth chapter. “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went NAI’s way therefore, and washed, and came seeing” (John 9:1-7). “The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am hee. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not” (John 9:8-12). “They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was bond blind: but by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him” (john 9:13-23). “Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whehter he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out” (John 9:24-34). When you come to the ninth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will find the only account of this particular miracle which Jesus would perform in the city of Jerusalem. What’s more is that when you come to this particular portion of Scripture you will find the second mention of a pool which was present in the midst of the city of Jerusalem. It would be in the first and opening verses of the fifth chapter of this same gospel you will read of the pool of Bethesda which was present in the city of Jerusalem by the sheep market. It would be here at this particular pool there would be five porches which were filled with impotent folk who were blind, halt and maimed and were waiting for the stirring of the waters. In this particular narrative you will find Jesus showing up at this particular pool on a certain sabbath day and coming unto a man who had been in his state of infirmity for nearly forty years. For thirty and eight years this particular man had an infinity which he had not received any healing or wholeness from. What makes this even more intriguing when you consider it is when Jesus showed up asking this man if he would be made whole he would respond expressing his frustration, discouragement and disappointment. This man would not respond to the Lord Jesus emphatically proclaiming that he would indeed desire to be healed but rather speak of that which had kept him from experiencing healing and wholeness within his physical body. This particular man would respond by declaring how he had no man who would take and lead him down to the waters and help him in. What’s more is that this particular individual would also state that when he was indeed making his way down to the waters another would step down into the waters before him and would experiencing healing and wholeness while he himself was forced to return and retreat to his previous place. As you take the time to read the words presented int his passage of Scripture you will find Jesus once more in the midst of the city of Jerusalem. It would be there in Jerusalem as Jesus was passing by he would see a man which was blind from his birth. The apostle John writes how when Jesus and His disciples passed by this man who was born blind—not only would He see him but so also would the disciples see him. If you take the time to read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture you will find that as Jesus and His disciples passed by this man who was born blind His disciples would ask Him, saying, “Master, who did sin, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” In all reality this particular question must needs be carefully considered for it strikes at the very heart of that which countless men and women among us in Christendom believe within their hearts. There are countless men and women among us in this generation who think and believe that sin is indeed the origin of sickness, of illness, of infirmity, of disease, of plague and the like. On the one hand this is indeed true for prior to the original sin of Adam and Eve in the garden there was and there would have been no sickness within the world. It is indeed possible for us to attribute sickness, disease, infirmity and illness to sin, however, we cannot and must not attribute it to individual sin within someone’s life. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that death was indeed introduced into the world through the original sin of Adam when he sinned against the living God and His command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It would be in the third chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis we encounter and come face to face with the tremendous truth surrounding the original sin of Adam in the garden and the repercussions and ramifications that would surround it. Consider if you will the following words which are found in this particular chapter beginning with the first and opening verse: “Now the serpent was more subtitles than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shall thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; air shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Genesis 3:1-24). It is absolutely necessary we recognize and pay close attention to the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for they reveal unto us the source of sin and death w high has been present in the earth since the garden of Eden. We cannot have a discussion about the ninth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John and not also have a conversation about the sin of Adam in the garden of Eden. The disciples asked Jesus whether or not this man himself had sinned or whether his parents had sinned because he was blind. What makes this all the more intriguing when you think about it is whether or not the disciples knew at the time they asked the question if this man had been blind from birth. If they knew that this man had been blind from birth then how in the world would his blindness have been attributed to sin within his life? We know from Scripture that we have all been born unto sin as the sparks fly upward and we know that in sin were we conceived within our mothers’ womb. We know that when we were born and brought from from the womb we were not only born with the sin nature present within us but we were also born with death upon and within us. