Come and See – Chapter 9 of the Gospel of John – Part iv – Questions

Come and See

Chapter 9 of the Gospel of John

Part iv

Questions

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 9^th Chapter of the gospel of John. And now, we will continue with question number 7.

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   What sayest thou of him ?

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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.

   In question #6 we saw the heart of mankind personified by the Pharisees. They could only think of mankind and the works of man, and not the divine Being who was Jesus Christ. Six is the whole number of man, and now we enter into the seventh question, What sayest thou of him.

   When God, in Jesus Christ, finished His work of creation it was the sixth day, and He looked upon ALL that He had made, and declared within Himself that, It was good. On the seventh day He rested, and contemplated the goodness of what He had made. This was a creation totally in subjection to the Almighty God. Everything that He made was in complete control of the power of His Word. Everything was good, and full of goodness. The Almighty was satisfied with this goodness, and He rested in this goodness, and enjoyed this goodness, and thus, He sanctified it. One day from out of seven days was sanctified by the Almighty as a day of rest.

   The Pharisees knew more about the Lord Jesus Christ then the blind man knew about the Lord Jesus Christ. They had been in conflict with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, since the days of John the Baptist when they sent priests and Levites to question John, and if possible, to find a cause to condemn John. When he proclaimed that he was not the Messiah (which is the Christ, the anointed One) then they moved their venomous spirit of condemnation to censure and denounce the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that we are in the ninth Chapter, consider all the things that the pharisaical group had condemned Christ for. One of their chief condemnations was breaking the Sabbath. But as we see in the number seven, it was Christ who sanctified the Sabbath. For He is Lord of the Sabbath, as He is Lord of the creation. It is recorded three times in the New Testament that Christ said that He was Lord of the Sabbath.

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.  (Matthew 12:8)

Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.  (Mark 2:28)

And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. (Luke 6:5)

   They asked the man who was born blind, What sayest thou of him? Remember that at this point, the man who was born blind had not seen the manifested image of God in Jesus Christ. He had heard His voice, had felt His touch, and had obeyed His word, and yet, the countenance and the visible features of the Lord were unknown to the man who was born blind. And how about us today, we were born blind, blind in sin to the things of God, so what do we have to say about Him who has saved us? We have not seen His face, like the blind man, but we have heard His voice, and have felt His touch in the very depth of our hearts. When the Lord asked those who were closet to Him to give an answer to who He was, remember that they had witnessed His miracles, they had walked with Him, and they had seen Him, and most likely had even touched Him. When He asked His disciples what they thought of Him, this was their answer as documented in the 16^th Chapter of the gospel of Matthew.

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  (Matthew 16:13)

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  (Matthew 16:14)

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?  (Matthew 16:15)

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16)

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 16:17)

   It is amazing that although they had intimate communion with the Lord Jesus, because of sin only God the Father could reveal to them who the Lord Jesus was: the Son of the living God. It had to be heaven’s answer and not the answer from flesh and blood. It is the same today with us who have been born of the Spirit of Christ. It is heaven who has called us, it is heaven who has revealed to us God’s Christ, and our Savior. Heaven revealed this to us to remove us from the earth and to create within us a heavenly people whose minds and affections are set on the things above and not on the things of the earth.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  (Colossians 3:1) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

    Now we have just viewed from the Scriptures a table of bounty full of spiritual food for our hearts, souls and spirits. Take a few minutes, or longer, and think of what YOU have to say about your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember in all of our studies, we are not in a hurry. The only meeting we have to keep is with HIM who loved us and gave Himself for us. This should be our attitude both now and, of course, in heaven. It is the voice of the Holy Spirit that should literally travel through us by the Word of God and the revelation of the Spirit of God. When God gives His gifts He is the sole Proprietor and Giver of that gift. Let’s consider Hebrews Chapter 2, verse 4, God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? God is still very active in His gifts to the Church. No matter how feeble the Church becomes, He will give His gifts (even if Laodicea does not want them, or even when they cannot recognize them). The gifts of God are without repentance when they are given. For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.(Romans 11:29) The reason for the gifts is to reveal the Sovereignty of God that He is not only Sovereign, but that He has sovereignty over His gifts. No one can take the Gift of God upon themselves. God is the Author and Finisher of His gifts, and these gifts, no matter what time period of history, will always accomplish the will and purpose of God in ALL that they have been sent to do. Some more than others, but nevertheless, they are ALL the gifts of God. Man can refute this all that he wants to, but it will be to no avail.

   Think of the woman of Samaria in the gospel of John Chapter 4. She met the Lord Jesus Christ, who was and is the Gift of God, the Lord did not demand, but asked for a drink of water. After He examined this woman, and revealed a knowledge of her past, she understood that this is the Gift of God, and that He has living water for her. She became a witness and a gift to others in Samaria. As the blind man, in John Chapter 9, she became a witness of the Gift of God; however, her witness was to the Samaritans, and her witness drew many more to the Gift of God, and the Lord abode with them for two days.

   Now the blind man, in Chapter 9, who had received his sight from the Lord Jesus, was the witnessed of the miracle that the Lord Jesus performed on him by giving him sight. However, the Jews rejected both the man and the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s apply these two Chapters (Chapter 4 and Chapter 9) as we should see them, We have two different situations; one situation was in Samaria with the Samaritans (or Gentiles), and the other was with the Jews and the Pharisees. With the Samaritans we see the Gentile world being evangelized for a period of time symbolized by the two days, and this is when the gospel goes out into the world calling out a Bride for the Son of God. (Two days is two thousand years.) And for two thousand years the nations and peoples of the world have been under the sound and teaching of the gospel.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  (2^nd Peter 3:8)

So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. (John 4:40)

Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. (John 4:43)

And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.  (Exodus 19:11)

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: (John 2:1)

   The Bride is symbolized by the woman, for which of us has had no sin, and yet, we have been called into the grace of God. John Chapter 4, this number specifies the world and the directions of the earth: north, south, east, and west. In John Chapter 9, the blind man symbolizes the blindness of the Jews during the same time period that the gospel goes into all the world. And they are symbolized in John Chapter 9 by the rejection of Christ. In John Chapter 9, we have the last single digit, or the end of the present condition for the Law and the ordinances were given over for grace and truth.

