John 9:1 -- As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth.
Today begins a new journey with the Lord in John chapter nine. Our adventure in the Word continues to follow Jesus through events that started back in chapter seven. Much has happened since Jesus arrived in Jerusalem in the middle of The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot.
This chapter picks up right after the almost deadly confrontation with the religious leaders and teachers. They had picked up stones to kill Him, but He was able to slip away. Now, I know this is Jesus we're talking about, but if the rulers of a place you're in want to straight up murder you with rocks, you'd think there would be a very urgent rush to get far away. Not Jesus. We find Him walking along. In the Greek it's just a simple passing by and there are Greek words for every type of walking or running.
Jesus isn't upset or shaken in the slightest by what had just occurred. He is just walking away from the temple and the vicinity of those who wished to kill Him, but He is not disturbed or hurried. In fact, what jumped out to me is this:
"He saw a man…"
It'd be easy to think Jesus just so happened to glance over and see this blind man. However, when we look in the Greek the word horaō is used and it means: to see with the eyes, to stare at, to discern clearly, behold, perceive, see, take heed. Jesus wasn't focused on Himself or escaping or even speed walking to get away. NO… Even in the face of death He was focused on others. He SAW this man who had been blind from birth.
This man couldn't see Jesus, but Jesus saw Him.
Christian, do you realize long before we ever see Jesus, He sees us? He was there at the foundations of the Earth, in the beginning. In our daily lives we get so busy, so stressed, so rushed, we lose sight of so much, but God never loses sight of us. Never.
This brought to mind John 10:27-29.
John 10:27-29 -- My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
Beloved, no matter where you are, no matter how dark or how far away you've gotten, He still sees you. You may be different than you were when you first believed. Different circumstances. Different location. Different struggle or maybe even the same struggles…. BUT.. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever and He sees you where you are. Oh, won't you talk to Him in prayer and listen to Him in His Word today?
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
Amen. He is El Rio.