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for each and every man and/or woman who has been born into the world from the time of Cain and Abel were born with the sin nature within them and death being upon them. Even though the fifth chapter of the Old Testament book of Genesis writes and speaks of a son who was born unto Adam in his own image we must needs recognize and understand that directly connected to that image is original sin and death. There is not a single man or woman alive on the planet at this present time nor will there be one who might be born in the future who is born without and apart from original sin—and not only original sin but also death within and upon their physical bodies. I sit here today thinking about the words which are found in the ninth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John and I am brought face to face with the incredible truth surrounding the question of the disciples to Jesus. The disciples asked Jesus whether or not it was this man who had sinned or his parents who had sinned and there is indeed a part of me that wonders if they knew at that time that this man was born blind. Is it possible that the disciples did not know nor did they have any clue that this man had indeed been born blind? There is not a doubt in my mind that the disciples did in fact believe that it might have been his parents who sinned that caused him to be born blind but how would he have sinned as an infant being brought forth from the womb that would result in his being born blind? What’s more is that if this man was born blind then the question of the disciples would have implied that it was possible for him to sin within the womb of his mother. Once more we do know that while we are within our mother’s womb and after we have been conceived within that womb we do indeed have the sin nature present within us. Although birth is the celebration of life which has been brought forth into the earth we must needs recognize and understand that directly connected to birth is the reality that we have indeed been born with the sin nature present within our physical bodies. What’s more is that not only were we born with the sin nature within our physical bodies but we were also born with the sentence of death upon us. Although birth is the celebration of life we must also recognize that from the moment we are born we begin to die for through Adam sin and death have reigned from that time until now. Lest you think that this is somehow something which is entirely and altogether untrue I would invite you to consider the following words which are found in the fifth chapter of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were found in Rome: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: but whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:1-11). “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Mosses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteousness. Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:12-21). The words which we find in this passage of Scripture are absolutely astounding and remarkable when you take the time to consider it for it helps serve as a foundation for what is presented in the ninth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John. If you take the time to read the words presented in the ninth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will find the subject of original sin being brought to the forefront by the disciples when they saw and beheld this man who was born blind. It would be the disciples who would indeed bring up the subject of original sin by asking whether or not this man had sinned that he was born blind. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the understanding that was present during those days concerning original sin and perhaps even the sin nature. Although there is no mention of this within the gospel narratives at all we must needs recognize and understand that there was undoubtedly some type of understanding of the sin nature within the hearts and minds of those who were present during those days. Stop and consider what the disciples would have had to have known and believed to ask such a question as whether or not it was this man or his parents who sinned that he was born blind. The disciples might very well have believed that it was possible for this man to have sinned that he be born blind and yet the question I keep coming back to is if this man was born blind and was brought forth from the womb blind then any sin he committed would have had to have been committed in the womb. I find it absolutely necessary to declare to any reading this that it is absolutely impossible to sin within the womb and as a direct result of somehow sinning in the womb we are able to be conceived and brought forth with some defect, or some illness, or some malady. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it helps us to truly understand that which is presented in this passage of Scripture concerning this man who was born blind. The more I think about and consider this particular truth the more I can’t help but consider the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the epistle written unto the saints which were at Rome. It is within this particular apostle where the apostle Paul not only speaks to the fact that both sin and death have reigned in the earth from the time of Adam until Moses but also until now. The apostle Paul would indeed declare that sin and death reigned in the earth from the time of Adam unto Moses when the Law was given in the wilderness atop the mountain of God. Oh sin and death would indeed be present in the earth from the time of Adam until the time of Moses, however, it would be during the time of Moses when the Law would be introduced—the law which would now pronounce men as being guilty and in need of sacrifice. We know that after Adam and Eve had sinned against the command of the LORD He would make garments of skin wherewith to clothe them—an act that would have undoubtedly have required sacrifice. What’s more is that I would also dare say that in order for the living and eternal Go to