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.  (Hebrews 8:13)

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (Hebrews 9:11)

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  (Hebrews 9:12)

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  (Hebrews 9:13)

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)

   In the blind man we have the whole nation in blindness for a period of time much like the wanderings in the wilderness. Every thing was laid out before them, and God was ready to bless them, and those who came out of Egypt refused and rejected the blessings of God. In many ways God forced His blessings upon them in giving them manna, and supplying living water from Himself in their wanderings. The same Law that condemned sin in Israel condemned sin in us before the Lord called us unto Himself. The same gospel is to the Jew first and also to the Greek (or Gentile).

   The man who was born blind is never named. Even his parents are not named. In the entire 9^th Chapter, there is ONLY one particular name, and that is the name Jesus who is the Son of God. It is most interesting for we close out Judaism in Chapter 9, the fold is let loose in Chapter 10 to wander upon the earth with the Good Shepherd who knows each one of the sheep by name. Chapter 10 opens a new door and a new time period, for it is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. He knows their names, and they are called by Him, and they know His name, and they are riveted and focused on His name. For it is at the name of Jesus that they have bowed their hearts, souls and spirits, and He has filled them with the living waters of life.

   Since we are dealing with the seventh question, I have a very simple seven point outline that I use as a time line of history.

2. Mercy

3. Covenant

4. Law

5. Grace

6. Judgment

7. Rest

    These seven points are only a snapshot, and is only a guide to help us through the history of mankind so that we can realize God’s plan according to His determinate counsels. Once we understand that it is God’s counsels that is the wheel within a wheel, then we can understand the divine Being of creation, and His workings throughout, and how He has revealed Himself to us by divine revelation.

   During my life time, I have rebuilt many automatic transmissions. Within these transmissions there is a system of gears, there is a sun gear, there are several planetary gears, and there is a ring gear that encompasses them all. All the gears are moved by the sun gear, and the planetary gears move the ring gear, and that ring gear is driven by the planet gears. This simple mechanism unlocks our universe where each planet, each star, including our own sun is directly connected with the divine source of power which is God. Every action has an effect on the whole. And if I may be bold to say, It is the word of God’s power that upholds them, the unseen power is always in control. The blind man was blind no more. A whole new world was opened to him. As a summer day when one sees a bud on a rose bush, and they watch it bloom, petal by petal, until the mass is revealed as a beautiful flower, and this beautiful flower comes out of a thorny bush.

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2) He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:3)

   Now let us look at an unlikely spot to find beauty. Upon the cross of the Lord Jesus, He hung there with a crown of thorns upon His brow. These thorns (the curse of sin and death) symbolized both the cross and the crown. However, when the Lord Jesus finished His work on the cross, we have a beautiful flower of grace and life in Jesus Christ.

   Back to the Pharisees, each time that the subject of the Lord Jesus Christ came up in John Chapter 9, the Jews rejected the witness. And they also rejected the miracle and the man who was born blind by casting him out of the temple. This has not changed since the days of the Lord Jesus. Many of God’s children have been cast out of the religious masses, for as the Jews, they know not the miracle of sight in grace and truth. While the Jews were busy fussing, denying, scheming and deceiving, the man who was born blind, and now could see, found himself in the presence of the Son of God. Let us read what Job disclosed what his eyes would one day see as documented in the book of Job, Chapter 19, verses 25 -27. He looked forward to seeing even in death (with his eyes ) His Redeemer, God Himself.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: (Job 19:25)

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:(Job 19:26)

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:27)

   David also knew that he, one day, would see (with his eyes) the face of his Redeemer. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)

   This former blind man beheld the Son of God. The words that he heard, and the touch that he felt, now is brought before him in the reality of the Son of God. The Lord had heard that the Jews had rejected this former beggar. He had heard that they had cast him out, so the Lord went and found the man who was born blind, but who now could see.

   This is a prelude to the truths revealed in John Chapter 10 where the Lord, as I have written, reveals that He calls His own sheep by name. We still do not have a name for this blind man.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:4)

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5)

    When darkness was upon the face of the deep, God divided that darkness with His own Light, the same Light which is the Lord Jesus Christ. He said, Let there be light, and then He declared that the Light it was good. Then it was the evening and the morning of the first day. This is the first time in the Word of God that He used the word ‘good.’ The Good is in reference to His own divine Light, and this divine Light is in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We should now return to our seventh question, What sayest thou of him?

   We have the divine testimony in Proverbs 30:4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? (John 3)

   What a marvel, a man was born blind, all his life was spent in darkness and despair and in begging because of his lack of ability to work. Truly, darkness was on the face of the deep, and then the Light of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed to the blind man, Let there be light. Go wash in the pool of Siloam, and God saw the Light and said, It is good. This was not only a great wonder of receiving sight, but meeting the Lord of glory face to face. 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? (John 9:35) The reply of this man was, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? Then in verse 37, the Light of the world introduced Himself, And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. Just to remind you that previously, the Lord had spoken to him, touched him, and had anointed his eyes with both clay and His own spittle, and it was His voice that the man followed to the pool of Siloam where he washed and received his sight. In verse 38, we have greater Light, and we say of the blind man, Let there be light for he declared to the Lord Jesus, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. The evening and the morning was his first sight of creation, and his first sight of eternity in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Is This Your Son?

