Gospel of John - We Must Do the Works of Him Who Sent Us

  

 “We Must Do the Works of Him Who Sent Us”

John 9:1-12

Miracles happen everyday, many hardly acknowledged, others heralded from the heights, yet God is working them all. God is working in and through those who have been called, who have been chosen and equipped to do the works of the Father who sent them. Let’s look at the first part of the text, “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus was walking away from Jerusalem and the temple grounds, when he came upon a man blind since birth begging along a street in the city, probably not far from the pool of Siloam in the lower part of the city. Jesus had been listening to the Father giving directions on the works He desired to have done. Jesus knew that doing the will, purpose, and works of the Father were to be obeyed.

  Jesus had probably walked by the pool of Siloam during the feast days required of every Jewish male and seen the man begging. It doesn’t say if the man called out for healing, but his presence brought up a question from the disciples. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” The disciples' only understanding of the sickness or infirmity from birth was because of disobedience to the commandment,  “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Ex. 20:4-6

Jesus, knowing what God wanted done, explained to them that “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” God has always been demonstrating his works of creation and power in all that he had made. This blind man was no different, he was a creation by God in his image, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Gen 1:27 

It was in this work, God created this man to be healed for the glory of God at this moment. Jesus knew the Father had a purpose for every miracle, and this one was no different. 

Jesus began to teach his disciples the importance of obedience to doing the works of God and the expediency. “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 

Jesus knew that his days on this earth were drawing to a close, and there was much work to do before the (night, death) came upon him. After slipping away from the rock-throwing crowd in the temple, he wanted the disciples to understand and make every opportunity to do the works (witnessing, teaching, helping, giving, comforting, praying) that God has given each disciple to do. Paul wrote it this way, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col. 4:2-6

 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is… be filled with the Spirit…” Eph.5:14-16

Daylight gave everyone exposure to the light, and Jesus wanted to use this light to illuminate the works of God among all people. Jesus declared again,  “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  

Application - If you have been the recipient of the works of God or the instrument of his works, you know the importance of the love and will of the Father through the Son. We are commanded to “Go” as well. For someone it might be to be healed, for another it is to go and make disciples, or earnestly pray for the lost and brethren in Christ around the world or in your church. You may be called to humbly service or speak to the lost with conversations that  are always “full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” However God choses, we must do the works of God while it is still day, being  “...wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil… understanding what the Lord’s will is… and being  filled with the Spirit…” Eph.5:14-16

Despite the altercation in the temple, Jesus knew this healing would create more controversy, but It would bring the light to those in darkness and demonstrate the good works of God the Father. Let’s look at the text, “After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.”

The making of mud and the washing in the pool of Siloam were not the cause of the miraculous healing of the man’s eyes, nor was it karma. It was the obedience to the word “Go.” This man had a choice, either to stay blind and refuse the gift from God, or “go” and obey what Jesus told him to do. The word “go’ also means “sent”. It was in the authority of God to go, to seize the opportunity to obey God and see the wondrous works of God fulfilled. In this the man returned from the pool healed, seeing for the first time in his life. He couldn’t hold back the joy and amazement of seeing God’s creation. He told everyone, “I have been healed!” “Jesus healed me!” 

Upon seeing the man miraculously healed, the people with dubiousness and suspicion began to question him and the healing, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” “How then were your eyes opened?” In this moment, the man seized the opportunity to give thanks to God and to proclaim to all the works of God in giving an answer to their doubts and fears. “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.”

Application - Who can dispute an eye witness and personal testimony to the works of God in their lives. This man’s testimony of obeying Jesus gave him eyesight for the first time. Do you remember the wondrous feeling and excitement upon receiving Christ into your life, being filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit. You were on a spiritual high, an infilling of God undeniable and indescribable peace that passes all understanding. This is the blessedness of receiving the work of God in our lives and being filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.

 Evenmore, being the one in whom God works through to do the works He has sent you to do. Oh what divine joy and satisfaction of making the most of every opportunity to be used by God and to fulfill his will and purpose in us and through us.

As Jesus said, “Let’s do the works of God because he has told us to “Go” and he is sending us to be the light of Jesus to a dark world.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com