Have you ever been inspired?

Have you ever been inspired? I have. One person who has inspired me lately is a character from the bible. He is the blind man from the book of John, chapter nine. We are not told his name or really anything about his life except that he was born blind. Then, one day he meets Jesus who heals his blindness and shortly thereafter becomes a follower. My inspiration as of late has not come from the fact that he was blind but now could see. It has come from what I believe is the real meaning of the story. Read the first several verses to get an understanding of what I am talking about.

9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (ESV)

You see, no pun intended. While Jesus’ followers were concerned about sin and who we should blame which is still quite common today. Jesus is concerned about doing the work of His father. If you read the rest of the chapter I believe you will see that while Jesus heals the blind man that is not really His goal. If that were His goal, if that were the case, we could end at verse seven and move on to Jesus’ next miracle. But we can not. We can not because the gospels were not written to bear witness to God’s miracles. Please don’t take my tone as cynical. I am not being cynical in the least. Rather, I wish to point out that if God’s goal was to come into the world and perform one miracle after another we would eventually get bored and not follow. You say, impossible! Not me! That would be great! If everyone could be healed that would be terrific! Then tell me why the Israelites still worshiped other gods after ten plagues, the parting of the Red sea, Water from a stone (twice), and a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night. Not to mention the audible voice of God, manna from heaven, quail from the sky, and why don’t we throw in the earth opening up and swallowing some of those who were practicing the latest Richard Simmons workout in front of the golden calf.

Jesus came to redeem us. He came to set us free. He came that we may be once and for all time forgiven. He touched us, loved us laughed and wept with us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”. Jesus stepped out from eternity into time and clothed Himself in the humility of humanity in order to get our attention. Let me ask you again. Have you ever been inspired?

The blind man in John chapter nine is about to be used by God. His life will be changed forever. He has been chosen “from the foundations” of the earth to be born blind. He was “fearfully and wonderfully made” blind. Now Jesus, walked over to him, knelt down, (the blind man probably expecting some pocket change), dropped a nice spit wad right in front of him. If you were the blind man you might be a little nervous if s stranger just came over to you and spit were you were sitting. But, Jesus and His great sense of humor, does not stop there. He mixes the dirt and spit and sticks it in the guy’s eyes, and proceeds to tell the blind man he may want to wash that off. The blind man became an inspired man. When we become inspired we take on a sense of great boldness. This blind beggar began to boldly proclaim this Jesus “do you want to know Him too”. I believe this is a time for your eyes to be opened by God in a new way. My prayer is that you will see him move in your life as I have seen Him move in mine, and as He moved in the blind man’s life. Keep reading and allow God to inspire you too.