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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?

   The number eight is an exciting number. It’s the number of the new day. The number of resurrection, the day of resurrection is called the eighth day, and it is also called the first day of the week. And it is eternally locked in the Scriptures with Sonship.

   This question before us, Is this your son? was asked by the Pharisees of the parents of the man who was born blind. This question has been asked many times of many parents in this world in both a negative way, and also in a positive manner. Sonship is a very important theme in Scripture: from Cain and Abel to our present age and onward to eternity. Sonship was forfeited when Adam sinned at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Sonship, however, is the eternal theme of redemption and of the redeemed.

   There is neither male nor female as we read, and listen to the Spirit’s voice in Galatians 3:28, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  Therefore, the redeemed are not only a new creation, but a new race of people, a heavenly race with a divine sonship given by the Lord Jesus Christ through His work and death on the cross of Calvary. Your current standing as a Christian is not of this world, but of the heavenlies.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

   Your birth certificate is signed in the blood of the Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God. Therefore, concerning Christ, let us look at Proverbs 30:4 and 5 once again.

Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell? (Proverbs 30:4) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. (Proverbs 30:5)

   The question of Sonship with the Lord Jesus Christ is confirmed in other portions of Scripture, (read the Gospel of John, Chapter 3) however, the question before us in proverbs is only found once in the entire Bible. This makes it very important for the Lord Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is the fullness of the Godhead bodily: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Both God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit declares His Sonship in the Scriptures. His Sonship began before the foundations of the world, and was confirmed by God the Father when He opened the heavens and declared Sonship upon the Man Jesus Christ. This was to confirm His birthright over ALL the creation of God. It was to confirm His sovereign right as Creator of ALL things and to confirm His inheritance which only HE (as the Son of God) could acquire. When you are born in Adam, you come into the world as a son, however, throughout your lifetime it is your birth certificate that declares legal sonship. God the Father declared both Sonship and Heirship in Psalm 2.

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:7) Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8)

   This was a prophecy of things to come. However, because of the vain imaginations of man under sin, God the Father, would leave nothing to chance. When the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened and God declared Sonship.

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (Matthew 3:17)

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (Mark 1:11)

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.  (Luke 3:22)

   These three instances in Scripture are of one profound event. The heavens were opened and the voice of God the Father was heard, and He declared Sonship. On the mount of transfiguration we have a small nucleus of the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ: Peter, James and John, and translated from out of heaven was both Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets; thus, the Son was glorified with His eternal glory before those of the earth and those of heaven. The subject was the Lord’s approaching death in Jerusalem and what He would accomplish. In the long arm of this it is not only Sonship, but also Heirship on the mount of transfiguration, and not only Heirship for heaven, but the earthly Heirship as well. The words ‘Hear ye him’ declare His Sonship and authority as the Son of God.

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;  hear ye him. (Matthew 17:5)

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Mark 9:7)

And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Luke 9:35)

    Now this theme of Sonship carries through the Scriptures and has many facets in the divine counsels of God. Did you know that Adam was created in the image of Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God? This image of the Son of God was and is the image that God used when He created Adam. This image from all eternity is a divine image.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  (Genesis 1:27)

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  (Colossians 1:13)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (Colossians 1:17)

   When we compound Genesis 1:26 and 27 with Colossians 1:13 – 17, we build the image into the COMPLETE image of the Godhead. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:10)

   The language of Genesis 1:26 and 1:27 unites the Godhead in the image of Jesus Christ. God took on this image long before the creation. This image was the Son and was the complete image of Father, Son and Holy Spirit ALL in ONE image. Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Also Hebrews 1:3, we read, Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

    Christ is the COMPLETE brightness of God’s glory. He is the COMPLETE image of the Godhead. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:2) In this verse we have the PREMANIFESTATION of Christ as the Heir. He was HEIR of ALL things PRIOR to His earthly manifestation as the Son of God: Jesus Christ. God also revealed that it was BY Jesus Christ that the worlds were made correspond with John Chapter 1.

   There is much more to the profoundness of the image of Christ as the Son of God.  The manifest image is the visible of the invisible. It is also quite clear that the Son of God altered His appearance in His omnipotent power. The Son of God could display Himself as a fire in a burning bush (when He spoke to Moses) and as the eternal God when He proclaimed Himself the great I AM that could not be consumed with fire nor flame so that the bush remained in its pristine condition, although the fire was in it. Even on the cross of Calvary when sin was laid upon Him, this did not alter His pristine righteousness as the Son of God. It did not alter His eternal life, and the power of an endless life. He revealed Himself as a Rock to the children of Israel, and He followed them giving them rivers of living water.

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (1^st Corinthians 10:1) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (1^st Corinthians 10:2) And did all eat the same spiritual meat; (1^st Corinthians 10:3) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1^st Corinthians 10:4)

    We have the pre-resurrected Christ and the post-resurrected Christ for in the days of His flesh He presented one image to His disciples. After His resurrection He presented another image of the glorified Son of man. In the book of Daniel, He walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego through the consuming fire and there was not one hair of their heads consumed. There wasn’t a mark on their garments, however, the ropes (as sin that binds mankind) were consumed in the fire. Also, in Daniel, the Lord Jesus presented Himself as the Ancient of days.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one  like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. (Daniel 7:1 3) And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14)

   Let us compare this image to the image that John describes to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ in Chapter 1 with the vision of the Ancient of days in the book of Daniel 7:9.

