Quick Note – John 9:30-35 – Not Alone

John 9:30-35 – 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

When Jesus was walking, He saw a man that was born blind.  His disciples then asked Him, “Who sinned this man or his parents?”  To which Jesus replied, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”  Jesus then went and healed the man by making mud, placing it on his eyes, and telling the man to wash off the mud at the pool of Siloam.  The man could then see.

After this miracle, a lot of people questioned whether this man was truly blind to begin with.  Was he the same person that they had always seen begging?  The blind man answered that he was, but since people questioned him, they brought him before the religious leaders, who then asked how he could see.  Experiencing the healing from Jesus, he told them that it was Jesus who healed him and that he must be a man from God.  What he said though was taboo, because the Jewish leaders had stated anyone who claimed that Jesus was the Christ would be thrown out of the synagogue.  That meant that that person would basically lose all connection to the Jewish community and would likely lose opportunities for business and life.  The man would be exiled. 

Because of what he said, the man was cast out of the synagogue and ostracized again.  If you think about it, this was the second time he was ostracized.  The first time was because he was blind.  He was considered good for nothing and simply a beggar.  The second time it was because he saw and proclaimed his belief in God and Jesus Christ.  So he was alone again. 

However, he was not left alone.  In vs. 35, we find that Jesus heard about what happened to the blind man and found him.  This means that Jesus went to look for him.  When he was cast out, removed from society, treated as useless and unwanted, Jesus looked and found him.  He then would reach out and make him one of his followers.  Even when his parents didn’t want him (read vs. 18-23), Jesus wanted him. 

In your life, you will certainly face ridicule and be ridiculed for your faith.  People will treat you differently and will sometimes not include you, because of your beliefs.  But when that happens do not shrink away, do not fear, and do not hide because you don’t want to lose your position with the world.  Instead, stand strong and declare your faith in Christ.  When all others toss you out, He will come and find you.  He will take you in His arms and love you. 

I know it is scary, especially for those, who come from a background in which there is no belief in God or a belief that isn’t in Jesus.  You might be disowned from your family.  You might be kicked out by your friends.  But remember, someone more important loves and cares for you – the Lord Jesus.  He will come and walk alongside you and will bring you into a new family – the family of God.