Come and See
Chapter 9 of the Gospel of John
Part v
Questions
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. (John 9:1)
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Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. (Psalm 66:5)
For I [know] their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. (Isaiah 66:18)
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He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about tenth hour. (John 1:39)
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (John 1:46)
And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (John 11:34)
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Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Philippians 1:27)
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And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. (Revelation 6:1)
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say,  Come and see. (Revelation 6:3)
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. (Revelation 6:5)
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:7)
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The Questions in Chapter 9
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  For your remembrance we will post the eighteen questions in this third message of John Chapter 9. One should understand the far reaching depth of the Spirit of Christ in the COMPLETE gospel according to John. It is the REVELATION of the mind of the Spirit. We must enter into His presence to understand ALL the truths and all that are revealed in the gospel according to John. Chapter 9 is the final single digit, it contains the number 3, three times, and begins with the awakening of blindness of the soul in John Chapter 3. Chapter 3 is a man meeting the Lord in the darkness of night: the whole condition of Adam who has no light in his heart, soul, and spirit. The second segment is Chapter 6 (the duplicate of the number three) and in this duplicate the Son of God is completely revealed before man in His power over the elements of nature, over the feeding of the five thousand, and by many of the miracles that He performed that man might believe. Chapter 6 closes with the declaration of Peter, thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. (John 6:69) Therefore, we see in the number 6 the entire need and the whole number of mankind.
  We also see that in Adam ALL die because of sin, and therefore, God sent His Son to deliver man out of the bondage of sin and death, and to give His life for an atonement for the sin of the whole world. The Holy Spirit wants to break down all theological questions in John Chapter 9. He uses the simplicity of a multitude of questions that every man MUST answer before God.
  You do not have to be a Greek scholar to understand these questions. You do not have to be a theological professor to lay hold of the truth that is found in John Chapter 9. What is the premise of these questions? By answering them you determine what path you are on; whether you are on the right path which leads to redemption and the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, or the wrong path where you continue in darkness. Where your heart, soul and spirit continue to grope in blindness and you will not believe because of your sin. I am going to present these eighteen questions found in John Chapter 9. These questions are not just to be answered with knowledge but with heart sincerity before God. I will list these eighteen questions, and then we will discuss them one at a time to reveal man’s blindness, and how all men come into this world blind to the knowledge of God.
1. Who did sin? (verse 2)
2. Is this not he? (verse 8)
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?
3. How were thine eyes opened? (verse 10)
4. Where is he? (verse 12)
5. How he has received his sight? (verse 15)
Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
6. How can a man? (verse 16)
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
7. What sayeth thou of him? (verse 17)
They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
8. Is this your son? (verse 19)
And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
9. How then doeth he now see? (verse 19)
And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
10. What did he to thee? (verse 26)
Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
11. How opened he thine eyes? (verse 26)
Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
12. Would you hear it again? (verse 27)
He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
13. Will you also be his disciples? (verse 27)
He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
14. Since the world began (verse 32)
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
15. Dost thou teach us? (verse 34)
They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
16. Dost thou believe on the Son of God? (verse 35)
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
17. Who is he Lord that I might believe on him? (verse 36)
He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
18. Are we blind also? (verse 40)
And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
  Before we enter into these eighteen questions, please read in its entirety John Chapter 3, and John Chapter 6 with these two points in mind — following the mind of the Spirit of Christ, and the opposition to His Spirit in the Spirit of man. Then read the entire 9th Chapter of the gospel of John. And now, we will continue with question number 10.
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What did he to thee?
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10. What did he to thee? (verse 26)
Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
  What did he to thee? This is question number 10. In many ways it is a new beginning for the Pharisees now begin at the beginning, What did he to thee? How the blind knows nothing of God, the Pharisees could not even see nor admit that such a miracle of a man being born blind receiving his sight. In their blindness to the things of God they wanted others to be blind and ignorant of the Scriptures. I have met men who preach every Sunday, and they work more at keeping their attendees blind then giving them food from the Word of God. Most likely, they are blind also.
  One day on the Damascus road, traveling with a group, was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. In his possession he had letters to imprison and to execute those who were following Christ. These letters were penned by other men of authority, and where were they penned? They were penned in the heart of the Temple in Jerusalem. Blind men wanting to keep others blind also. On the Damascus road the blind Pharisee (Saul) who was blind to the things of God would be made to feel physical blindness from the glory of the Lord. The One whom Saul denied, the Lord Jesus Christ, would bring the Pharisee of the Pharisees to his knees, and blind his eyes. This was a great awakening for Saul. He now heard the voice of the One whom he was persecuting; this should be a reminder to all those who persecute the children of God. Whenever anyone touches a child of God, the Lord Jesus takes it as a personal assault. He is so close to His children that He feels their pain and persecution from the world. When we travel a few years forward, we see a man by the name of Paul defending himself before a king named Festus in Acts Chapter 26. After hearing the gospel from the apostle Paul, Festus, as many others told Paul, much learning doth make thee mad. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.(Acts 26:24)
  The people who were present were living in a state of spiritual blindness, and Paul in verse 18 tried to awaken them to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18) Yet, with the declaration of truth, the eyes of their understanding were not opened. This shows the darkness and the power of sin to blind the eyes, to deafen the thoughts, and to deceive the hearts of all of mankind. At this point in the ministry of Paul, the Jews who had once endorsed him as Saul, wanted him dead as Paul. However, these Jews of authority, were limited in their power. Their power was centered in Jerusalem, and Rome held them to that condition. They would have to be in Jerusalem in order to condemn Paul to death, therefore, they had tried many times to capture him to take him to Jerusalem. As Festus was considering Paul’s sentence, Paul (knowing the hearts of the Jews) appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen. The Jews were not counting on Paul using his Roman citizenship as his appeal. And this frustrated more the Jews even more.
  This all began on the Damascus road. Why the Damascus road? The Damascus road was an ancient road. Nations had marched in conquest against each other upon this road for thousands of years. It was not only a major trade route, but it was a strategic connection (militarily and commercially) between east and west, and north and south. The mighty armies of Syria, and Assyria, and the legions from Babylon (also known as the land of Shinar) traveled on this Damascus road, the ancient battle of Abraham and his band against the kings of the east most likely took place on the Damascus road. (Genesis 14:15) The mighty legions of Rome used the Damascus road to silence the Maccabean rebellion. And here, at mid day, Saul experienced the greatest battle and the greatest moment of his life on the Damascus road. This great battle was taking place in both the unseen world and the visible world. Here on this notable crossroad where armies marched to reach their battle fields, another battle took place, the battle between evil and good. This was a battle between the Lord Jesus Christ and the devil over one soul, a man chosen from his mother’s womb. The Lord Jesus was going to take a vessel that was being used by Satan, and convert this vessel (with the power of God) to a new vessel, a new creature, in the service of the Almighty God. The letters that Paul carried were a witness of the darkness of his heart. He had stood, in silence, watching the Jews stone Stephen as recorded in Acts Chapter 7. This was a heart far removed from God, a heart that kicked against the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Pharisee Saul, he had already imprisoned those who had professed the Nazarene Jesus Christ. (We shouldn’t find this strange, for even after millenniums, there are religions of hate pitted against the meek and lowly Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, children of God are imprisoned because of their faith in Jesus Christ. In some parts of this world, this hate is so great that children of God are put to death.) Paul was driven by a hatred within. This was blindness caused by sin. He knew the law, word for word, he had studied under the teacher and revered scholar Gamaliel. (Acts 5:34, 22:3) Paul excelled in all things regarding the law; yet, he knew not the grace of the God who he professed to follow, but he followed the Law of Moses. On one of the most crucial and strategic road in history, the Son of God, sent forth His glory, and blinded Saul. This blindness confirms this battle between the Lord Jesus and Satan because the Lord covered (symbolically) the eyes of Saul with the scales of the serpent, the old serpent, the devil. To remove a vessel of Satan, and to create a new a child of grace with a new identity, Saul was now Paul. In the life of Paul, there was much persecution, not only from the Jews, but from the professing church. The Corinthians persecuted him, at one point, they denied his apostleship, the Galatians wouldn’t identify with him or with his teaching, for they had given themselves over to Satan, and Paul made this profound statement, Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:16) And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. (2nd Corinthians 12:15)
