Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."(John 9:39 – ESV)
So we are “seeing” all the time these conferences, events, revival meetings, etc., where they claim signs and wonders are happening. You’ll see the ads on TV, the Internet, or in print, or hear them on the radio. They will say that there are blind eyes being opened, deaf ears being unstopped, the lame are made to walk, and things like that.
Well, my wonder is that I wonder if, in light of the biblical record, you have ever noticed something about all those blind eyes being opened. It would seem that many have turned a blind eye to the truth.
When we read Luke 4:18-19 we hear Jesus in essence quoting Isaiah 61:1-2. He mentions that He was sent to give sight to the blind, and we know this means both physical and especially spiritually. In the physical sense, giving sight to the blind was something that Jesus did that had not been done before (John 9:32). Our Lord chose a man who was blind from birth, just as man is spiritually blind from birth, and He healed him.
However, when we see Christ commissioning the disciples to go preach the gospel, of all the power He gave unto them, to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons, we do not see Him mention giving sight to the blind (Matthew 10:5-8). In fact, in all the narratives of the apostles doing their miracles not once is the giving of sight mentioned, only that Paul recovered his sight after having been visited by Jesus (Acts 9). The giving of sight to the blind was uniquely a ministry of Jesus Christ. It was so even with the apostles, who unlike the charlatans of today had real miracle working power, yet even they never gave sight to the blind.
The false healers may try to hide behind their wickedness by saying that they aren’t the healer, Jesus is, and it is true, Jesus is the one who works miracles through believers. Yet even with the apostles, Christ never worked the giving of sight to the blind. So their facade is no protection for their shame. The words of Jesus still speak today when confronting the false healers.
This is important because it shows that these false healers have no actual biblical basis for their “sight gags”, and it is symbolic in that it relates to us the truth that only Christ can open the eyes of the blind, whether spiritual or physical.
9 comments:
Open your eyes...
A real eye opener indeed.
Wow that makes sense. I actually saw Hinn talking to a woman last night that he had restored sight to. He was very vague, as it could have been restored from 30/20 to 20/20, but she also used to walk with a limp, and now she can dunk like Jordan.
I was blind in sin and selfish pride, but by Gods amazing grace, I now see.
wow...that was cool. thanks. :)
One thought I had.
I suppose in Acts 5:15-16 there could have been some blind persons healed, but the Scriptures don't tell us.
I think you could be right JD. But can you argue this from silence of the Scriptures?
Jesus said to Paul: "I will deliver you from the people, as well as the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, to turn from darkness to light, and the power of Satan to God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." -Acts 26:17-18
Just some food for thought.
Hm. I never thought about the miracles like that. I get the spiritual parallel. But I'm still thinking about this.
That is a good point Don, and no, generally speaking, to argue from silence is not the best method...however, haiivng said all that, the point about modern men and their shenanigans still stands...
"..the point about modern men and their shenanigans still stands."
Triple Amen to that JD.
Yep, just too many charlatans and their charades out there...praise God for His grace, for we might still be thee too...
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