I consider myself a student of the Word. I love to read it but also study it, which is different. Reading the Bible brings me inspiration, peace and strength. But studying it takes me to a whole other level of understanding.

 Everyone studies a different way, I’m sure, but for me I love to get insight from commentaries, books on the original meaning in the Greek or Hebrew and resources that explain the customs and traditions of the time. It makes for a richer and deeper understanding. So often, I try to comprehend the “why” behind scriptures but from my modern point of view but it doesn’t give me the full story.

For instance, if someone were to walk into a conversation that my immediate family was having, they could possibly get the wrong impression and assume we were all angry at one another. My family loves to joke and tease one another, a lot! We make fun of each other with long standing jokes about our little “strange” ways and annoying habits. If that person had a history themselves of harsh words and hurtful tones in their family, they would interpret our joking as mean spirited but nothing could be further from the truth.

It’s the same way with the Bible. If I try to understand the customs of the people and cultures in it from thousands of years ago, I would assume they were cruel and cold when in fact those were common customs of that day. So when I sit down with pen and journal in hand to read the Bible, I try to learn more about the times I’m studying.

Another insight is to read the Bible book by book. I find so many times that people misinterpret verses because they take them out of context. They don’t read the book in its entirety and because of that they don’t get the entire meaning. I believe this can cause so much misunderstanding and ultimately distrust in who God is.

I came across this in the past few weeks in my own study time. I was preparing to preach from John 9 and had I not read the book from the beginning, I would have missed something very important. 

John chapter 9 is that very familiar portion of scripture where Jesus and His disciples are walking through Jerusalem and sees a blind man. The disciples ask Jesus, “Who sinned that he was born blind, him or his parents?” I remember reading years ago that the reason they even thought to put blame on him was because the Jewish people during that time believed that a person could actually sin from the womb. They thought if there was a sickness, there had to be someone to blame. Jesus’ answer was very interesting to them and to us today. He replied, “Neither. You’re asking the wrong question. There’s no one to blame here. It was so God could show His glory.”

And we’re about to see that glory on display as our story continues. But to fully understand this we have to go back at least one more chapter. You see Jesus and His disciples were not just randomly walking the road that day. They, like thousands of others, were in Jerusalem for a Jewish holiday. Jesus had just been teaching and healing in the synagogue when they happened past this blind man. The leaders of the time were constantly looking for ways to trick Jesus, condemn Him and find fault. But they never could. Jesus was being called the Messiah, the coming One but the religious leaders believed him to be a fraud and a liar. He constantly called them out on the ways they were leading His people astray. And He was about to drop a bomb that would prove He was indeed the Messiah.

So picture this. This blind beggar is sitting in the crowd of thousands during this religious holiday and suddenly he hears men asking someone “Rabbi, who sinned that he was born blind, him or his parents.” Shame washed over his face, his heart started beating wildly as he realized they were talking about him! He had heard about this Jesus but he had no personal relationship with Him. He expected Jesus to publicly shame him or his parents with His answer. His breath caught in his throat as he waited for the condemnation to come. Suddenly he felt someone kneel near him, close enough to touch him. And then he heard as the person spat on the ground next to him. His mind starts whirling as he hears the gasps from the crowds. Not only is this Jesus about to blast him, He’s spitting at him! But moments later he feels the loving touch of His healer. Jesus leans close and says “Go wash in the pool of Silaom.”

So here’s some more backstory. No one, not one person who had been born blind had ever been healed. Jesus, up to that point, had healed many blind people but never one that had been born blind. You see that miracle was reserved only for the coming Messiah. Why did Jesus wait to do THIS miracle on THAT day? Because He was publicly declaring, in front of thousands of people and all the religious leaders, that He was the Messiah. He chose to send the blind man to the Pool of Siloam because he would have to walk close to half a mile to get there, assuring that thousands would see him.

Without this knowledge, what Jesus does may seem heartless but it was because of a heart filled with love and mercy that He allowed this miracle to be seen by the thousands of hopeless people who were waiting for a Savior.

What challenges are you facing today that you need Jesus to gently come alongside you and walk you through? What darkness is encompassing your life that needs the Light of the world to come to your rescue?

The fact that Jesus knew what He was going to do that day, shows His love and compassion. He pursued the blind man, rescuing him from a world of loneliness and darkness. And that same Savior is here today to do the same for you and for me!