  The Lord Jesus had snatched Saul from the grips of Satan. He had pulled him out of the pit of evil and sin and had given him the message of grace and truth. From the Damascus road Saul was given directions. He followed these directions (as had the blind man in John Chapter 9) and although each man received different instructions, the same end was accomplished. There is one point that is missed by many, as the Lord Jesus was removing Saul from the devil’s lair, there were scales placed upon Saul’s eyes, the serpent’s scales were the evidence of Satan’s influence over Saul. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. (Acts 9:18) (Note: in Scripture the word ‘scales’ is referenced in nine verses, and in one verse it is recorded twice, therefore, adding the number ten to the word ‘scales.’) These scales were divinely removed, and Saul became an ambassador for truth. He was removed from the kingdom of the prince of this world, and was translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13) Saul learned, on the Damascus road, that there was a holy Man in heaven for him, and Christ had divinely placed him on a new road of life. This road was a life long journey with the Lord at his side, whether on land, or on a tumultuous sea, whether free or in prison, Paul knew the Lord’s presence, and I might add this: he knew the Lord’s presence on earth, and His presence in the third heaven.Â
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (2nd Timothy 4:6)
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:Â (2nd Timothy 4:7)
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2nd Timothy 4:8)
  Now, when those scales fell from his eyes, think of all that WE see through the eyes of Paul, and what grand revelations we receive through all his epistles. Paul has given us descriptions of the glories of the Son of God that we have no where else in Scripture, and his epistles speak loud and clear of the full value of the Christ’s atonement for us. The Spirit of God gave insight to the heart of Paul. The Lord Jesus, Himself, gave divine revelation to the apostle Paul. And in this very day, through the writings of Paul, the eyes of the blind are being opened to the glories of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  The blind man of John Chapter 9 is a small snapshot of the life of the apostle Paul. Although both men were blind, both men beheld the Lord Jesus Christ, and both men worshiped the Son of God. And both men were called for the plan and purpose of God. We see God’s plan in the blind man in John 9:3. Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9:3) And in Galatians Chapter 1, the apostle Paul expressed his call from his mother’s womb. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,(Galatians 1:15) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (Galatians 1:16)
  What we glean from these two men is that they were both called by God for God’s purpose and plan. The man born blind was a witness against the blindness of the Jews. Paul was called specifically as an ambassador of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and both men fulfilled their course. Today, the call of God, is not accepted in many religious circles. They deny the working of the Spirit of God TODAY. They all (in unison) deny the work of the Spirit of God in the realm of revelation; and yet, the apostle Paul speaks of those within the church who will receive revelation from the Almighty God. This is part of the call of God. We are called to know Him. We are called to obey Him. And we are called to receive from Him the wonderful truths within the Word of God, and within the Living Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul spent his whole life answering our question, question number 10, What did he to thee? What a marvelous testimony in the life of the apostle Paul.
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How opened he thine eyes?
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11. How opened he thine eyes? (verse 26)
Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes?Â
  How opened he thine eyes?  I am a shadow: I walk before you, I stand behind you, I can be on your right side, or I can be on your left side, I have no identity; therefore, you can speak to me freely. I’ll ask you this question once more, how opened he thine eyes? The pool of Siloam was a real tangible place. It had substance, and it was waiting through the centuries for a man who was born blind. The Lord sent this man who was born blind to this water that would cleanse his eyes, and give him sight. Salvation MUST have a tangible place for the heart, soul and spirit, and this place can only be reached by faith in the Son of God. Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) For our spiritual eyes to be opened, there MUST be the element of faith from above from the Lord Jesus Christ for He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) So now we see the condition that we must be found in: with the element of faith given from above, we search our own heart, which is deceitful and desperately wicked. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?(Jeremiah 17:9) What comes with faith? The Spirit of Christ comes to convict the ungodly, to bring them to repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 17, verse 10, it is the Lord who searches the heart. I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.(Jeremiah 17:10) It is the Lord who looks inside the man in Adam before salvation. It is the Almighty God who tries that heart, and makes His presence known, and causes the heart to search and to convict of sin. This is the work of God within the child that belongs to Adam. And the Spirit of God gives the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit of God who moves the heart to believe.