make coats of skin for Adam and Eve he would have had to have shed blood and made some type of sacrifice—either within the garden or outside the garden—that He might take the flesh of what had died and fashion it into garments for them. It would be the LORD God Himself who would clothe Adam and Eve after having removed their own feeble attempt to cover themselves. The living and eternal God would indeed make garments of skin that He might clothe Adam and Eve from their nakedness that they not be naked and ashamed. Oh how absolutely incredible this truly is when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous and incredible truth surrounding sin and death being brought into the world as a direct of the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden. If you want to have a discussion about the man who was born blind as it was written and recorded by the apostle John in the ninth chapter of this gospel you must needs also acknowledge the tremendous truth of original sin—and not only of original sin but also how sin is the ultimate culprit and source of all sickness, disease, illness, infirmity, plague and malady within the earth. Although it was impossible for this man to have sinned within his mother’s womb that he would be brought forth blind from birth we must needs recognize that this doesn’t exclude him from being born with the sin nature within his physical body. What’s more is that we must needs recognize and understand that when Jesus heard the question which His disciples asked concerning this man being born blind He would emphatically declare that it was neither this man’s sin nor the sin of his parents that would have caused him to be born blind. In fact Jesus declared concerning this man that he had been born blind that the glory and works of God might be made manifest within and through Him. Oh before we get into this there is a great need for us to carefully consider the following words which are found in the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were in Rome. It is in this particular epistle where we find tremendous and incredible language concerning original sin, the sin nature and even death. What’s more is that it is within this particular epistle we not only read how all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God but we also find the apostle Paul quoting the words which were written by the psalmist David concerning there being none righteous—no not one. Oh consider if you will the following words which are found in this New Testament epistle beginning to read with and from the first and opening chapter: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible. Man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 1:18-25). “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their woman did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error, which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despitefully, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Romans 1:26-32). Consider if you will the following words which are found in the third chapter of this same New Testament epistle beginning to read with and from the ninth verse: “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:9-20). “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law” (Romans 3:21-31). And here are the words which the apostle Paul wrote in the same epistle beginning to read with and from the fifteenth verse of the sixth chapter: “What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servant to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the. Infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things id death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:15-23). If you read the words which are found in the ninth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John you will find Jesus and His disciples passing by a man who was blind from birth. It would be as Jesus and His disciples passed by this man who was blind from birth the disciples would ask Him who had sinned—his parents or this man himself—that he was born blind. In response to the question the disciples asked Jesus would first and foremost declare that it was neither this man who had sinned nor his parents who had sinned but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Moreover Jesus would go on to declare that He must work the works of Him who sent him while it was day for the night was coming when no man could work. Jesus would go on to declare that as long as He was in the world He was the light of the world. Oh please don’t miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for in response to the disciples asking Jesus who had sinned—this man or his parents—that he had been born blind Jesus would declare that his blindness was for no other purpose than to bring forth the works of God in the earth. Pause for a moment and consider how absolutely incredible this truly is as Jesus would speak of this man’s blindness as being the means whereby the works of God might be made manifest within him. When Jesus heard the question His disciples asked concerning this man being born blind He would emphatically declare that His blindness served a purpose in the midst of the kingdom of God—namely that the works of God might be wrought within Him and that the glory of the living God might be made manifest within Him. I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are presented in this passage of Scripture and I am brought face to face with the fact that the disciples might very well have believed that it was this man’s sin and/or the sin of his parents that caused him to be born blind. When the disciples asked this question of Jesus it’s important to note that Jesus didn’t rebuke them nor correct their thinking nor even the question they asked but rather would declare that this man was born blind that the works of God should be made manifest in him. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding Jesus’ words which were spoken unto the disciples that this man being born blind would indeed be for this particular moment in time—and not only in time but also in eternity. Oh I am writing these words and I can’t help but wonder what it was like in heaven each time Jesus healed a man or a woman of their infirmity, of their illness of their malady and of their disease. What was it like in heaven each time the Lord Jesus healed a man or a woman of that plague which was present within their physical body? What does healing look like in heaven when the Lord Jesus brings forth healing in the midst of the physical body of someone who was in need of it? We know that all heaven rejoices when one sinner comes home and turns their heart back to the living God, however, I can’t help but wonder what it’s like in heaven when one is healed and/or when one is delivered. If heaven rejoices when one sinner who was lost returns and comes home then I have to believe that heaven rejoices when healing and/or deliverance takes place in the midst of the life of someone who desperately needed it. It was the Lord Jesus who emphatically declared concerning this man that he was indeed born blind that the works of God might be made manifest within him. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand when reading this passage of Scripture it is that there are times within our lives when what we are suffering from and/or what we are struggling with is serving and will serve a greater purpose than we could even think or imagine. There would be those who would think that what we suffer and what we struggle with in our physical bodies and lives is directly attributed to sin and yet what we find in this passage of Scripture is Jesus declaring that it was neither the sin of this man nor this man’s parents that caused him to be born blind but rather that the works of God might be made manifest in and through him. The words which the Lord Jesus Christ spoke unto His disciples in this passage of Scripture are incredibly unique and powerful when you take the time to think about it for it demonstrates and reveals the incredible truth that it is possible for that which we suffer from and that which we struggle with serve a greater purpose than that which we could even think or imagine. There is something about that which we might very well suffer from and struggle with that is indeed used by the living and eternal God to work something far more glorious within our physical bodies and within our lives. It was the Lord Jesus who declared concerning this man that he was indeed born blind that the works of God might be manifested within and through him. What’s more is that these works which the Lord Jesus spoke of were designed to be manifested and brought forth at an appointed time and not before that particular time. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this when we think about and consider the words found in this passage of Scripture for it calls and draws our attention to the fact that although this man was born blind and although he suffered from and struggled with that blindness his entire life there was a time appointed in heaven by the Father when the works of God would be made manifest within him. I am sitting here today thinking about and considering the words which are found in this passage of Scripture and I am brought face to face with the awesome and incredible truth surrounding the appointed time for the works of God to be made manifested within this man’s life. The apostle John does not reveal how old this man was by the time Jesus and His disciples would pass by and we are left to wonder how old he truly was. We read the words presented in this passage of Scripture and we are brought face to face with the tremendous truth that this man was indeed of age and was able to speak for himself. I have to admit that I wonder how old this man truly was at the very time and moment Jesus and His disciples passed by Him. What’s more is that as we read the words found in this passage of Scripture we are brought face to face with the awesome and powerful truth surrounding the appointed time for the works of God to be made manifest in the life of this man. This man was indeed born blind, however, neither he nor his parents were aware of the fact that there was and there had been an appointed time set aside by the Father in heaven that the works of God might be made manifest within his life. Although he might very well have spent his entire life living and walking in blindness there would be a divine appointment that would be ordained and appointed by the living and eternal God for the works of God to be made manifest within his life. The words which are found in this passage of Scripture call and draw our attention to the tremendous truth surrounding the truth of this man who had a divine appointment that was arranged and appointed by the eternal and living God for the works of God to be made manifest within Him. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it brings us face to face—not only with a divine appointment with the works of God but also with the beautiful manifestation of the person and presence of the Lord Jesus within this man’s life. I read the words found in this passage of Scripture and I am confronted with the awesome and beautiful truth surrounding this man who perhaps was not even aware that his blindness would indeed serve a purpose greater than he himself could have even thought or imagined. The words presented in this passage of Scripture bring us face to face with the incredible reality of this man being born blind and walking in blindness for his entire life and yet he had absolutely no clue that each day walking in that blindness would bring him closer to the manifestation of the works within his physical body. Pause for a moment and consider the fact that this man had been born blind and would walk in that blindness his entire life not realizing nor even being aware of the fact that each day he walked in that blindness would bring him one step closer to that moment when he would encounter