The Abundant Life
Day 34
John 9 & 10
Who is blind and what is life?
Jesus healed the blind man because He came to work the works of God and the works of God are not theological disputes and assessing blame, but opening the eyes of those born blind. And we’re all born blind, you know.
David was a One Thing man — “One thing I seek.”
Mary was a One Thing woman — “One thing is needful.”
Paul was a One Thing apostle — “One thing I do.”
The man born blind was a One Thing witness — “One thing I know.”
And what was the one thing he knew? “Once I was blind, but now I see.”
In chapter 10 verse 21 the people asked this question: “Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Absolutely not. And if all we put in our head is the recycled lies of demonic deception that are the daily fare of our lust-driven, greed-driven, pride-driven culture, then we will never see. And we will never live. We’ll be blind and dead and not even know it.
Jesus came to give sight to the blind and abundant life to those whose lives have been ravaged by the thief.
Listen to what Jesus says (John 9:39 & John 10:10 MSG)…
I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind.
A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
So, what does it mean to really see and really live? It takes Jesus to do both. And the more you are filled with Jesus’ truth and Jesus’ life the more you will really see and really live.
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John Nine is about who really sees and who is really blind.
John Ten is about who really lives and who is really dead.
Blue Babylon
(with apologies to Zimmy)
Babylon is fallen, is fallen
Haunted by every unclean and hateful bird
Babylon is fallen, is fallen
Baby, there’s a bird’s nest in your hair
You’re dying but you don’t know it
You’re already dead, but nobody told you
I see dead people
I’m looking at you
Words are coming out of your mouth
But they’re falling on the ground
Your words are dying
They fall from a dead mouth
The blindman is breaking out of a trance
But the hollowman dreams on and on
Your hollow horn plays wasted words
Wasted words from wasted lives
They’re all wasted
Middle-age wasteland
Willy told us about Othello and Desdemona
Zimmy sang about the poor boy in the hotel called the Palace of Gloom
Othello told Desdemona, “I’m cold, cover me with a blanket.”
So where is that poison wine? You gave it to me, I drank it
But in my death I saw a redeeming vision
Sour wine pressed to pallid lips upon a Tree
I awoke from my dream a deadman walking
I left Babylon and I won’t look back, I can’t go back
You don’t know me
But I know you
You don’t see me
But I see you
You say you see
But I know I’m blind
You trust your eyes
But they just tell you lies
Colonel Klink thought he knew
But his monocle was not enough to see
Sergeant Shultz knew better
All he would say was, “I know nothing”
Your boots are stuck in Babylon
Make it a memory and not a destiny
The harlot’s chalice is full of malice
It’s been weighed in the balance
But there is another cup that will cure your ill
Drink from it deeply and grace will fare thee well
–Blindman at the Gate