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;Â (Romans 10:8)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10)
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11)
  Do you see the mechanism of faith? God delivers a COMPLETE formula, and this formula is ministered by the Spirit of God. When anyone professes to know the Lord Jesus Christ before man, they are also professing before God, and the reality of their profession MUST be in their heart. It is WITH the heart that man believes. There is not one step in this mechanism that can be left out. For if the heart is left out, then no one is saved, if belief is left out, then no one is saved, if faith is left out, then no one is saved, if grace is left out, then no one is saved. All these steps presume that one has heard the gospel: the word of truth, and has an understanding of the work of salvation that Jesus Christ has done within the heart.
  When studying the third Chapter of the gospel of John many come short of the work of the Spirit of Christ. As Nicodemus, they confuse the natural wind with the work of the Spirit of Christ. As you feel the natural wind upon your face and on your being, the child of God feels the breath of the Spirit of God within, and quite quickly knows that the Spirit of Christ has the preeminence. When Saul was on his knees on the Damascus road, his very first question to the Lord Jesus was, Who art thou, Lord?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:5)
  The Lord immediately identified Himself to Saul, and instructed him what he was to do. Saul had no problem with the preeminence of Christ, and with the preeminence of the Spirit of God. Saul obeyed and followed the instructions of the Lord. I ask you this, When and how did the Lord Jesus open YOUR eyes? It is not up to mankind to declare who is chosen of God. Only the Almighty God has the decision in the pathway of the sons of Adam. The miracle of salvation creates a new creature, a new life form inhabited by the Son of God, and where the Spirit of the Son of God IS there is liberty for the new creature in Christ. Remember, Adam walked with the Lord in the beautiful garden in the cool of the day, and all was well in paradise. Then Adam (who God had made the Federal Head over creation) and the woman, gave way to sin, and sin brought forth death into paradise. Adam was no longer the creation of God, but he was changed from the image of Christ to the image of sinful man both outwardly and inwardly. Adam was transfigured from good to evil, and could no longer remain in the paradise of God. He had to be driven out from the presence of God for God cannot abide sin in His presence. The first act of mercy by God was shown to Adam and to all mankind because the very penalty of sin was death; however, death fell upon another. Because of Adam’s sin God would plant a SEED of redemption in the blood of the two lambs of mercy. God would take two lambs from His creation, unspotted lambs, free from all blemishes, and these lambs were unspotted from Adam’s sin. They were created before sin came into the world. They were a sweet savor unto God as a distant shadow of the sweet savor of Christ when He offered Himself upon the cross of Calvary. From that very first day that sin came into the world, to the very moment that He uttered the words, It is finished, God provided a sacrifice for the fallen couple: Adam and Eve. As those two lambs were as sweet savor to God so too the Levitical offerings show a pathway for atonement, and the putting away of sin which Christ fulfilled. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2) Now we also see in the two lambs a need for every person, everyone must stand before God as a sinner in need of grace. Every person must apply the sacrifice of the Son of God to himself. It MUST be a personal relationship with that offering, and the complete Offering was Christ. This took place in the fullness of time. Here is where mankind goes off course: for the skins (in the garden) were to cover SIN from the eyes of God, and instead of death, mercy was shown and they were allowed to live although they were driven out of the garden, as Satan (Lucifer, the anointed cherub) was cast out of heaven because of sin.
Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Ezekiel 28:13)
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:14)
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (Ezekiel 28:15)
By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (Ezekiel 28:16)
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. (Ezekiel 28:17)
Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. (Ezekiel 28:18)
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (Isaiah 14:12)
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:Â (Isaiah 14:13)
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:14)
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 4:15)
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; (Isaiah 14:16)
That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? (Isaiah 14:17)
All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. (Isaiah 14:18)
But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. (Isaiah 14:19)
Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. (Isaiah 14:20)
  Because Adam brought sin into the world, both Adam and Eve were driven out of paradise to a land of thorns and thistles to live in the dominion of the prince of this world, the devil. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30)
  In the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the gospel of Matthew Chapter 4, the Lord rebuked Satan with the Word of God. However, the Lord NEVER denied the power of the devil, He only refused the temptation that was cast at Him and at His Person. Satan was allowed to tempt the Son of God, and the Son of God showed His omnipotent power against temptation, and the power of the Word of God to rebuke the devil. This was a trying experience for the Son of God, He had fasted forty days and for forty nights, and the wicked one was there to overthrow Him, Lucifer still desired to set his throne above the throne of God. But GOD IN THE FLESH could not be swayed by the temptation of Satan. Satan might have the power to go to and fro throughout the whole earth, but Satan did not have power over the Son of God. The prince of Persia has been in battle with God for a very long, long time, and God will not allow this fouler to overcome his purpose and plan. Get thee behind me, Satan was not only applied to Peter, but the reference was to Satan himself, for in the day of Christ Satan’s full attention was on the Son of God. The world had become the battle field of sin and death. It is HERE on this earth that this delusional fallen angel would carry on his belief that he could overthrow God. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isaiah 14:14) As many today also believe that they can cast off God for sin and death. It was Satan who gathered ALL his forces (including the sons of Adam) in the Pharisees and Jewish leadership. He gathered them against God’s Christ, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
  It was at the place of the skull at Golgotha that the enemy of man and of God would be defeated. When David defeated Goliath he took the skull of Goliath to Jerusalem, not Goliath’s armor nor his sword, but his skull, and David buried it at the very spot where the cross of Christ would be set. This place would forever be known as ‘the place of a skull.’ (Mark 15:22; John 19:17) It is not ‘the place of skulls,’ but ‘the place of a skull.’ (It is about one particular lone skull.) Even today, and throughout history, the skull has been a symbol of death: from the military banners paraded by the Mongols, to the Roman catacombs, to the pirates of the Caribbean, and to even the bikers of our age, the skull is a symbol of death, and they all proudly decorate themselves and carry the banner of the skull. Why was the skull so important that God had to plant it by the hands of David (beloved) buried in the dirt, at the foot of the cross under the feet of His Beloved? (This is where this prophecy was fulfilled. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15) This skull is important because the Son of God had come to destroy the symbol of death, and to destroy death itself. He would replace the sting of death with eternal life for He is the power of an endless life. He is the power of life itself. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (Job 1:7)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:Â (1st Peter 5:8)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
  In verse 16 of Hebrews Chapter 7, we have a great truth that Christ was not made after the law of carnal commandments, that life that was given to man in Adam was a commandment of God. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. Just as God commanded the creation into existence, He commanded LIFE into Adam when He breathed the breath of life, and made Adam a living soul. However, Christ (who was in existence before the creation) was the very One who had the power of life that would be given to Adam, and this power of life (within Christ) IS AN ENDLESS LIFE. Hebrews Chapter 7 presents to us the eternal Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ because not only was Christ the sacrifice that took away the sin of the world, but He was the Eternal presenting Priest of His own sacrifice to God. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;(Hebrews 7:26) He was separated from mankind, He clipped the wings of sin, and gave you life in Himself. Adam could never return to paradise. He was shut out of paradise and from the presence of God as Satan also could never return to his former position as the anointed covering cherub of God. Adam had turned the brightness of the sun into the blackness of sin and death; consequently, mankind would suffer the ramifications of sin and death for millenniums until the fullness of time when God sent forth His Son made of a woman, made under the Law. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. (Galatians 4:4)
  Two vital subjects are found in Galatians 4:4, the Son of God was made of a woman, and the Son of God was made under the law. He became man in the likeness of sinful flesh with a body that was prepared for Him before the foundations of the world. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. (Hebrews 10:5) God was the justifier, and for Him to be Just, He had to make justification freely available for ALL.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:Â (Ephesians 1:4)
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Ephesians 1:5)
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;Â (Ephesians 1:7)
Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;Â (Ephesians 1:8)
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:Â (Ephesians 1:9)
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:Â (Ephesians 1:10)
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:Â (Ephesians 1:11)
  He took upon Himself the title The Lamb of God, so that He could be the evidence and fulfillment of ALL the examples of the sacrifices, and IN HIM and His sacrifice He would overthrow sin and death; thus, then He could freely justify those who come to God through Him. The blight of sin must be placed on the spotless Lamb of God, for death in itself could not be defeated UNLESS ALL SIN was justified. Justification could not come until the regal royal blood of the Son of God was shed.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;Â (Hebrews 2:14)
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:11)
  We know the result of His finished work on the cross of Calvary. The Holy Spirit of God makes sure that we understand that HE WHO HAS THE POWER OF AN ENDLESS LIFE OFFERED HIMSELF THROUGH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT. In the power of His resurrection there would no longer be the need for blood for once He offered Himself without sin, without spot unto God, His new resurrected form was flesh and bone. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (Luke 24:39)
  Also compare Luke 24:39 with Genesis 2:21 – 23.
