Dec 19thDevotion John 9:13-17 When One And One Don’t Equal Two

John 9:13-17 – They *brought the man who was previously blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied mud to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was dissension among them. 17 So they *said again to the man who was blind, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”

“They brought the man who was previously blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day that Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.”  It is easy to become frustrated that Pharisees and those who put their loyalty firmly with them should not see the obvious truth that was on display.  That the interpretation of the Law of God by men to govern the actions of men must always be remembered to be man’s interpretation.  We must never put God in a box by what men say.  That is not only wrong, but also impossible.  Will God’s creation dictate to Him what He meant when He gave them a law?  Is it not the author who reveals what is meant?  When the Higher gives a command to the lower is it not the lower who must obey what the Higher meant.  So here the creator of all that was created, including mankind, was being told by His creation that what they thought of the Law that He had given, their interpretation was more important that His understanding of what He had commanded.  These Jews could not see the foolishness of their presumptions and actions because they, in their arrogance and with their hard hearts could not see the Truth that God had manifested on their behalf.  They were like their ancestors who could see the radiance of God upon Moses when he was returning from the mountain (Exodus 34:29-30) and still turn against him. (Leviticus 10:1-3)  Yet, we can allow that these interpretations of man had been initiated with good intent, but perhaps should have not been related as also written on stone with divine hands, but written on parchment with human fallible hands.  That God, being omniscient, writes laws that stand in every circumstance while men write to the best of the ability without full foresight of all that is to come.  Therefore just, moral and righteous judges are needed to consider the circumstances in seeming breakings of law.  God’s Law is absolute but men’s interpretations of it are not the laws but merely interpretations.  That division should be kept in mind.

“Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied mud to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”  The Pharisees asked the healed man again how his healing came about.  The man repeated to Him exactly what had happened.  Those asking again helps to establish to us what the truth was.  Were they trying to find the truth of trying to find something to accuse Jesus of?  If they only sought the truth it was before them to see who Jesus was and so what He could do.  But hardened hearts can keep out Living Water.

“Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was dissension among them.”  Mark 2:27-28 “Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.” The Sabbath was made for the benefit of man.  A holy commandment for the benefit of man.  The Sabbath serves man and man does not serve man.  The Sabbath was given by God to lovingly guide Him.  It is not a burden but a blessing for man.  But should a necessity arise, so as to hook up a horse and wagon and travel to save a hurt man, what or who shall a man serve.  Does not God unceasingly do good?  If we are to please God, should we not do as He does?  Does one really think that God thinks that not working is better than loving and doing good for each other?  The Pharisees enforced laws that did not consider doing good and love above doing no work.  There is an ignorance, or rejection of the intent of God to bless men and to protect them.

Another consideration is that Jesus did not need to make the mud into clay to heal the man.  He simply could have spoken the healing, or thought to heal, and it would have been so.  So would the Pharisees have thought that okay?  Either way it was God healing.  Is God dictated as to how He may be God?  Jesus did not sin, He did what is done from heaven continuously, God lives outside the calendar of men.  Jesus as the Son of God does the work of the Father, which is His work and it never ceases.

“And there was dissension among them. 17 So they *said again to the man who was blind, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”

These Pharisees only gave an appearance of looking for Truth, but all they really sought to do was to justify what they already wanted to do.  Truth was not their goal, but self-justification.  Yet can we not also be guilty of the same thing.  Instead of really seeking the path of God in love, do we in our day not sometimes look to Scripture to justify what we have done or what we thing rather than to find what God really means.  We take scriptures out of contest to prove ourselves right.  Scripture is sought for pride’s sake.  That is not loving God or each other, but pride.  We must be humble and seek the Lord in truth and right spirit, by the Spirit.  In the end of it all, let us live as Jesus called us to, to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  These laws of love will guide us into all truth.  We say one plus one equals two and so we put together thought to make what we think is truth.  But not all facts plus facts come out to what we conclude.  Facts can be misused.  But if we love God and each other sometimes we will work on a Sabbath and God will be pleased.  Let us lead with the love of God and God will be pleased.  We can be assured of that.  Praise God!

Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord!

Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me. 

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.