Be Encouraged

Over a year ago, I met a woman that challenged me to read the Gospel according to Saint John. As I was going through the chapters, there were a number of portions that left me deep in thought.

One of such is the latter verses of Chapter 9 where Jesus healed the man that had been blind from birth.

At the time of this miracle, Jesus was starting to be a thorn in the side of the Pharisees. They could not stand the fact that His teachings discredited all that they held dear. They were sure that if left alone, He would draw all their followers away from them so they went about pronouncing all that He did to be of the devil (Matthew 12:24).

The Pharisees called the parents of the man that had been blind to confirm if he truly he was born blind, not wanting to believe Jesus. For fear of being thrown out of the synagogue, his parents acted ignorant, saying that they did not know how their son now saw even though he was born blind (John 9:22).

What they failed to realise was that in trying to gain the approval of men, they denied God. Understandably, as humans, we generally enjoy being among the majority. Anything that would make us the odd one out is not acceptable. But, is this a stance we should hold even if it means denying God?

Contrary to the actions of his parents, the once blind man, while not knowing that Jesus was the Son of God, held on to his confession that he had been healed by Jesus. Inevitably, that meant he would be thrown out of the synagogue but it didn’t matter because holding on to what was true was more important to him. The Lord rewarded him for his faith by revealing that He is the Son of God and saving him from his life of sin.

As I read on, I couldn’t help but question myself, if I had been in this young man’s position, would I have been able to stand up for the truth even though it would mean being shunned by people?

Jesus already said that as He was rejected by men, so would we be rejected for being His disciples. But He also said that we should be of good cheer, He that overcame the world would always be with us.

 

“These things I have spoken unto you…… In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (KJV)

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution…. But continue in thou the things which thou hast learned…” – II Timothy 3:12, 14 (KJV)