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (Revelation 1:13) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; (Revelation 1:14) And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (Revelation 1:15)

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.  (Daniel 7:9)

   The Ancient of days, in full description, is NOW called by John, the Son of man, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus told Philip that His manifest image on earth was the COMPLETE image of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (John 14:8) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9)

   The Headship of Christ over His Church (or Body) is undeniable in the divine truth of Scripture. It is only the perverted will and imagination of man in these days that has determined himself (as mankind) to overthrow the things of God. He (mankind) is doing this at great cost to his own soul for Christ will cast ALL those who disturb His Church into the lake of fire. Again let us look at Hebrews 1:3, it not only combines, but confirms the image and glory of God in ONE Person, the EXPRESS Person of His Son. ALL is connected in Sonship and Heirship in His finished work on Calvary when He had purged our sins sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. This same Person has been exalted higher than the heavens. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26)

   The words of Peter (concerning the mount of transfiguration) were so special and given of the Spirit of God; yet, mankind does not see the depth of not only what took place on the holy mount, but the identification of the mount was ‘a holy place.’

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2^nd Peter 1:16)

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (2^nd Peter 1:1 7)

And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (2^nd Peter 1:18)

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  (2^nd Peter 1:19)

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  (2^nd Peter 1:20)

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  (2^nd Peter 1:21)

   In Scripture there is ONE holy mount where mankind has received revelation from God. This mount is Mount Sinai. God revealed Himself to Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John, and when Paul went into Arabia, he also received revelation from God on the ‘holy mount’ where unlike Moses, and unlike Elijah, and unlike Peter, James and John, Paul ASCENDED from the ‘holy mount’ to the third heaven. This is very practical for Moses received his revelation for an earthly people, and an earthly nation. Elijah received his revelation for an earthly people of Samaria, and also for Assyria related to earthly things. Peter, James and John were still under the earthly ministry of the Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ when they received the revelation of Christ’s glorified image, but it was still concerning an earthly people. However, with Paul, he ascended into the third heaven, and received many revelations concerning the Church. Why did Paul go to the heavens to receive his revelations? Because his revelations concerned a heavenly Church and a heavenly people. A heavenly people HAD to know of their own translation to heavenly places.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  (Colossians 1:12)

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  (Colossians 1:13)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  (Colossians 1:17)

     Paul described his trip into Arabia in Galatians Chapter 1, verses 15 – 17. 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) Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. (Galatians 1:17)

    If you can stay with me, the true Christian has MORE heavenly blessings then earthly blessings. The earth is the place of the TRIAL of our faith. Heaven is the finished result of our faith. The earth denies us as they denied the Lord Jesus. Heaven accepts us based on the Lord Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. The earth is a place of sin. Heaven is sinless. Earth is the place where we bear our earthly image. Heaven is the place that we bear His image, for we shall be like Him.

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.  (1^st 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. (1^st John 3:2) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1^st John 3:3)

    In 2^nd Corinthians, Chapter 12,  Moses and Elijah were translated from OUT of heaven to earth, and Paul (in the Spirit) was translated from earth to heaven. This is where he was caught up to the third heaven where he received both visions and revelations.

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. (2^nd Corinthians 12:1) I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (2^nd Corinthians 12:2) And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) (2^nd Corinthians 12:3) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (2^nd Corinthians 12:4)

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (2^nd Corinthians 12:7)

   Paul related these revelations to us (those who make up the Body of Christ) so that we could understand that we are not an earthly people. We are NOT bound by the earth, but we are bound by heaven.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1^st Peter 2:5)

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1^st Peter 2:9) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1^st Peter 2:10)

    Each of these credentials are heavenly credentials. You are lively stones built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices. You are a chosen generation, you have been chosen to fulfill and fill the generation of Jesus Christ. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) You have been given the message of the gospel to declare His generation. His generation is separated from ALL earthly people, for it is the generation of heaven.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53:8)

All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.  (Psalm 22:29) A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. (Psalm 22:30) They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this. (Psalm 22:31)

[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  (Colossians 1:26)

   To Peter, James and John the Mount of Transfiguration was a special enlightenment for the express image of God (in the flesh) revealed the glory of God to them. This holy mount was a place where heaven could be revealed. A place where God could reveal His glory and appear in the radiance of the sun to His disciples.

   The transformation on this holy mount emphasized the presence of heaven because Peter, James, and John were in the presence of both Moses and Elijah. These two men (Moses and Elijah) were LIVING HEAVENLY men. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matthew 22:32)

   Then we have the men of the earth: Peter, James and John. God has constantly been looking for the place on earth to display Himself among men since the fall of mankind. Sinai, as the holy mountain, is very important; yet, only Peter declared the mount of transfiguration as being the ‘holy mount.’ He went on (in his epistle) to inform us that we have a sure word of prophecy, and a sure witness, and this, of course, takes in both Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets.

   In the Old Testament only Moses and Elijah received revelation from God on the holy mountain. They were the only two who went up to the top of this holy mountain, and it was there that they both received the Word of God from the mouth and breath of God. Since God was dealing with the earth at that particular time, both men experienced a fearful Presence of the Almighty God. Both of them had to be hidden from the glory of God as He passed by. Moses in the cleft of the rock, and Elijah hidden within the mountain itself in a cave. Moses feared as the mount quacked and shook, and in the event with Elijah, not only did the mount quack, but the rocks were rent, the wind was so fierce that the rocks fell as feathers, and the fire consumed the very dust, thus, these men feared and trembled. God revealed Himself to Moses with the boldness of words, and to Elijah with a still small voice.

   In Peter’s epistle, when he brings this holy mount before us, he was speaking (through the Spirit) to separate us from our earthly ties.

