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 But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

Mark 5:36 (WEB)

Here is a link to last week’s Seed Basket series, Upside down.

What do you think about this conversation between Jesus and the disciples?

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Jesus answered, “This man didn’t sin, nor did his parents, but that the works of God might be revealed in him. I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 9:1 – 5 (WEB)

Jesus was telling the disciples that this man was born blind to bring glory to God by showing His power to save.

Think about that. He had lived all of his life as a blind person. The passage clearly says, “born blind.”

What do you think about that?

Well, as a believer who loves and trusts God, this passage makes me love and trust Him more. He loves and uses human beings in His story. Holy God allows mere people to be a part of His plan.

everyone who is called by my name,
    and whom I have created for my glory,
    whom I have formed,
    yes, whom I have made.’”

Isaiah 43:7 (WEB)

Jesus is the Water of Life, healing the man’s sin-sick soul and restoring his eyesight—a sweet gift from the Savior that glorified God. Redeeming his soul was God’s great joy and plan for this day.

When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So, he went away, washed, and came back seeing.

John 9: 6 & 7 (WEB)

But the Pharisees wouldn’t believe the man. They threatened to remove him from the temple. They insulted him. They threatened his parents. His parents wouldn’t even stand up for him. Some of the people who knew him refused to vouch for him, for fear of reprisals from the religious people.

In one final act of demonic aggression, they finally threw the man out of the temple.

Look at all of the doubters that tugged at the man. But he never looked back.

• The Pharisees
• The Jewish people who knew him
• His parents

Finally, Jesus gave the man the opportunity to confess Him as Lord of His life.

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

³⁶ He answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.”

³⁸ He said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshiped him.

John 9:35-38 (WEB)

⁴ Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalm 98:4 (KJV)

By the way, we saw some form of the word believe used 3 times in verses 35, 36 and 38. That brings our total in nine chapters to forty-nine uses of the word believe. What is this great thought doing for you as a BELIEVER?

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain