A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                         A HANDFUL OF MUD PART X

"I, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues.... It was a Sabbath Day... That day a woman was in the synagogue.... She was bent over..... That had been her condition for eighteen years.... I knew it was time for her to be healed.... So I called her forward... I then healed her....The synagogue ruler was not happy with her healing... He thought her healing should have taken place at another day....I disagree with him.... I know that any Sabbath Day is a perfect day for healing.... Be it the healing of a man born blind... Or the healing of a man with a shriveled hand... Or the healing of a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years... Or even the healing of a man who suffered from dropsy.... Each person matters... And each healing is important.... It is proof that I am indeed the long awaited Messiah who has come to set His people free."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesus healed a woman who had come to a synagogue on one of the Sabbath Days when Jesus was teaching there....

                    ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE, NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                             A HANDFUL OF MUD PART X

One Sabbath Day Jesus had gone to a synagogue as was His custom when He noticed a woman who was bent over as you can read in Luke 13:10-13

On a Sabbath Day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straigten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then He put His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sababth."

One touch from Jesus was sufficient to heal the woman, putting her eighteen- years' old suffering to an end.

                                A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                            A HANDFUL OF MUD PART IX

"I, Jesus, have just put mud on the eyes of a man born blind.... I then told him to wash himself at the Pool of Siloam.. So he has gone there... He will have been able to see after he had washed his eyes... I did not go with him to the Pool of Siloam... My disciples and I went our own way.... Today is the Sabbath Day.... I remember healing a man whose right hand was shriveled on a Sabbath Day...Not everyone was happy that this man's hand was restored... Nevertheless that is what I had come to do that day.... And so I did... Just as I healed a man blind from birth on a Sabbath Day.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Jesus healed the shriveled hand of a man on another Sabbath Day...

 

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                       A HANDFUL OF MUD PART IX

Jesus seems to have a habit of healing people on a Sabbath as you can read in Luke 6:6-11

On another Sabbath He went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus so they watched Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand. "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath; to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" He looked round at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

It looks like the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law prefer to do evil on the Sabbath Day rather than do good since they became so angry with Jesus after He had healed a man....

 

                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                         A HANDFUL OF MUD PART VIII

"I, the previously blind man, had gone home.... My neigbours decided to take me to the Pharisees... The Pharisees asked me as well how I had received my healing... So I told them that Jesus had put mud on my eyes.... And that I had then gone to the Pool of Siloam to wash my eyes.... After I had washed my eyes I could see.... The Pharisees had to acknowledge that a miracle had happened... For I could see.... However, they realised that the miracle had taken place on a Sabbath Day!!... Some of the Pharisees decided that Jesus could, therefore, not be from God..... Others decided that He had to be from God....I decided that they were not at all helpful... I knew one thing: Jesus healed on a Sabbath Day... It may well have been His favourite day to perform miracles.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the Pharisees could not decide whether or not Jesus was from God....

                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                     A HANDFUL OF MUD PART VIII

Not knowing what to believe, the neighbours of the previously blind man, decided to take him to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of their day. Surely they will know what to do with this man's claim that he has been miraculous healed as you can read in John 9:13-16

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight."He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath." But other asked, "How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.

Unfortunately, the religious leaders are not of much help either. Their stumbling block is the fact that the healing has taken place on a Sabbath.

 

                            A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                            A HANDFUL OF MUD PART VII

"I, a man born blind, can now see... The first thing I did after my healing was to go home.... My neighbours saw me.... I expected them to be very happy for me... But they did not seem to be that excited for me... They began to discuss among themselves whether or not I was the man born blind... I told them I was that man!!.... Some believed me... Others doubted me... They were full of questions.... They wanted to know how it was possible that I could see.....I told them Jesus had put mud on my eyes.... And that I had gone to the Pool of Siloam to wash it off.... They then wanted to know where Jesus was... But I did not know where He was... He and His disciples had gone their way when I left for the Pool of Siloam...I did not know where they had gone.... Jesus had not told me where He and His disciples were going next.".... Please read the next typed out attachment when you will learn that the neighbours of the previously blind man have many questions about his healing...