   Many feel that the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are the only three gospels that record this wonderful transformation of the Lord into the brightness of His glory. However, John does not leave his experience out of his gospel, for in the first Chapter of the gospel of John, he declared that ‘we’ (Peter, James, and John) beheld His glory.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

   John began his gospel with the heavenly thought of the Creator of all things ‘in the beginning was the Word.’ This Creator and Word was and is the Lord Jesus Christ. In the first four verses of the gospel of John, he revealed to us a new revelation that in the beginning was the Word; therefore, we understand that the Lord Jesus was the One who gave the words to Moses and to Elijah.

   We also realize the value of the holy mount. In verse 14, we have the truth of John’s experience that he (along with Peter and James) beheld the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was such an tremendous glorious experience for both Moses and Elijah were held very high in the Jewish community. (Even the Pharisees revered both Moses and Elijah although they were not obedient to the heavenly words that these two men received from God.) This is a wonderful occurrence that we have on the heavenly mount, the holiest of holy men, and the Holiest of all, the Lord Jesus Christ together. We have His radiance as the glory of God. We have two heavenly witnesses, and we also have three men of the earth who were to carry their experience not only through their lives, but to tell others (on the earth) of this moment when heaven and earth joined together as a witness to the glory and majesty of this Supernatural transformation. Here was a tremendous division and a tremendous unification between earth and heaven centered around the One who created both the heavens and the earth.

   Moses and Elijah were present on this holy mount to discuss the approaching death of the Lord at Jerusalem. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: (Luke 9:30) Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:31)

   Notice that Moses and Elijah did not fall asleep as the disciples, but they simply returned to the glory of heaven. The disciples (at this point) being of the earth (earthly) fell asleep. Could this be a witness of our own transformation when we are taken into the presence of the Lord that we fall asleep.

Side Note: Sleep: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. (1^st Corinthians 15:20)

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  (Acts 7:59) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:60)

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1^st Thessalonians 4:13) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1^st Thessalonians 4:14)

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus  sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (John 11:11) Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. (John 11:13)

    Notice the words,  and when they were awake, they saw his glory. When they awoke, they saw Jesus only. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. (Matthew 17:8) But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. (Luke 9:32)

   In the discussion of Moses and Elijah with the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the full details in the words ‘what he would accomplish in Jerusalem.’ Apparently heaven had a pre-knowledge of what was about to happen in Jerusalem prior to the Lord’s death. Since Moses and Elijah knew what was about to be accomplished then heaven must have had an open knowledge, and therefore, the saints in heaven were aware of the plan of redemption in grace and truth. Don’t we get more light from this in the book of the Revelation Chapters 4 and 5. John again takes us beyond this earth where there is a door opened in heaven, and our eyes see with new light; thus, we understand the last verse of Hebrews 11:40. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

   What was to be accomplished in Jerusalem in the death of the Lord would make Him perfect through His own sufferings. The death of the Son of God transcended all time, although it was accomplished in the fullness of time (Galatians 4) it drew the past saints in time, the present saints and the future saints ALL into the perfection of Jesus Christ. This is the sum of ALL truth; yet, the Church today cannot understand the far reaching power of God’s righteousness to those who believe on Him to those in the Old Testament and to those of the New Testament.

   When Peter was speaking of Old Testament prophets, the Spirit of God stated that they were holy men LED of the Spirit of God, and therefore, Moses was given these words by God Himself to His nation Israel unveiling to them their purpose as a nation was to serve God as a separated people, and as a peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This was God’s purpose and His promise of an anticipated prophecy to be accomplished and fulfilled during His millennial reign on earth.

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: (Exodus 19:5) And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:6)

   Peter (in the New Testament) also unveiled that we today are a royal priesthood, an holy nation, and a peculiar people serving God on earth. As Israel will be a kingdom of priests on earth in the Millennial Age, we (the Church) are a royal priesthood in our current time frame in the age of Church history. But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1^st Peter 2:9)

   On the future of all saints as those of the Church Age, the tribulation period, and the millennial kingdom are ALL linked together in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is exactly why God used the term ‘fullness of time’ in Galatians Chapter 4. In the finished work of the Lord Jesus, His complete work has translated us into His kingdom. We are bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh. We are on earth the company of the redeemed, and we will be joined to the redeemed of heaven when we have finished our work here on the earth. We will be part of that glory which is revealed to us in Revelation Chapter 4 and 5. In praise and worship in heaven, the redeemed are not segregated, but they are united in the worship of God the Son. The last two verses of Revelation Chapter 5 reveals the glorified hearts of men when they worship the wonder and the majesty of the One before them.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:13) And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:14)

   It is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, and although we are not yet present at this scene in Revelation 5:13 and 14, it is our privilege and honor to share in their worship with our hearts in adoration for the Son of God. This ALL links our own sonship by adoption. This means that we are the children of God, and God has brought us into Sonship by the work and sacrifice of the Son of God. Now what better truth then the Scriptures themselves have proclaimed our very sonship in the Lord Jesus Christ.

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) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7)

    The truth of this wonderful time is that God sent forth the FULLNESS of His Son, and the FULLNESS of the Godhead bodily in Jesus Christ. These wonderful truths in Galatians Chapter 4, opens the first Chapter of the gospel of Luke to us. Galatians 4:4 deals with the earth; therefore, the Holy Spirit brings to our attention to being made of a woman, made under the law. This is what took place on earth through the divine power of heaven. This is how the Lord Jesus entered into the sphere of the earth, one giant step OUT of eternity to become that ‘holy thing,’ born of a woman and He came and was sent to fulfill EVERY aspect of God’s holy law both seen and unseen.

