Ready to Serve

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: John 9:1-23

 

Matthew 12:8

For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

(NKJV)

 

One should view their profession as their calling from the Lord. While some may work in professions where they can have weekends off and attend synagogue services on the Sabbath or Church services on Sunday, some must work these hours. One working these hours is not a sinner for doing so, but one serving the Lord in their profession, bringing glory to the Lord.

 

Jesus sees a man blind from birth and is asked by His disciples who sinned, making this man blind, his parents or himself (John 9:1-2). Jesus answers by telling them that neither sinned and that the works of God would be revealed in this man (John 9:3). As the light of the World, Jesus must perform the works given to Him by the Father because the night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4-5). Jesus then spat on the ground, making clay with which he anointed the man’s eyes (John 9:6). Jesus then told the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam, which he did and came back seeing (John 9:7).

 

The neighbors and those who had previously seen he was blind asked if this man was not the one who sat and begged, while others said he looked like him, with the man confirming it was him (John 9:8-9). They then asked the man how his eyes were opened, and he told them Jesus anointed his eyes and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and he received his sight (John 9:10-11). They then asked the man where Jesus was, and he told them he did not know (John 9:12).

 

They deliver the man to the Pharisees because the miracle was performed by Jesus on the Sabbath (John 9:13-14). The Pharisees once again ask the man how he received his sight and he tells them again how it happened (John 9:15). Some of the Pharisees believe Jesus is not from God since he did this miracle on the Sabbath with some wondering if a sinner could do such a miracle (John 9:16). They then ask the once blind man what he says about Jesus, and he says he is a prophet (John 9:17). The Jews do not believe the man had been blind and asked his parents if he was their son who was born blind and they confirm it (John 9:18-20). However, out of fear of excommunication from the synagogue, they will not confirm how their son received his sight (John 9:21-22). The parents tell them to ask their son since he is of age (John 9:23).

 

The Pharisees are grasping for anything they can accuse Jesus of doing to stop Him. The objective here is to discredit Jesus by claiming He is a sinner for performing a miracle of healing on the Sabbath, but this creates division among the Pharisees. The commandment for the Sabbath says to remember the Sabbath day and to keep it holy. Scripture continues by telling people there are six days for doing their labors with the seventh day the Sabbath, and not to work on that day. The Lord created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested on the seventh day, blessing and hallowing it (Exodus 20:8-11). However, Jesus is God (John 1:1) and the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8). The ultra legalistic Pharisees are quick to label Jesus as a sinner, not understanding that He is God, the Lord of the Sabbath. By healing a man born blind on the Sabbath, Jesus, as God, is hallowing the day, not desecrating it.

 

Like Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2, we must be ready to work for the Lord at any time, asking how ready am I to go wherever the Lord sends me to serve Him? While it is beneficial for one to take a day to rest and recharge physically, mentally, and spiritually, we must be ready to minister and serve the Lord when and where He calls us to do so. This brings to mind many believers with a calling to serve as medical professionals, law enforcement officers, and first responders, as well as members of the military. People called to serve in these positions may need to work on the Sabbath or Sunday because people get sick, break the law, have emergencies, or war can break out on these days. Some ultra legalistic believers could, like the Pharisees, say these individuals are sinners, but are they, or are they serving the community and the Lord in these positions? I believe people in these positions are doing service to the Lord and the community, hallowing the Lord, and not sinning against Him.

 

Not only is Jesus Lord of the Sabbath, but He is also the Messiah who came to us in the flesh to die as the Lamb of God to forgive the sins of humanity and restore humanity’s relationship with God. Jesus came to die for all of our sins, but one must accept the gift of salvation (Romans 3:23, 6:23; 10:9-10). If you have never done so, please pray with me now and accept this gift from God.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.