The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matthew 6:22-23 KJV.
This word of Jesus Christ expressed the significant of eyes to human existence. A man without eyes lacks vision and focus. Individual without eyes lives a life of dependence on others. It could be worse when it's the blind that is leading the other. The brightness of our light is a function of the singleness of our eye. He further explained that the eye of a Christian who does evil is equivalent to great darkness. Permit me to say that blindness of physical eyes may be a terrible occurrence but that of the spiritual eye is indeed synonymous to total darkness. A man without physical eye may be full of vision and fulfill purpose while the one who is spiritually blind cannot become anything with his physical eye open. Focusing on evil and good is the major reason for lack of productive decisions. Many are in the valley of decision confused of what the way out.
God out of His generous mercy has made provision for freedom from all forms of blindness. The solution was supposed to be simple but indeed became hard because men are unaware of how it works. Knowing Jesus Christ to the fullest is the key to unlock blindness. How?
We shall briefly consider 3 ways of identifying with our Lord Jesus Christ and the result it will produce.
1. Jesus as a Man
2. Jesus as a Prophet
3. Jesus as the Saviour; the son of God.
Permit me to say that every human who have heard the name Jesus developed a vision about Him on the basis of any of these three Identity. Let's get complete knowledge by taking our journey through the gospel of John chapter 9. You can read all the verses to further strengthened the extracts used in this post.
1. JESUS AS A MAN
While Jesus was walking, he saw a man who had been blind since the time he was born. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” After Jesus said this, he spit on the dirt, made some mud and put it on the man’s eyes. They asked, “What happened? How did you get your sight?” He answered, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. Then he told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went there and washed. And then I could see.” They asked him, “Where is this man?” He answered, “I don’t know.”
Jn. 9:1, 5-6, 10-12 ERV
The story of a man born blind portrayed in this scripture brought complete clarity to the spiritual identity of all human. We were all born blind. We were created into the world of sin instead of the garden of Eden after the error of the first Adam. But there was provision in Jesus Christ as the light of the world. When this man heard about Jesus alongside his neighbors, the purpose of the manifestation of the Son of God was to be fulfilled but the reception was poor or completely wrong. The bible established that why we were yet a sinner, Christ died for us out of love. This love mostly can be expressed in the life of someone who come in contact with Him even as a sinner. That is why miracles, healing, breakthrough and all forms of good thing can be provided by God to any man who identify with him. Many are in the world today who know the name Jesus because when needs arise they trusted God enough to provide. Some in terrible situation or accident will call the name and there will be a turnaround. Miraculous encounter of some people with Jesus is the only solace they found in Him. When friends asked; please show me your Jesus, such people like this blind man will quickly say they don't know anything about the man. Some may even misplaced him for that fellow who was a tool from God for the blessing. Some people want to associate just once with the man Jesus and they do that the first day of every year. Permit me to say Jesus can manifest to sinners as Man in miracle, but the utmost intention was for a deeper revelation of Himself to us. Unfortunately despite that great gesture of giving children's food to sinners, some never embraced it. Those who received salvation gift have to go further to a better knowledge of Him because fullness of God is not in Jesus as a Man. A Christian whose relationship with Jesus is on provisions, evidence, signs and wonders only; need to changed level. Happy are those who have not seen me, but believed.
2. JESUS AS A PROPHET.
Then the people brought the man to the Pharisees. They asked the man again, “Since it was your eyes he healed, what do you say about him?” He answered, “He is a prophet.” So the Jewish leaders called the man who had been blind. They told him to come in again. They said, “You should honor God by telling the truth. We know that this man is a sinner.” The man answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. But I do know this: I was blind, and now I can see.” He answered, “I have already told you that. But you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to be his followers too?” The man answered, “This is really strange! You don’t know where he comes from, but he healed my eyes. We all know that God does not listen to sinners, but he will listen to anyone who worships and obeys him. This man must be from God. If he were not from God, he could not do anything like this.” The Jewish leaders answered, “You were born full of sin! Are you trying to teach us?” And they told the man to get out of the synagogue and to stay out.
Jn. 9:13, 17-17, 24-25, 27, 30-31, 33-34 ERV
Most interesting identity of Jesus that greater number of believer professed is Jesus the Prophet. When this man developed beyond the level of Jesus as a man, he grew to the level of Jesus as a prophet. There are some prevailing factor that plays out at this level that may make it difficult for Christian to differentiate it from the third level. The activities and expression at this point almost conferred complete knowledge of God on man except some denials of basic truth about Jesus identity. Manipulation of truth happened at this level in high magnitude such that foundation of faith will be visited to know how firm. Knowledge will be tested.
Knowledge of whom a prophet was in the scriptures may actually made us limit Jesus to a prophet. There are many vessels of God from Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Priests, Kings and notable Prophets. If we considered their actions and ministries, one may conclude that Jesus was just one of them.
This confusion was played out by this man when he came in contact with the Pharisee and the people with wisdom of this world. After his sight was restored, he was faithfully bearing witness about a man Jesus. But it dawn on him that He was more than just a man after an eyes opening discussion with neighbors and the Pharisees. People at this point understood that some acts are beyond man's power. They are more earger to make Jesus know as the supernatural being who is specialist in doing wonders and exploits. Unfortunately they are among men who beleived every great acts of Jesus excepts His sonship to God. Some were made to denied the holiness of Jesus and His personality as Christ. Others could not agreed with His birth, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. Many easily accept as Christians that; they and some other people in different religion are serving the same God. They are the one the bible referred as:
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:5 KJV
The sinners and scholars will accept declaration of Him as a man and Prophet but they equally want us to call him sinner. Christian at this level are subject to manipulation, deceits and lies of the Devil until they grow higher in understanding.
Preaching the Gospel remains difficult for a man who still see Jesus as a prophet. Even though he tried everything the world will still make him feel guilty of sin. Fear makes them to accept things they never wanted. They remained helpless to establish their hope of salvation.
3. JESUS AS THE SAVIOUR AND SON OF GOD.
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
John 9:35-38 KJV
Coming to the most important level of knowing Jesus. The final encounter this man had with Jesus settled the problem of blindness permanently in his life. Understanding of the name Jesus not just as a man or prophet but as Jesus Christ the son of God is the climax of knowledge. Jesus Christ himself revealed why this is important for all-round wellness of man.
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 16:13-17, 19 KJV
This wisdom only come by the Holy Spirit. Inside the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the son of the living God is found power to bind and loose. Power for dominion and grace to be just as He was on earth. We have to attain unto this understanding that knowing Him as Christ is not just for His honour and glory but also to embolden us to operate above the level of ordinary men and prophets. The key that unlocks the kingdom of God is in this truth. This has nothing to do with the fact that your are born again. It doesn't respond to our exploit of faith but rather to worship of God and establishment of unbroken fellowship. No wonder true great men of God pay maximum attention to knowing more of God than more of acts.
The time is here again for men to identify with death and resurrection of Jesus Christ like Apostle Paul and thus behold more of God's glory.
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Philippians 3:10 KJV.
And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.
EPH 1:18-21 AMP. Amen
Note: The core values of Jesus Christ are in His Birth, Death, Resurrection and Ascension. Understanding the contents of each package empowers believer with fullness of God in His glorious Son.
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