   Since Moses received the holy Law from God, from Moses onward NO ONE has ever fulfilled the whole Law. NO MAN was ever blameless; yet, God was IN Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. Although mankind was incapable of keeping the whole Law, God in His determinate counsels SENT a holy Man from heaven to not only fulfill the Law, but to redeem them who were under the Law. He came into a world of sin to crush sin, and to defeat death, and to deliver them who were under the fear of death to the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Look at the world around you, the people of this world, they live under the power of the prince of this world and his dominion of sin and death. Sin rules men, and the result is that the rule of sin brings forth death. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7) This is why the Spirit of God proclaims to the redeem, those who are born of God, that they are NO LONGER under the dominion of sin. As Romans 8:1 informs us that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, and then the Spirit of God reaffirms this in Romans 8:14 and 15.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  (Romans 8:15)

   Romans 8:14 and 15 dovetail with Galatians 4:5 and 6. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) In all this we have the Spirit’s witness within us that we are the sons of God, and being sons we are joint heirs with Christ. In Galatians 4:5 we see the whole purpose of grace: to redeem those who were under the Law, and what have we received in our redemption? We have received the adoption of sons. Closely read verse 6 of Galatians Chapter 4. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6) It is very positive, it is not ‘if’ you are sons, but the words are because ye are sons. This shows the transaction of redemption in your life, and that your life is hid in God in Jesus Christ. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of Christ INTO your hearts crying, Abba, Father. We also have the assurance of the Spirit of Christ within us in Romans 8:9, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Now there is a wonderful truth in verse 6 of Galatians Chapter 4, we know that in the fullness of time that God sent forth His Son, but also notice the Spirit in verse 6 that with the heart filled with the Spirit we cry out, Abba, Father. God presents to us: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

   In verse 7 of Galatians 4, we have rest. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. It has been finalized. You are a son, and you will never relinquish your sonship because your sonship is in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are no more servants of sin, we are no longer bond by the shackles of sin and death. We have been brought into the presence of God through adoption as the sons of liberty, completely free from Adam and his sin, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. When we consider Galatians Chapter 4 these points of sonship fit as a glove with Romans Chapter 8:10-18.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  (Romans 8:10)

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. (Romans 8:12)

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  (Romans 8:13)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  (Romans 8:14)

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:(Romans 8:16)

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

   There is also an intimate part of our sonship with the Father of lights and perfection. As our Father in heaven, He has the right to correct us, to chasten us, and to discipline us as His sons.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: (Hebrews 12:5)

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (Hebrews 12:7)

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8)

   Many preachers and writers of today will leave this section out of Scripture because they can get more out of messages of ‘blessings’ then from a message of discipline and correction. However, being sons of adoption in Jesus Christ is part of our life. This is part of the work of the Spirit of Christ, and you need to receive this as a child of God. When God chastens and corrects He is reassuring your sonship for who the Lord chastens, the Lord loves. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)

    Now the question that we began with was . . . Is this your son? We have traveled from the earthly man who was born blind (as in our own birth we were born blind to the things of God). We have answered the question concerning all the thoughts of God the Father in His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We have past from death to life in our own sonship in Christ Jesus. The Father has answered us: Christ is His Son. Consequently, we also have been drawn into Sonship by adoption by the finished work of Christ on the cross. The Anointed One, the Lord in glory, has in turn anointed us in His death, and in His resurrection; thus, as we have died with Him, we shall also be raised together in newness of life as 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. (1^st 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.  (1^st John 3:2)

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1^st John 3:3)

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How Then Doeth He Now See?

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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?

   I would title this question as A River of Promise and What Treasures to Behold. What wonders that this blind man would now be able to see. It must have energized him in all his new circumstances, and with all the new vibrant visions: the colors, the shapes, the depth and height, and the perspective of distance. What an overwhelming experience; yet, it was God who gave him sight. Truly, this was a river of promise. Now, let’s go into the distant future and the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. You know him, of course, by the name of Paul. Let’s consider Acts, Chapter 9, verses 17 and 18.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 9:17)

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)

  Saul lost his sight on the Damascus road. He was blinded by the glory and light of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord covered Saul’s eyes with scales so that Saul would not be able to see. Saul waited in Damascus for three days, then, the Lord sent His servant Ananias saying, receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Immediately the scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he saw with a new vision the things of God, and a new vision of the world around him.

   Now the second part of my title, What Treasures to Behold. After Saul received his sight, he immediately preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the treasures kept pouring upon him. (Just a point of notice: Saul is not called Paul by the Holy Spirit until the 13^th Chapter of the book of Acts. He was also known as Paul, but it is not recorded until the thirteenth Chapter. Until then, the Holy Spirit used the name of Saul. I think that this is for us more than the people of that time, for we must never forget what Saul was up to BEFORE his conversion.)

   We must never forget that by the power of God, and the rivers of promise, and the treasures of Christ what Paul was as a servant of the most high God. Compare these two experiences: the blind man in Jerusalem with clay and spittle upon his eyes washed in the pool of Siloam, the man in Damascus had scales upon his eyes and they could only be removed (as the blind man) with the name of Jesus. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 9:17)

   We see the treasures to behold, the joyfulness of the blind man who could now see, and yet, this had a negative effect on the Pharisees. Their hatred was so intense that it hid all the goodness of God from them. We have seen this many times through the Scriptures (through the gospels of the Lord Jesus Christ) how the Pharisees and the Levites, and the scribes, and the rulers of the Jews verbally exposed their hatred for the Lord Jesus Christ. Both the blind man, and Paul, suffered rejection at the hands of man. Their sight was far greater than the men who were in sin, and still under the sway of the devil. After conversion and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, most all experiences the rejection from the world. The Lord Jesus told us, as Christians, we would be HATED by the world. For as they hated Him, they would also hate us also. And then, we have to deal with our own being, the things that have come out from our own lips, even after our conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ, we stumble, and we fall into pit holes, not realizing the jungle of sin that we are in. If we are truthful with our conscience, we will hang out heads in shame, for God has given us a conscience, and NOW He has quickened it according to His will and purpose. The conscience is a wonderful tool of the Lord, a reminder of past sins, and a discerner of present sin. The dull voice of the conscience before salvation becomes a loud voice of the Spirit of God within us after salvation. He magnifies that voice by the Scriptures that we hide in our hearts, and He calls to our memory when we ask the question, how then doth he now see?