the person and presence of the living God. This man would spend his entire life up until this moment walking, living and moving in blindness and yet what we must needs understand is that each day walking and living with that blindness would bring him closer to that moment when the works of God might be manifested within Him. Oh this man had absolutely no clue that his blindness was to serve a purpose greater and much bigger than he could even think or imagine and yet the truth of the matter is that this man would indeed walk in blindness his entire life until this moment that there might be a collision with his blindness and the works of the living God. This man was indeed born blind and would walk in that blindness throughout his entire life until this present moment and yet there would be the demonstration and manifestation of the glory of the living God within his life. Oh how absolutely wonderful and incredible this truly is when you take the time to think about and consider it for there is something we must not lose sight of when reading the words written by the apostle John. It would be the apostle John who would write of Jesus declaring unto his disciples that it was not this man, nor his parents who had sinned that he had been born blind. In fact this man being born blind had absolutely nothing to do with sin despite and regardless of whose sin it actually was. When we think about the blindness of this particular man we must needs acknowledge that sin had absolutely nothing to do with his being born blind and walking in that blindness his entire life. That which we see in this passage of Scripture calls and draws our attention to the wonderful and beautiful truth that this man walked his entire life in blindness not knowing there would indeed be a moment set aside in eternity that was designed just for him. This man would walk in blindness having absolutely no clue there was a divine appointment that had been pre-ordained and pre-appointed by the eternal and living God. What’s more is that it was not by accident nor coincidence that Jesus was asking by this particular man at this particular time on this particular day. I am absolutely convinced that Jesus deliberately and intentionally walked this particular path and passed by this particular man at this particular moment that He might demonstrate and manifest the works of the living God in the midst of his life. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this and how absolutely incredible it truly is for it calls and draws our attention to the fact that this man was in the exact place at the exact moment and time that was ordained and appointed for Him by eternity and by the eternal and divine will of the Father. There is a great need for us to pay close attention to this and not lose sight of it for to do so would be to miss and lose sight of that which we must needs come face to face within this passage of Scripture. This man was indeed born blind and would walk in that blindness his entire life and yet what we must needs understand concerning this blindness was that it would serve the purpose of the living God. Although this man nor his parents were aware of the divine appointment that had been arranged and set aside for Him the Lord Jesus knew that the works of God must needs be made manifested in his life at this particular moment in time. This man would indeed be in this precise place at this precise moment that the Lord Jesus might pass by and offer healing unto Him. With this being said it’s important to note that Jesus didn’t restore sight to this man for restoration of sight means this man had sight at one point and somehow lost it. What we find within this passages of Scripture is not the restoration of sight but rather the giving of sight unto this man. RESTORATION OF SIGHT VS. THE GIVING OF SIGHT! Oh there is something absolutely incredible about the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for it calls and draws our focus to the absolutely beautiful and powerful truth concerning this man having a divine appointment arranged in heaven by the living and eternal God when he would receive and be given sight for the very first time. This man would spend his entire life hearing the world all around him and yet never being able to see it with his own eyes. This man would spend his entire life hearing the sounds of the world, hearing the voices of the people all around him and even hearing everything that was taking place around him and yet he would not be able to see it with his own eyes. For some time this man had lived and walked with this blindness and yet with each and every day that passed he would move closer to that moment when he would find himself being confronted with the works of the living God. With this being said we must needs recognize and understand that the eternal and living God wasn’t caught by surprise nor caught off guard when this man was born blind. In fact I would dare say that when this man was born blind the eternal and living God was well aware of it knowing that there was a moment ordained and appointed for Him in the days ahead when He would indeed experience the person and presence of His Son. This man might very well have been born during those first thirty years Jesus was present in the earth as the Word made flesh dwelling among us in obscurity. It is indeed possible this man might very well have been born blind during those early years of Jesus before He would be revealed at the Jordan River and proclaimed by John the Baptist. Just like the woman whom Satan had bound for eighteen years and just like the woman who had the issue of blood, and just like the man at the pool of Bethesda who had an infirmity for thirty and eight years there were those individuals who walked with their infirmity and their plague for quite some time. What’s more is they not only walked with that plague for some time but they perhaps also started walking with that plague before Jesus came and was born into the world and/or even during