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;Â (Genesis 2:21)
And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (Genesis 2:22)
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.(Genesis 2:23)
  In the deep sleep of Adam we see the seed of the three days and three nights that Jonah spent in the belly of the whale. This event was referenced to by the Lord when He compared His time in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. This would be the time period of the ‘travail of his soul.’ On His resurrection, the Lord Jesus would be raised as the new Man of resurrection, and this would be flesh and bone. Note the absence of the mention of blood. Also notice in Genesis Chapter 2 that Adam also does not mention blood, but only flesh and bone. And the apostle John, in his first epistle, Chapter 3, verse 2 tells us that we shall be like him. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1st John3:2) The long journey from the garden in Adam will conclude by the display of the Lord’s glorious Church, His body, into the image of the Son of God (bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh). Consider that the blood was emptied from the Lamb and placed on the mercy seat, this would be the mercy seat of eternity.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:Â (Hebrews 9:24)
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
  The dreadful price was paid once and for all at Calvary’s cross. The world through millenniums has attempted to change the image of the invisible God in Jesus Christ. The world has invented an inferior Savior; thus, Christendom has become divided over who and what the Lord Jesus Christ was and is. Mankind still feels (especially in the religious realm) that his reasoning and his thoughts are superior to the thoughts of God, and to God’s ways.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:Â (Philippians 2:5)
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:Â (Philippians 2:6)
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:Â (Philippians 2:7)
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:Â (Philippians 2:9)
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;Â (Philippians 2:10)
  These verses were given by the Spirit of God to show the superiority of the GodMan, Jesus Christ. If we examine these verses, the first thing that we see is the superiority of the mind of Christ. The second thing we see is the superiority of His form, being the form of God. Thirdly, we see the equality that He shared in the Godhead, and yet, in the body that was prepared for Him, He made Himself of no reputation. Although He was a Son, He became a servant, and was made in the LIKENESS of men. And being in this fashion, meaning that BEFORE He had another fashion, And being found in fashion as a man humbled himself. This is very important for Christ was the Man from heaven. He was equal with God, and FULL of all goodness that could not be emptied. The words humbled himself is accurate for God cannot be emptied as the modern theologians erroneously insist. The words ‘emptied’ and ‘humbled’ are not synonymous. God cannot be emptied of His divine Being. He cannot be emptied of His righteousness. He cannot be emptied of His essential power and Godhead. However, because these theologians are merely human beings (although men of renown) they desire to lower the Son of God to the realm of Adam who WAS emptied of ALL goodness, who WAS filled with ALL evil, thus, he had NOTHING left within or without for God. Christ, however, came to rectify the emptiness of Adam with the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
 The Lord Jesus was not subject to death. The Word declares that He was OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH. His death had to be in conjunction with the place of sacrifice, which was the death of the cross. Death had no power over Jesus Christ, but to defeat death, He had to go into the depth of death with the power of an endless life, and destroy death; therefore, in the body of His resurrection He is highly exalted and His name, the name of Jesus Christ, is exalted higher than any other name for the Son of God is above all, and fills ALL. All who come to God through Him have their eyes opened to the very glory of the Son of God. John wrote in the first Chapter of his gospel that we beheld His glory because they had eyes to see the Son of God in ALL of His splendor. How opened he thine eyes?