   This takes the man who was born blind back to the pool of Siloam so also Ananias reminded brother Saul of the Damascus road and where he became blind. The man who was born blind had his eyes anointed with clay and spittle. He followed the instructions from the voice of Jesus to wash at the pool of Siloam.

Side Note: Naaman the Leper. May I remind you of Naaman  the leper in the Old Testament, he was a high ranking general and a magistrate. When he was told by Elisha to wash in the Jordan, he became upset because of the muddy waters of the Jordan. He could not see his own dreadful condition that he himself was contemptible to others because of his leprosy. He preferred the clear waters of Abana and Pharpar of Damascus and not the water of Jordan.

And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. (2^nd Kings 5:10)

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.  (2^nd Kings 5:11)

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. (2^nd Kings 5:12)

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? (2^nd Kings 5:13)

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2^nd Kings 5:14)

   His leprosy had made him undesirable, and yet, in his leprous state Naaman was still very proud. It would be the Jordan or nothing else. This is where God would cleanse him, and God did cleanse Naaman at the Jordan.

In an open prayer meeting one can assess the condition of the souls who pray. There is something special having the Spirit of God within, for the Spirit of God can show us the Naamans of this world, and He can show us the sincerity of those who were born blind in sin, and now see by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and His redemption. Probably because of the open prayer meetings and what it reveals, it has faded into the past, in some places it is extinct. Naaman was about self, like many prayers that we hear.

   The blind man in John’s gospel never uttered a word of dissent but followed the exact instructions of the Lord Jesus Christ. The blind man had mud on his eyes, and yet, he obeyed and went to the exact spot that the Lord had instructed him, and washed in the clear flowing waters of the pool of Siloam. This reminds us to think of the first portion of prayer BEFORE we go in to the Spirit’s tabernacle to meet with God. We must wash and be clean of this world and be clean from our sin. Not only is the Word of God a cleansing force, but also the washing of the Spirit of Christ with living water to cleanse the conscience and the inward man, to concentrate on the things above, and not on the things of the earth.

   In the wanderings of Israel for thirty-eight years in the wilderness the Lord followed them with a cloud by day, and a fire by night. For thirty-eight years the Lord followed them, and led them every minute, every hour, every day, and every year. He provided the Rock with living waters, in fact, the water from that Rock (which was Christ) is called ‘spiritual drink.’

And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1^st Corinthians 10:4)

   This living water, this spiritual water is presented to us and IN us by the Spirit of Christ, and it is displayed in the Word of God in John 4:14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The Lord describes the spiritual life within Himself as an artesian well, it needs no pump, it bursts forth from the ground just as the water of life bursts forth from Christ.

   Our calling is (in part) that we pray for ALL saints, ALL who are called of God, and washed in the blood of Christ, and that as Christians we must wash and be clean in this live because our enemies are as the dust of the road that we travel, and therefore, they can cloud our spiritual vision. The pot holes of sin cause us to stumble. For a clear sight for our life in Christ, we must wash our spiritual eyes by the Word of God directed by the Spirit of God making the Word of God a laver of cleansing water within us.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1^st John 1:7) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1^st John 1:8) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1^st John 1:9)

   We must not only prepare ourselves to go IN to the Spirit’s tabernacle of prayer, but we must also approach God according to His divine Person. We have a wonderful model of prayer given by the Lord Jesus Himself.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.  (Matthew 6:5)

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:6)

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Matthew 6:7)

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:8)

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (Matthew 6:9)

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11)

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  (Matthew 6:12)

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13)

   We should qualify ourselves to enter into the Spirit’s tabernacle of prayer. We must be sons, and we have been adopted into God’s family by another. Christ has signed ALL the vital decrees of our adoption in His precious blood. He is the One who has introduced us to God the Father. As He directs His disciples with the very first words, Our Father, and the mystery and majesty which is in heaven. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven.

    Hallowed be thy name. The reverence and holiness of the name of God. Then the forefront of our desire should always by Thy kingdom come. As our hearts yearns and declares, Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20). The attitude of heart and soul and spirit then leads us from the earth to heaven, for it is the will of God that is our prerogative and desire: Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. In Revelation Chapter 4, John beheld the door opened in heaven. In verse 5, he saw the throng worshipping the One sitting upon the throne. In Revelation 5:6, the Lamb in the midst of the throne (as it has been slain). In Revelation 6:5, the point of distinction is that the One sitting upon throne, and the Lamb in the midst of the throne is the same Throne Sitter. The Lamb, as it was slain, continues to show forth the love of God, and God’s sacrifice. God HIMSELF will provide the Lamb. God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. (Genesis 22:8) As the Lamb, He is the King enthroned, the crown of thorns has given way to a crown of righteousness, and He will be revealed on earth as Lord of lords, and King of kings wearing the royal diadem of eternity.

   Give us this day our daily bread. How we remember the faithfulness of God, as Israel wandered day by day through the wilderness whether moving or at rest, every day, manna fell from heaven. The Holy Spirit called it ‘angels food.’ Yet, it was only for that day, except for the Sabbath. God knew the needs of that day, so therefore, He met that need. The Lord taught His disciples to concentrate on the day before them for there are enough pitfalls and dangers in this day, and not to add to them by worrying about tomorrow.

