There is a funny little meme doing the rounds, of Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) paging through some papers and on every page he stops and exclaims “why…”, Why?”…. “WHY?!” Getting more exasperated, until he gets to the end, when he realises with a “oh… that’s why!”
John Chapter 9 feels a bit like that. The man borne blind goes through a life of struggle, gets healed and then grilled by the Pharisees all because, as Jesus puts it, “…this happened so that the works of God may be displayed in him…” (John 9:3 NIV)
If you haven’t read this part in a while, go and read where the religious leaders question the blind man… he is definitely a character and puts them on their back foot! Calls them out with their own teachings to the point where they simply resort to insulting him!
But there is a rather large, but slightly hidden truth imbedded in this story.
When Jesus meets up with the man after he was thrown out of the meeting with the Pharisees, Jesus asks him about his beliefs.
“Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
(John 9:35–37 NIV)
If I take a minute to reflect. Looking back over the years, I can very clearly see God’s finger prints in my life. The potter shaping the clay, the silversmith refining the silver.
True… at that time I had no idea what was happening. I even screamed at God, and my faith was non-existent. But God didn’t mind, I don’t think He enjoyed it, but He saw me as I was… a suffering child that needed to be shaped (and still does!)
Even in my rebellion, He never left me. On my worst days, he still protected me (even though I still carry the scars) but He never let me fall out of His hand.
“But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…”
(Isaiah 49:14–16 NIV)
This is God’s Character, This is God’s Identity.
I believe in that moment, The blind man saw much more than the healing that just took place… I think Jesus asked him to look back, and see His care and covering in his life… God’s fingerprints…
“Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.”
(John 9:38 NIV)
(The bible doesn’t make this statement. I am extrapolating out of my own life, what the Bible in old Greek referred to as ”Photismo” – a moment of enlightenment, of understanding – 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 NIV)
But whether true or implied or just imagined in this story, one big truth remains. Even in our darkest moments, God has not forsaken us.
Be a blessing to those around you, be God’s fingerprints in someone’s life today!