 

               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                    A HANDFUL OF MUD PART VII

No doubt, you will expect all those who learn that the blind man is no longer blind to be happy for him. Let's read John 9:8-12 to find out if that is so

His neighbours and those who had formerly seen him begging, asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man." "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded. He replied, "The Man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." "Where is this Man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.

His neigbours are somewhat puzzled by what has happened to this man and rather than rejoicing with him over the miracle that has taken place, they seem suspicious of his healing and suspicious of the Person responsible for the miracle.

 

                            A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                       A HANDFUL OF MUD PART VI 

"I, the man born blind, am no longer blind... I can now see.... That happened because I obeyed everything this Man Jesus told me to do... He and His twelve disciples met me while I was sitting at the road side.. They stopped and His disciples asked Him questions about me.... This Man Jesus gave them an unexpected answer.... He then made some mud and put it on my eyes... I was told to go to the Pool of Siloam to wash myself... I did exctly what He told me to do.... I went to the Pool of Siloam... When I got there I washed my eyes... I am so thankful that I obeyed Him fully....For now I can see!!.... It was only after I had washed my eyes that I could see....I am sure that if I had gone home to wash my eyes I would not have been healed... Of course, it would have been easier for me to go home to wash my eyes... But this Man had told me to go to the Pool of Siloam to wash my eyes... And so I did...And now I am healed!!... I hope that anyone who reads my story will obey Jesus fully as well no matter what He may ask you to do...You will be blessed if you do so.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn the importance of obeying Jesus fully....

 

                    ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                       A HANDFUL OF MUD PART VI 

From the story of the man born blind we can learn how important it is to obey Jesus fully in order to receive what God has promised us. You can see that principle taught in 1 Samuel 15:22

But Samuel replied, "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

What the prophet Samuel taught in 1 Samuel 15:22 is applied by the man blind from birth with wonderful results. We will do well if we follow his example.

 

 

                        A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                       A HANDFUL OF MUD PART V

I, the man born blind, experienced something very unusual today... I sat on my regular spot at the roadside... A group of men passed by... But they then stopped... I did not know why they stopped.... I expected them to give me some coins... But that is not what happened... I then heard them ask some questions about me.... They wanted to know why I was blind... They thought it was perhaps because I had sinned... They mentioned as well that I might have been born blind because perhaps my parents had sinned... One of them, He must be their Teacher, answered them.... He told them that through my situation God's glory might be displayed in my life.... I was not sure what He meant with these words... But I just knew that something good was about to happen to me.... I did not know what it was or how it would happen... But I knew one thing.... I was going to trust the Man who spoke these amazing words.... I next heard Him spit on the ground and make some noise.... It sounded as if He was making some mud by mixing His saliva with dry soil... I soon realised I was right for I felt some mud put onto my eyes.... The mud felt pretty sticky to my eyelids.... But I did not move.... Or say anything.... However, the Man told me to go to the Pool of Siloam to wash they mud off my eyelids....I did not ask Him why I had to go there.... I just went there... And I washed my eyes.... As soon as I washed my eyes a miracle took place... I could see!!.... I knew I should go home to tell everyone what has happened to me... I am no longer blind.... I can see!!""... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn what happened to the blind man when he went to the Pool of Siloam....

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES 

                                             A HANDFUL OF MUD PART V

Please remember that the blind man is not yet healed at the time that Jesus puts mud on his eyes as you can read in John 9:7b

So the man went and washed and came home seeing.

It is only after he has obeyed Jesus fully and has gone to the Pool of Siloam to wash his eyes that he is healed.