those first thirty years Jesus dwelt in Nazareth before coming unto the Jordan River to be baptized of John the Baptist. We read the words found in this passage of Scripture and we are brought face to face with the awesome and wonderful truth that this man was born blind—and not only was born blind but also walked in that blindness his entire life—that the works of God might be made manifest within and through him. Oh I cannot escape the fact that this man had spent his entire life on a collision course with the works of God—and not only with the works of God but also with the person and presence of the living God. This man had walked through life and living with this blindness not realizing that there was a moment that was set aside just for him in the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a truly wonderful and powerful reality is present in this passage of Scripture when you think about and consider the fact that this man would walk throughout his entire life until this moment in time when he would experience and encounter the person and presence of the Lord Jesus. How absolutely beautiful it is when you read the words found in this passage of Scripture for this man would indeed walk throughout his entire life with this blindness not even realizing or recognizing that his blindness would indeed serve a purpose greater than even he could think or imagine. This particular man had absolutely no clue that there was a divine appointment set aside for him and a personal encounter with the person and presence of the very son of the living and eternal God. This man might have struggled with frustration, with hopelessness, with helplessness and even with discouragement and depression throughout his entire life wondering how and why he would have been born blind. Oh I am sure that just like the man at the pool of Bethesda who had suffered from and struggled with an infirmity for thirty and eight years so also this man suffered and struggled with blindness his entire life. This man was born blind and would spend his childhood years, his teenage years and now his adult years walking with and suffering through blindness completely unaware of the fact that everything he would face and experience would lead him straight to this moment and straight unto the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The more I read the words found in this passage of Scripture the more I am brought face to face with the truth that this man would indeed spend his entire life living for this particular moment when he would indeed encounter the person and presence of the Lord Jesus. This man was and had been born blind not even realizing and recognizing that his blindness would indeed lead him to the place where he would encounter the person and presence of the Lord Jesus. This man had indeed been born blind and would walk with this blindness his entire life not realizing nor recognizing that everything he had faced and everything he had struggled and suffered with would lead him to this particular point in time when he would come face to face with the person of the Lord Jesus. It would be on this particular day when Jesus would speak unto His disciples concerning His working the works of God while it was still day and then spitting on the ground, making clay from the spittle, and anointing the eyes of the blind man. What’s more is that Jesus would not only anoint the eyes of this man but would also give him a command and instruction—namely to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. This man was perhaps unaware of what was happening to him and perhaps had absolutely no clue what this man had done to his eyes and yet we know that he did indeed and did in fact go unto the pool of Siloam and wash exactly as the Lord Jesus had spoken. In fact we read the words found in this passage of Scripture that this man went his way and washed and came forth seeing. Completely unaware of what had taken place and what to expect this man would do as Jesus had commanded and instructed and would wash in the pool of Siloam. Oh I wonder what it was like after he had finished washing and saw for the very first time. What was it like for this man after he had finished washing and all of a sudden saw the world before and all around him? What was it like as this man experienced sight for the very first time and was now able to interact with the world to its fullest potential? What went through this man’s heart and mind after he realized he was able to see for the very first time? That which the apostle John writes and reveals is that this man would indeed go his way and would wash and would come forth again seeing—something he had not experience before within his life and yet would now experience for the very first time and would experience and enjoy the rest of his life. I read the words presented in this passage of Scripture and I am completely and utterly struck with the reality of how this particular man had been born blind and perhaps struggled his entire life with how and why he would have been born blind. Imagine growing up being able to hear the world around you and yet being completely unable to see the world with your own eyes. Imagine spending your entire life walking in blindness being completely shut off to the world unable to see and truly interact with it. This man was born blind and was not only born blind but also walked in blindness his entire life up until this moment. It is truly something absolutely incredible to read the words found in this passage of Scripture and consider how this man was born in blindness and would walk in that blindness his entire life until the time came when he would encounter and experience the person and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. This man was born blind and would walk in that blindness his entire life completely unaware of the fact that his blindness had indeed been appointed that the works of the living God might be manifested within him. How absolutely wonderful this truly