Freedom & Lifeনমুনা

“... and new eyes for the blind ...”

Close your eyes for a moment. Go ahead. Close them.

Now keep reading this. You can't, can you? If you are reading this, currently, it is because your eyes are open. Likewise, Jesus has come to open your spiritual eyes that you might understand the things of the Spirit.

Today on Day 5 of this 21-day journey, we go back to Luke chapter 4, where we find Jesus again in the Synagogue (in the church amongst the religious leaders) reading a prophecy from Isaiah that he was, in fact, the fulfillment.

The Bible says in Luke 4:17-18 that "...they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and read where it is written..." “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has anointed me to be hope for the poor, freedom for the brokenhearted, and new eyes for the blind..." Luke 4:18

New eyes for the blind. One might assume the text here refers to a miraculous healing from blindness, which it is, but not from physical blindness; it's from spiritual blindness. You see, the Greek word for "eyes" in Luke 4:18 is translated "looking up to heaven." As such, the context here for "new eyes for the blind" is somewhat different than physical healing, although Jesus did that too.

Afterward, as Jesus walked down the street, he noticed a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused this guy’s blindness, his own, or the sin of his parents?” Jesus answered, “Neither. It happened to him so that you could watch him experience God’s miracle. Then Jesus spat on the ground and made some clay with his saliva. Then he anointed the blind man’s eyes with the clay. And he said to the blind man, “Now go and wash the clay from your eyes in the ritual pool of Siloam.” So he went and washed his face, and as he came back, he could see for the first time in his life!" John 9:1-3, 6-7

Why does God move? Why does he heal? Why is the power of sin is broken? Why can we call ourselves free, forgiven, healed, favored, and blessed? It is for God's glory, not our gain. Today Jesus wants to open your spiritual eyes and open your heart and mind to his might and power. He wants to deliver you from the shackles of sin and set you free.

The point of the miraculous move of God in our lives is not in the gift but in the glory. You and I are blind to spiritual truths all around us. By the grace of God, we've been given an opportunity to have that blindness lifted. While we benefit, our benefit is not the point; the point is to bring glory to God and, in doing so, lead others to the same revelation.

Jesus said in John 9:4-5, “While I am with you, it is daytime, and we must do the works of God who sent me while the light shines. For there is coming a dark night when no one will be able to work. As long as I am with you my life is the light that pierces the world’s darkness.” 

Not only are we blind to spiritual truths, but we are surrounded by "the world's darkness." We know that our lives, redeemed and renewed, light up the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Your spiritual eyes have been opened so that you will give glory to your Father in heaven and lead others out of blindness to the same miraculous truth - to God be the Glory.

Declare Today - "I will give glory to God my Father and lead others out of blindness and into the truth of Jesus Christ."

Written by Josh Blackmun