 

                            A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                          A HANDFUL OF MUD PART IV

"We, Jesus' disciples, had met a man blind from birth.... And Jesus had told us the reason for his blindness was not what we expected it to be... He told us it was to display the work of God in his life... We did not know what exactly He meant with these words.... So we just waited.... We did not need to wait too long... For soon after He had spoken these words Jesus bent over.... He then used some of His saliva to make mud from the dry soil....We then watched Him take the mud and put it on the blind man's eyes.... The blind man may have wondered why he suddenly had something sticky on his eyes... But he did not say anything... He just let Jesus apply the mud to his eyes... Jesus then spoke to the blind man...He told him to wash himself...But he was not to wash himself just anywhere... No, he was to wash himself in the Pool of Siloam.... We all know where the Pool of Siloam is... We next saw the blind man get up."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn how Jesus treated the blind man....

              ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      A HANDFUL OF MUD PART IV

Having heard His disciples' explanationwhy the blind man was born that way, Jesus helps His disciples to see beyond their narrow understanding. He wants them to grasp that the purpose of this man's blindness is not to show up anyone's sinfulness but rather to demonstrate the power of God in this man's life. And so Jesus goes to work as you can read in John 9:6-7a

Having said this, He spat on the ground, made some mud with the salive, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," He told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent).

Why does Jesus spit on the ground, make mud with his saliva and then puts the mixture on the man's eyes? Because, according to Jewish Tradition, the saliva of the first born contains healing power. However, none of us, whether or not you are a first born son, should make a practice of it, thinking that it is the proper formula to heal someone's blindness for that is not the case.

 

                           A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                         A HANDFUL OF MUD PART III 

"We, Jesus disciples, have just encountered a man born blind.... Jesus stopped in front of him.... We had, therefore, no choice but to stop as well... We then decided we should ask Jesus the reason for his blindness... We were quite sure that Jesus would choose one of two reasons for his blindness... But to our surprise Jesus spoke of a third option.... That was an option we had never considered before.... He shared that this man was born blind so that God's work might be displayed in his life.... We looked at each other.... Had we heard it right? Had Jesus really said it was not the man's sin that had caused him to be blind.... Neither was it the man's parents' sin that had caused the man to be born blind....And had we really heard that it had happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.... We did not know what that meant.... But we did not dare to question Jesus about His statement.... We decided we better wait to see if Jesus would follow up His words with some actions....Being a disciple of Jesus can be challenging at times for you never know what He will say and do.".... Please read the typed out attachments when you will learn that Jesus' reply to the disciples' question was not exactly what they were expecting....

                 ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                          A HANDFUL OF MUD PART III

The questions is: Will Jesus, as a good Jew, agree with His disciples that the man was born blind either because of his sin or his parents' sin? Let's listen to Jesus' answer in John 9:3-5

"Neither this man not his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent Me. Night is coming when no-one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world."

Jesus' answer is not what His disciples expected to hear.

                                 

                                  A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                                  A HANDFUL OF MUD PART II

"We, Jesus' disciples, were walking on the road when we encountered a man who had been blind from birth.... We were about to pass him by... But Jesus then stopped... We did not know why He did so.... Surely Jesus must know that this man was blind because of his sin... Or he was blind because of his parents'sin... We decided to ask Jesus for His opininion anyway....We were quite sure He would tell us why He thought this man was in the condition he was... And we were pretty sure as well that we would then move on since this man could not be that important."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the disciples ask Jesus a couple of questions related to the man who was born blind...

                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                               A HANDFUL OF MUD PART II

To Jesus' disciples the fact that this man was blind and has always been blind must be because of a sinful condition of either this man himself or of his parents as you can read in John 9:2

His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?

According to them that is the only logical explanation for this man's situation. Blindness to them is a curse and this man is under a curse because of someone's sin. They may well have remembered Exodus 20:5b                                                                                                                                                             ..... For I the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me.                                                                                     The disciples were convinced that nothing could be done for this blind man.