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Would Ye Hear it Again?
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12. Would you hear it again? (verse 27)
He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
 Would you hear it again? We should love to hear it over again and again on how He opened our eyes, but this was not with the case with the Pharisees because they refused to see the light for they loved the darkness.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:20)
  Now at that time in Jewish history there was no record of anyone being born blind and THEN receiving sight. This in itself should have been recognized as a wonderful miracle, and the Pharisees should have rejoiced in this. When this man (who was born blind) met the Lord Jesus Christ, Christ was a stranger to him. A complete stranger walked up to him, anointed his eyes with both clay and spittle, and then requested that he should go and wash in the pool of Siloam. This shows the power of the Spirit of Christ and the power of the words of Christ. Although He was a stranger to this blind man, the Lord’s words had authority all of their own so much so, that the man was driven to go wash in the pool of Siloam. When he returned and able to see, he was happy, ecstatic, and rejoicing, yet, not all his neighbors, or those who knew him were happy, or rejoiced with him. According to their history in Chapter 9 of John, the majority refused to believe the great miracle that was performed on this man who was born blind. Many could not even accept that this was the same man who had once begged for his livelihood and existence. And of course, the religious leaders refused to believe because they lived in darkness and HATED the light (which was the Lord Jesus Christ). Biblical history has shown us that mankind (because of sin) is comfortable in his blindness to the light of God.
  Today, I am writing to the few who understand both Old Testament and New Testament truth that the Old Testament is intertwined in the New, and the New reveals the ancient truths that were hidden in the Old, but are now brought to light in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Light of every man. We should never become tired of that day that the Lord Jesus opened our eyes. We should be excited and happy to tell it over and over again to a world that is in darkness, to religious leaders who cannot see, and to the pharisaical hearts who loves itself and not God. We should be excited to tell our neighbors who knew us when we were blind. But always remember, you are a citizen of heaven in a strange land. The majority of the children of Adam, will not want to hear the miracle of sight in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ over and over again.
  A blind man who was born blind could not describe, nor feel the blueness of the sky. He would be able to feel the sun, but could not comprehend the intensity of its light. He could hear voices, but could not see the images. His own shadow was hidden from him. He had no understanding of perspective. Although he might be able to feel depth and height, he could not see even the beauty of the horizon. His days were spent in darkness, and THEN, because of a stranger, he could now see.
  In reading Chapter 9, we remember that the only comment that we have from the Lord’s disciples is their concern for who had sinned? After this miracle, there is no record of their comments, nor their understanding of what had just taken place. The Holy Spirit in Chapter 9, puts forth only ONE name, and that is the name of God’s beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. When we think of spiritual blindness we must understand that sin has tainted our intellect, and our understanding; consequently, we think with minds that have been tarnished by sin, and our emotions have been altered by sin. This is why today the majority of professors cannot understand Galatians 2:20.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
  Galatians 2:20 begins at the place of death, not life. I am crucified with Christ. It is the missing element of today’s religious sects. They have not experienced death within themselves, or even understand that it is SIN that brings forth death. Paul understood the depth of Christ’s crucifixion. That he, himself, had also been crucified in the Lord’s death. The time line of the Lord’s crucifixion was to fulfill the fullness of time, and that salvation could not begin at the tomb of resurrection, but must begin at the cross, a place of death. Few experience what Paul experienced. Was it because of the Damascus road? No, it was because the Spirit of God convicted Paul that he, himself, was crucified with Christ.
