The Meeting

John 9:^{30-31 & 33} “…Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will… If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (NRSV]

In Luke 10:40-42 [please read], we see the story of Mary and Martha; Martha was busy, distracted with so many things. But Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, and Martha complained, she wanted Jesus to tell her sister to join her in the kitchen instead of just sitting and enjoying fellowship with Jesus. And Jesus said a profound thing in Luke 10:^41-42 “And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (NKJV]. People can take away anything from you but your encounter with Jesus is untouchable. No one can take it away from you, not even a bickering sister. It is not going to happen.

No theology can explain away the miracles of God. No theology can explain away your encounter with Jesus. I have friends that think I am crazy; friends that think I am wasting away being a Pastor. ‘A Pastor? But you can do many things for yourself and for your country’. I say to them, “The best thing I can do is what I am doing.” You cannot confuse me about my Jesus; I am the one eating the orange, you cannot tell me how it tastes. But, you, taste and see that the Lord is good. John 9:²⁵ “He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” (KJV]. John 9:^26-27 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” Don’t you just love this man? When people encounter God by themselves, they do not fit into any religious mould. When people encounter God by themselves, no one can bamboozle them. This man was talking to the Pharisees; nobody talks to them like this, apart from somebody that has met with Jesus. God wants every one of us to encounter Him genuinely, it changes everything – every single thing!

John 9:^28-30 “Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.” “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from?” It is very strange because in John 7 when Nicodemus asked them if they were going to convict a man without a fair hearing. And they said to Nicodemus, ‘Are you also from Galilee?’ [John 7:50-55, please read]. Which means they knew exactly where Jesus came from, they had done their research. But they are always talking from two sides of their mouth. When the chips are down, they will claim not to know where Jesus is from. That is from a social standpoint but from a theological standpoint, please read John 9:30-34. From a theological standpoint, we know He is from God, from a social and civil standpoint we know He is from Galilee, and from a theological and spiritual standpoint we also know He came from God.

Prayer: Father, I ask for a fresh encounter with Jesus daily, in Jesus Name. Amen!