Grace be with all you that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and love His message.
Extra credit reading: today’s is from J.C. Philpot. Dealing with the division that may be found in many churches I have copied his article - Religious Animal
Jhn 9:17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
Jhn 9:18 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.
Jhn 9:19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
Jhn 9:20 His parents answered them and said, we know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
Jhn 9:21 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.
Jhn 9:22 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.
Jhn 9:23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
discussion forum : What answer do you think the Jews were looking for from the beggar?
Chapter 8 we were faced with the religion of the world. The multitude, spiritually blind and deaf, were offended by Christ’s words to the point they picked up stones against Him. The beginning of chapter 9 we saw hope in Christ’s sovereign act of mercy and grace in the gift of sight to this beggar. But now the world’s religion shows its ugly head once again. A man before them saved from his condition by grace, given the gift that all these men should desire, instead criticized and questioned. What this shows of the young convert, anxious that others should know the marvelous things He has done, testifying of His grace and power, caring the message with an unmatched zeal and hope, but only before little time meets with resistance and disappointments. He finds that the one he holds up for glory the world rejects. Next we see how skeptical the unregenerate are. Their unbelief despite all proof in front of them they still chose not to believe. They were determined in their harden hearts not to bow. Finally we have the parents, knowing the truth, slaves to religious leaders and the unwarranted fear of the flesh. They had more fear of man than fear and gratitude towards the Savior.
Dear reader: I say to you, allow a young convert into many of the synagogues today. Send him exuberant, clothed with the garments that the Father has provided and proof of the grace and mercy of God. Send him, Spirit filled with the message Christ alone, grace alone, and His finished work. Do you think that the religions of the world would be excited for him and receive the message with open ears. I fear, pray, and weep that his reception would be today more like the same as Stephen received in Acts chapter 7.
(Acts 7:57) “Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord.”