is when you take the time to think about it for this man’s blindness had indeed caused him to be in a place where he would be positioned for the works of God to be manifested in him. This is something we must needs recognize and acknowledge when reading this passage for there are times within our lives when we struggle and contend with things—not because of sin within our life but because the works of God were destined and appointed to be manifested in and through us. Of course this isn’t to say there aren’t times within our lives when we have indeed sinned against the living God and as a direct result of it we experience the consequences of our sin and perhaps even something else which might be attributed to it. I can’t help but think of the king of the southern kingdom of Judah who transgressed against the living God and would as a result of that sin experience leprosy within his physical body. I can’t help but be reminded of Gehazi the servant to the prophet Elisha who sinned and as a result would have come upon his physical body leprosy likened unto that which was present upon the physical body of Naaman. The more I delve into the words found in this passage of Scripture the more I am brought face to face with the absolutely incredible truth surrounding this man being born blind and walking in that blindness until the appointed time when he would experience and encounter the person of Jesus. Undoubtedly this man had absolutely no idea nor any expectation or anticipation that he had an appointment with the works and glory of the living God—much less experience the person of Jesus Christ. There is a part of me that can’t help but wonder if this man had an inward desire to experience the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and even a desire to receive his sight. I can’t help but wonder if this man had heard with his ears the wonderful works of the Lord Jesus Christ—perhaps even like John the Baptist heard of the works of Christ in prison—and earnestly and desperately desired to experience His person and presence for himself. I find it truly captivating to think about this particular narrative and how this man would indeed be born blind and would walk in that blindness and then at this particular point in his life would begin hearing about one who had restored sight to the blind. Scripture is entirely unclear at one point this was during the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, however, I would dare say that by this time Jesus might very well have restored and given sight to a number of different individuals during those days. Perhaps this man heard how Jesus had restored sight to others who were blind and thought within himself that it might possible for him to receive sight. I would dare say that there was perhaps a deep and inner longing within the heart of this particular man to receive his sight and to be able to see and interact with the world the way he could only dream of and hope for. This man would indeed walk in blindness his entire life, however, there would come a point within his life when he would walk in blindness and yet hear about one who could give sight to the blind. Stop for a moment and consider how absolutely incredible this passage truly is for within it we find this man who had walked in and who had walked with blindness his entire life and yet there would come a point when he would begin hearing rumors and whispers of one walking among them who had restored sight to the blind. What do you do when there is something you desired within your heart and soul and you hear of others receiving and experiencing that which you desperately desire? What do you do when you have walked with something for so long and begin hearing how there is one among you who has actually healed and made whole others who suffered from and struggled with the very same thing? This passage is completely and utterly astonishing when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to the fact that this man was born blind and walked in that blindness his entire life all so he could experience this moment when the works of God and the person of Jesus Christ would collide within his life. This man would walk in blindness his entire life completely unaware of the fact that his blindness would set him up for an appointment with the person and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for I am absolutely convinced there are times when we walk with or walk through something—and do so for quite some time—and we perhaps even grow discouraged, disheartened and even disillusioned when our need hasn’t been met. There is something truly astonishing about the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for it brings us face to face with the fact that we might be allowed to walk through something that might be incredibly difficult for us to handle and bear simply and solely that the works of God might be made manifest within our hearts and lives. The more I read the words which are found in this passage of Scripture the more I am reminded of the words which the apostle Paul wrote unto the saints of Rome which are recorded for us in the eighth chapter of that particular epistle. I am also reminded of the words which the apostle Peter wrote in the fourth and fifth chapters of the first epistle he wrote as well as in the first chapter of the second epistle which he wrote. Moreover I can’t help but be reminded of the words which James wrote in his epistle concerning the trials and troubles which we face within this life. This man who was born blind and walked in blindness his entire life would indeed struggle and suffer for years until the appointed time when the works of God and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ would be manifested in Him. Here in the city of Jerusalem this man would experience the works of God which Jesus came to fulfill and accomplish which would ultimately result in His going forth seeing. This is something worth considering for we must needs recognize and understand there will be times within our lives when we are allowed to walk through something—perhaps even something incredibly difficult for us to handle—and the sole purpose for our walking through it is to bring us to the place where we can experience the works of God being manifested within us. This man was born blind and would walk in that blindness his entire life—not because he or his parents had sinned but because he was both destined and appointed for the works of God to be manifested within his life. There is something truly special about the words and language found within this passage of Scripture for it bring us into the place where we recognize that there are certain times within our lives when those things we suffer from and struggle with serve a greater purpose than what we can even think or imagine. This man was born blind and walked in that blindness his entire life until the appoint time when He was to encounter and meet the person of the Lord Jesus and experience the works of God being manifested within his life. It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in some of the epistles here in the New Testament: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:18-22). “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’ sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:12-19). “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he care that for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:6-11). “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and gold ness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lackeys these things be blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:3-11). “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith nothing wavering. For he that watereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:2-8). As I bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to just how absolutely profound these words truly are in relation to the man who was born blind. This man was born blind and would walk in that blindness throughout his entire life—not because he had sinned, nor because he was somehow being punished by God, nor even because God was somehow testing or trying him. Jesus made it very clear that this man was born blind and walked in that blindness his entire life that the works of God might be made manifest in his life. This man had indeed experienced blindness and this inability to see simply and solely because he was ordained and appointed to have the works of God being manifested within his heart and life. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for it calls and draws our attention to the wonderful truth surrounding his appointment with the works of God—and not only with the works of God but also with the person and presence of Jesus. This man might very well have been born blind and might have walked and lived with that blindness for his entire life yet that blindness had an expiration date according to the calendar in heaven. This man might have been born blind and he might have walked with that blindness for his entire life up until this moment, however, he was about to realize and understand that what he had experienced did indeed and did in fact have an expiration date according to the divine will of the living God. This man was indeed born blind and had walked and lived in that blindness his entire life, however, everything he had experienced would lead him up to this particular moment in time when he would experience the collision of the works of the living God and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh how we must needs recognize the tremendous beauty that is found in this passage knowing that this man was destined to experience the manifestation of the works of God within his life and how those works would indeed bring about the giving of sight to him after spending his entire life walking in blindness. It would be very easy to read this passage of Scripture and fault God for allowing this man to have been born blind—even to walk in that blindness his entire life. There would be those who would read the words presented here and think that God was somehow cruel and vindictive in allowing this man to be born blind and to walk in that blindness his entire life until he met Jesus. What we must needs understand when reading the words found in this passage of Scripture is the principle of “until he met Jesus.” This man would indeed walk in blindness his entire life and was in fact born blind, however, all of this was in fact until he met and encountered the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It would be easy to look at our own situations and circumstances and perhaps even grow offended with the living God for what we have had to walk through, however, we must needs recognize this principle of “until he met Jesus.” This man would walk in blindness until he met Jesus and it would be as a direct result of his meeting Jesus that he would not only be given his sight but would also receive the revelation that Jesus was indeed the Son of the living God. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for although this man was born blind and walked in that blindness he had an appointment with Jesus and with the works of the living God from the time he was born into this world. This is something we must needs recognize within our own lives for as much as we might have been born with the sin nature within our physical bodies we have also been born for an encounter with the person and presence of the Lord Jesus. We as those who are alive and present in the world at this time were in fact born with an appointed time to meet and encounter the person of the Lord Jesus Christ—and not only meet the person of the Lord Jesus Christ but also to experience the works of God being manifested within our lives. The question we must needs ask ourselves is what we will do if and/or when we actually meet with the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the works of God are manifested within our lives.