Christmas may bring out our holiday cheer, but lurking beneath the surface is the shame and regret that accompanies poor choices of our past. But there is hope! The light of Jesus purifies even the murkiest heart. Practically speaking, what does it look like for Jesus to be the light of our world? One of the ways Jesus shines His light into the darkness is through healing and restoration.
- Read John 9.1–7.
Many scholars have debated over the proper translation of verses 3–4 in this passage. These verses are best read as one long sentence: “’Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus. ‘But so that the works of God might be displayed in him, as long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me.’” This gives us a much different understanding of the text. Instead of focusing on the cause of suffering in this man’s life, Jesus shifts the focus to the work of God, pointing out that the reasons for suffering aren’t nearly as important as seeing the power of God in that suffering.
As humans, we tend to get stuck in the analysis of why suffering happens. If we can shift from, “How did we get here?” to “How are we going to see God in this?” then we are moving from a place of potential mistrust of God to a resolution of faith in God. We’re like the father who brought his son to Jesus for healing.
- Read Mark 9.22–24.
In principle, we believe that Jesus’ light can bring healing and restoration, but we’re not entirely convinced He will in our own personal situations. We think about times we sought God for healing, and it didn’t happen. Objections like this form in our mind that keep us from fully embracing the truth that Jesus Christ is the light of the world that brings healing. But just because God doesn’t show up the way we want Him to every time, it doesn’t mean He doesn’t show up anytime.
Question: How have you seen God do something great in your own life? What about in the lives of others? Have you seen Him show up once or multiple times?
Even though God doesn’t manifest His work in big ways that we would like to see every time, we can’t stop asking Him to help. He is not far off in the distance somewhere, unable to make a difference in our lives. He is close, active and able to do great works for you and me. Do we believe that?
If we can reach out and believe again that He is the God who heals, then what can we do to help prepare the way for a great work of God? While we can’t reduce the work of God to a formula, Scripture lays out some things we can do to help prepare the way.
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If we want to see the work of God, we must start doing the works of God.
John 9.4 says “so that the works of God might be displayed in him…we must do the works of Him who sent me.” Again, in John 14.12, Jesus promises, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do [even greater things] than these.” Basically, if we want to see the work of God, we can’t just sit on our hands. We need to start doing the works of God.
Question: What are the works of God? Think of examples from Scripture. Think of examples from the early church. Think of examples you have seen in the lives of other believers.
So what are the works of God? Many things fall into this category: using our gifts to serve the Church, showing compassion to those in need, and sharing our faith with others. In this instance, we want to focus on the work of prayer.
- Read James 5.14–15.
Scripture declares that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5.16b). This means you and me, not just the church leadership team. One of the most important works we can do is to pray when there is suffering. And how we pray is important. We should pray with faith (Jesus wants to and is willing to heal), in the authority of Jesus (Matthew 10.1, Luke 10.19), and with a spirit of release (God is the healer, not us). Prayer is one of the most powerful works we can participate in with God.
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If we want to see the works of God, start listening to the works of God.
Jesus had a very unusual way of healing the blind man in John 9. He spit on the ground to make mud, spread the mud on the man’s eyes, and then told him to go wash in the pool (v. 5–7). Yet the blind man responded in obedience—he got up and went to the pool to wash his eyes, and came home seeing (v. 7)! In another instance of unusual methods of healing, the ruler Namaan is told by the prophet Elisha to go dip himself seven times in the river Jordan to be healed of leprosy (2 Kings 5.1–14). Namaan is offended at this instruction at first and says no, though he later changes his mind, follows the instructions and is healed.
The lesson for us is that our obedience to His commands matters. Whether God is telling us to confess sin, give sacrificially, ask for prayer, or start a conversation with someone that makes us uncomfortable—we need to DO IT! Even if it doesn’t make sense in the moment. He can give us little prompts or big commands, but it’s important that we listen and obey even the smallest things.
Question: How has God prompted you to obey Him in a specific way, either in the past or in the present? How did/will you respond? Did His instruction make sense in the moment? What happened as a result of your obedience or disobedience?
While Jesus wants to bring light to our suffering, He wants even more to bring light to our separation from Him. While He wants to bring light to our physical eyes, He wants even more to bring light to our spiritual eyes. He wants us to know that He is the savior of the world, that He came to forgive our sin and ultimately put the world back together again. This is the greatest work of God anyone can experience.
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