   This takes us back to God’s will.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. We are indebted to God. We have surrendered ourselves to God because of the state that we were in before our salvation. Now with our spiritual eyes opened, we understand that ALL belongs to God: the world around us, the fruit of the field, the breath of life, and the pulsing of our heart is ALL of God. God is the Master, and we are indebted to Him.

  The most dreadful debt was our sin. We had nothing to pay with, there was nothing that we could do, for ALL have sinned, ALL are indebted and cannot pay; however, God sent the payment in the manifestation of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It was on Calvary, on that cross, that the whole debt and sin of the world was paid. God would be a debtor to no man, He would provide life for ALL, even if ALL would not come. He would be the One true Savior and God, and He would pay our debt FOREVER through eternity. If our debt was so great, should we not reflect on the love that it took to set us free, and should we not forgive those who are indebted to us, and those who have engaged us wrongfully in word and in deed. Should not we remember our own state before the Lord saved us, and settled our debt forever.

   Now in verse 13 . . .  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Lead us not into temptation, the Almighty God is not the tempter, even the Lord Jesus was tempted in all parts like we are, yet, without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

   In John 14:30, the Lord refers to the devil as the tempter. The same tempter that tempted the Lord in Matthew Chapter 4. In John 14, the Lord gives the devil the title, prince of this world. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. The identification of the tempter is well documented in the Scriptures, in both the Old and the New Testament. This takes us from Adam and Eve to our present age and onward until the devil is cast into the lake of fire where he will be tormented forever.

    As Christians we need to take heed to what James tells us, by the Spirit God, in the book of James, Chapter 1, verses 12 – 15.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12)

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  (James 1:13)

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  (James 1:14)

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15)

   Let us see with opened eyes our own lust. Lust is contained in the word ‘want.’ Lust and want are brothers of greed, such as the lust of the flesh, the lust of power, the lust of wealth, the lust of adultery, and the lust of idolatry. Temptation is the realm of the devil. He is the prince of the world, and has powers of the invisible. It is prayer that leads us out of temptation, and it is God who will deliver us from and out of the mouth of the lion.

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1^st Peter 5:7)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1^st Peter 5:8)

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1^st Peter 5:9)

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1^st Peter 5:10) 　

To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1^st Peter 1:11)

   We also have a very good practical application in the Old Testament of how our adversary works even through his ministers of righteousness. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2^nd Corinthians 11:14) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2^nd Corinthians 11:15)    The prophet from Judah was sent to Jeroboam to prophesize and then he was to return to Judah. However, the devil, through a false prophet took the eyes of the prophet from Judah off his responsibility.

And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. (1^st Kings 13:14)

Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.  (1^st Kings 13:15)

And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: (1^st Kings 13:16)

For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.  (1^st Kings 13:17)

He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. (1^st Kings 13:18)

So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. (1^st Kings 13:19)

And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: (1^st Kings 13:20)

And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee, (1^st Kings 13:21)

But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. (1^st Kings 13:22)

And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. (1^st Kings 13:23)

And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase. (1^st Kings 13:24)

And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. (1^st Kings 13:25)

And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him. (1^st Kings 13:26)

   Satan comes in all forms of disguises, and his words and language is frightfully close to the truth. He will stand right beside you, and sing, ‘Oh, how I love Jesus.’ But the Jesus in his heart, soul and spirit is another Jesus. He will stand in the pulpit Sunday after Sunday to pervert the word of God, and take the eyes of the redeemed and the eyes of the world OFF the Lord Jesus Christ, and place those eyes on world religion and on the old false prophet.

   The Church has been lulled to sleep. It is time to awake out of the dreams of fantasy to the very present evil world that we dwell in and time to be aware of ALL the conniving of the prince of this world, and the deception that he uses to bring mankind to the wrong path. The word ‘diligence’ and ‘discernment’ is not found in the church dictionary of today. The Church has become residential property of the world, and not the property of Christ. The inhabitants very rarely read the word of God which is the stay and the guide of the Spirit of God to the redeemed. The devil cannot stop himself. He was cast out of heaven because of his sin, and infected a throng of angels who are NOW bound in chains waiting for their final judgment.

   In the Lord’s prayer, the Lord finished with these words And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Again, I refer you to Revelation Chapter 5, also verse 13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. There we see that there is one King over all, and there is one kingdom over all. All other kingdoms are in subjection to this one kingdom. The kingdom of God is mentioned fifteen (15) times in the book of the gospel of Mark. The kingdom of heaven is mentioned thirty-three (33) times in Matthew, and only mentioned in Matthew. But there were and are many kingdoms, and these are a few: the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of the Lord, the kingdom of earth, the kingdom of Israel, the kingdom of men, the kingdom of their father. This is just a small portion of the total that are underneath the kingdom of God. The words, For thine is the kingdom, is the totality of the Sovereignty of God OVER ALL THINGS: ALL kingdoms, and ALL rulers: both seen and unseen. This draws us back to our question in the book of John, the ninth question, How doth he now see?

   How do we see, as Christians? Who have had their eyes opened? The mystery of this world is no mystery to the child of God for God Himself has opened our eyes of understanding.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (Ephesians 1:17)

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  (Ephesians 1:19)

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:20)

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:21)

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22)

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)

   We have been given spiritual eyes by the Spirit of God. He has opened our understanding. Truly, this is a greater miracle then that of the blind man from birth. Yet, the blind man tells the story of all of mankind: blind from birth to the things of the Almighty God. Having eyes to see, yet see not until the Lord anoints us with the Spirit of faith, and we are washed in His grace by the Spirit of Christ. Each one of us, who have experienced the eyes of our understanding being opened, know the day and the time that Jesus passed by, and saw a soul blind from birth, and anointed our eyes with the oil of gladness and opened the eyes of our understanding. Amen.

© 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)