The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 9:20-23,
"'We know he is our son,' the parents answered, 'and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.' His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, 'He is of age; ask him.'"
While investigating a miracle of Jesus, (he had restored the sight of a man born blind), the Pharisees called in the man's parents to verify that he was their son and that he had indeed been born blind. The parents responded in a way that manifested their fear of the intimidating authorities. They felt threatened of being ostracized as outcasts by expulsion from the synagogue. Such a thing was not to be taken lightly as the synagogue was the heart and soul of Jewish life. It would impact family life, an occupation, friendships and certainly loss of stature in the community, the loss of a good name, etc.
We see the very same kind of intimidation in our day. Here in America we have a legacy of freedoms and rights that should prevent just this type of intimidation. But as freedoms and rights are being challenged these days, we see that same old intimidation coming right back. Many voices are being blocked with accounts suspended on social media websites for expressing the "wrong" position on some issue. Today's journalists have made an artform of destroying the lives of those who express anything contrary to the approved "narrative." We see researchers, commentators, students, faculty members, law enforcement members, anybody and everybody being jettisoned, fired, suspended from their jobs or positions for adhering to the "wrong" point of view on Covid restrictions, traditional views on gender identity, failure to use only "approved" pronouns and other vocabulary, historical perspectives, all kinds of things.
Do not be mistaken! The end goal of what we see happening today is an effort to pursue the very thing the Pharisees were, "the Jewish leaders... had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue." The day is quickly approaching (and here already in some areas) where telling a child he or she is a sinner is to be deemed child abuse, any expression of Judeo-Christian perspectives is considered anathema in the public square, you know the drill... The intentional intimidation of people today by leaders (and others) is ultimately targeted toward moving mankind away from God. Today's intimidators really do not want anyone to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, just like the intimidators we read of in John 9:20-23..
"'We know he is our son,' the parents answered, 'and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.' His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, 'He is of age; ask him.'"
While investigating a miracle of Jesus, (he had restored the sight of a man born blind), the Pharisees called in the man's parents to verify that he was their son and that he had indeed been born blind. The parents responded in a way that manifested their fear of the intimidating authorities. They felt threatened of being ostracized as outcasts by expulsion from the synagogue. Such a thing was not to be taken lightly as the synagogue was the heart and soul of Jewish life. It would impact family life, an occupation, friendships and certainly loss of stature in the community, the loss of a good name, etc.
We see the very same kind of intimidation in our day. Here in America we have a legacy of freedoms and rights that should prevent just this type of intimidation. But as freedoms and rights are being challenged these days, we see that same old intimidation coming right back. Many voices are being blocked with accounts suspended on social media websites for expressing the "wrong" position on some issue. Today's journalists have made an artform of destroying the lives of those who express anything contrary to the approved "narrative." We see researchers, commentators, students, faculty members, law enforcement members, anybody and everybody being jettisoned, fired, suspended from their jobs or positions for adhering to the "wrong" point of view on Covid restrictions, traditional views on gender identity, failure to use only "approved" pronouns and other vocabulary, historical perspectives, all kinds of things.
Do not be mistaken! The end goal of what we see happening today is an effort to pursue the very thing the Pharisees were, "the Jewish leaders... had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue." The day is quickly approaching (and here already in some areas) where telling a child he or she is a sinner is to be deemed child abuse, any expression of Judeo-Christian perspectives is considered anathema in the public square, you know the drill... The intentional intimidation of people today by leaders (and others) is ultimately targeted toward moving mankind away from God. Today's intimidators really do not want anyone to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, just like the intimidators we read of in John 9:20-23..
Not to worry! Did you note how well it worked out for the Jewish leaders of Jesus' day? Today's little tyrants will do no better. Afterall, God is here!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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