As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.” [John 9.1-5]
Is Jesus in the world today?
Are we living in the night or in the day?
Are we sent by God today, and, if so, what were we sent to do?
Why is it important that the power of God be seen?
Over the years, I have addressed each of these questions to some degree or another. And, I would add, believe some of them have been addressed quite sufficiently (I did a search for "John 9.1-5" in this blog to find them all).
If indeed my journey is a progression of understanding (and, I believe it is), then I have further understanding of one portion of John 9.1-5 that I must elaborate upon today...
We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. [John 9.4]
Is My "Light" Actually Darkness? (yesterday's article) sheds light that should carry forward to today's article: night and darkness are synonymous, and, especially so in biblical terms. In the same way, light and day are synonymous.
Having established this understanding, Jesus' mention of "night" in John 9.4 can easily be seen as a haunting warning of the overwhelming idolatry to come - a blindness and darkness so great that miracles will cease to be seen and realized.
This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.14-15]
Is there any doubt that, "the night has come" matches with the worldwide industrialization of idolatry today? "Christian" people trust finance, insurance, medicine and technology without even a moment's hesitation that all these industries (and more) offer adulterous faith alternatives to trusting God ALONE (regardless how much "Christians" defend doing so).
In Jesus' famously revelatory discussion with Nicodemus in John 3 we find a perfect description of this adulterous and dark misuse of faith:
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” [John 3.18-21]
Do Jesus' repeated references to darkness and night mean anything? You can bet they do. If man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology were indeed "from God," why then would they all be shameless proponents of self-centric lifestyles at best and outright debauchery at worst (homosexuality, transgenderism, and all manner of sexual perversions - all associated with gross idolatry in the Bible)? Just pay attention to their advertisements...
No doubt, Jesus was prophesying about the dark times we are living in today. Jesus was prophesying about the dark powerless times we are living in today because people hate the light (where the power is) and refuse to go near it.
There should be no question then why Jesus was so exclusive in His requirement upon His followers:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]
To be a follower of Jesus is to carry forward the Light that He is.
Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them. [John 12.35-36]
If the Light of Jesus is not shining in power today, it's not His fault! The burden of carrying the Light - the very Holy Spirit power of God - into the world today rests squarely upon the shoulders of Jesus' followers:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
The ONLY reason this is not seen for the truth it is today is because deceived "Christians" hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. Instead, they comfort and defend themselves with powerless (dark-with-idolatry) religion, proudly content in their indistinguishable (dark-with-idolatry) existence in the world.
Say it isn't so.
Father, the progression of understanding You have me on has become quite uncomfortable... Forgive me for reading Your Word through dark-with-idolatry religious lenses. May I be found giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and following Jesus. So be it.
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