Pulling back the layers.
Jesus did it repeatedly with the disciples and those around Him as they often misunderstood life’s situations. Consider the account of a man born blind. The disciples presumed the man was born blind because someone in the family sinned, either the man or his parents. In their minds, sin was the only reason for the man’s blindness.
Jesus’ answer started pulling back the layers no one saw. He said no one sinned. He said the purpose behind the man’s problem was that the works of God should be brought to the forefront. That answer would open the door for Jesus to begin peeling back the next layer of understanding.
Jesus went to work. He spit on the ground, made mud, and slapped it on the blind man’s eyes! Oh my, that layer right there! Ugh. How disgusting! And then He told the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The beautiful part is that man accepted Jesus’ actions and directions. He made his way to the pool and came out of the water with his sight!
Questions swelled as to whether or not he was the blind beggar or a look-alike. He spoke up and said he was indeed the former blind beggar. The Pharisees took issue with the fact that Jesus healed him. But that didn’t deter Jesus or the sighted man!
He was forced to repeat how Jesus healed him, and they still didn’t accept it. Finally, they asked his parents if the man was their son and how he was now seeing. They said yes, that was their son, but because of their fear of possibly being put out of the synagogue if they acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ, they deferred to the son and said he was old enough to answer for himself. The newly healed man, now exasperated by the berating, said he’d already explained the situation and posed a question to them – why are you so caught up in where He is from? Does it matter? I can see – that’s what matters. Ouch. Ultimately, he got thrown out of the temple.
Jesus got wind of what happened, and after talking to Him, the man said he believed that Jesus was the Son of God and worshipped Him. Talk about layers being pulled back. When the disciples posed the question to Jesus about the man’s issue, they had no idea what would be revealed – nothing even close to what they presumed.
I’m so glad the Lord pulls back the layers of our lives, especially when people think they know why/what/where/when you and I are going through x,y, and z. God allows circumstances to occur and then steadily peels back layers, bringing to the forefront His point for allowing x,y, and z (healing, delivering, saving, etc.).
Some may not appreciate, applaud, or align with what the Lord is doing in your life. But that’s no deterrent for God. He will peel the layers, deliver you, and make the enemy even angrier. That, too, is a layer God wanted unveiled. Like the former blind man, you and I will be able to say, I once was blind, but now, I see.
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. 13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.35 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?36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.John 9:1-38 (KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)