  Through Galatians 6:14 Paul expands Galatians 2:20 for us. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. That Paul’s glory was totally related to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. He gives us both sides of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. First, the world is crucified unto Him, thus, showing the depth and the removal of all that is of the world of the flesh. And that which was within him, the very sin element from Adam, Paul was crucified unto the world. Going back to Galatians 2:20, we see the hidden part of John Chapter 3, that a man must be born AGAIN. Paul declared this with the words, nevertheless I live. Then we have the removal of self identification. It is not Paul who lives, but it is Christ within him that has given him new life — but Christ liveth in me. We must compare 1st John Chapter 4, verse 13 Galatians 2:20, Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
  John’s epistle opens Galatians 2:20 with more light, for Christ has given us HIS SPIRIT that dwells within us. We have a LIVING SPIRIT within us which is the Spirit of the Son of God. This cannot be repudiated, and every child of God KNOWS the presence of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.
  And the life which I now live in the flesh is directed by the very Spirit of Christ within me. He gave me sight, He opened my eyes, He created a new creature, and He came to reside within my heart, Christ liveth in me. Now we have the assurance of a life IN Jesus Christ. All those who have twisted the Word of God, and who have attacked our eternal salvation, ONLY do this from the side of darkness, for they are BLIND to the realities of TRUE SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. I do not live by my own faith. Galatians 2:20 teaches me that I live by the faith of the Son of God. It is the Lord Jesus who opens the Word of God and reveals Himself in the books of Moses, in the prophets, in the Psalms and through the New Testament. It is His faith that He has imparted to me that gives me life. For He is the Author and Finisher of my faith. And I can rejoice in this. This gift of faith that has brought me to grace is not given to me by carnal commandments, but by the Savior of men, the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
  In some fashion Galatians 2:20 is the spittle and the clay of the Spirit of Christ. We have ALL this with the miracle of sight. We are no longer spiritually blind, but we have been quickened and given the sight of the Spirit of Christ, who will lead us into all truth. Consider the depth of Galatians 2:20, for it runs from the cross through the very heart of God to impart life unto a sinner whom God has loved unto death.
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (1st John 4:15) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1st John 4:16)
  The wonder of eternal life begins at the new birth, and NEVER ends. Those who do not have this eternal life have not the Spirit of God within them. It is God, in His love, that dwells within us. It is not conditional on our behavior, it is conditioned on our faith in the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me. This is a great thing. In my blindness God filled me with light. In my death in Adam, because of sin, God filled me with His life, the life of the Son of God, and placed me in a position of sonship. Oh, these words encompass more than mind nor heart can fully comprehend — what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1st John 3:1)
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1st John 3:2)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1st John 3:3)
  The time line of the crucifixion of Christ finished the work of redemption for ALL of the redeemed. However, ALL the redeemed were not brought IN at that very moment of history when Christ proclaimed. It is finished. We, however, who have the Spirit of Christ within us are part of THAT actual work, and that time frame has declared us the sons of God because of the love of the Father, and the love of the Son, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Would you hear it again? The man who was born blind could now look into the eyes of his adversaries: the Pharisees, as they were on the brink of casting him out of the Temple, thus, disenfranchising him from the Jewish traditions, and rituals and removing him from all of Jewish society.
  Here is a wonderful thing, how the Spirit of God repeats over and over the wonder and the glories of the Lord Jesus Christ. The stone that was rejected has become the head of the corner, and all things are measured from THIS cornerstone. All that is geared to God, all the standards of God, are in Christ Jesus. He is the tried stone, and the polished stone. At the time that Peter wrote his epistle in order to get a highly polished stone it had to be done by hand, hour upon hour, day upon day, from course grit and the severe scratching to fine grit until it reflected to image of the one who polished. The wise Master Builder has placed the brightest stone, the most valuable gem as the head of all things. And all things are measured and calculated and given forth in Jesus Christ so that the building of His Body is without spot, and without blemish before God. Would ye hear it again?
  Yet, not I but Christ liveth in me. This is the strong place. It is the habitation of the Spirit within the believer. He dwells within ME, not within some building or organization. He resides in ME to keep me in perfect peace with my God. He has opened my eyes. He has drawn me into His presence, and I hear His voice, and He knows me by name. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)
Would Ye Hear it Again?
© Copyright 2021, Michael Haigh
This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)