Though Your Sins Are Like Scarlet, They Shall Be As White As Snow (Isaiah 1:1-20)

 

Though Your Sins Are Like Scarlet, They Shall Be As White As Snow (Isaiah 1:1-20)

What is the most urgent need for humanity? It's forgiveness of sins. Yes, health and wealth are important, but nothing is more urgent than having our sins forgiven.

Isaiah, son of Amoz, shared a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (Isaiah 1:1). He served as a prophet from around 745 to 695 BC. What was his message? To expose the sins of Israel. He called them to hear God's voice, repent, and turn back to Him. Isaiah also pointed to the hope of Israel: a suffering Messiah who would come to bear the sins of the world. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1).

Jesus Christ, God's Son, came to earth, took on human form, and bore the sins of the world as the Passover Lamb. Now, anyone who believes in Jesus can receive forgiveness through His blood and receive eternal life. Truly the writings of Isaiah reflect God's heart.

Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth!

2 Hear, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” 4 Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him (Isaiah 1:2-4).

Creation—the heavens and the earth—responds to God in awe and obedience. Yet, Israel, the nation God rescued from slavery in Egypt and carried to the Promised Land, rebelled. Even animals recognize their owners, but Israel did not acknowledge or obey God.

After settling in the land of Cannan, they abandoned the Lord and turned to idols like Baal and Asherah. They still observed festivals, Sabbaths, and sacrifices, but their worship became hollow, mere rituals without true devotion. Yet God looks at the heart, not outward appearances (1 Samuel 16:7).

Their main focus was on prosperity—successful harvests were their version of “well-being.” But instead of trusting God, they turned to Canaanite gods for blessings. Surely, they also asked for God as well. This divided loyalty was detestable to God, for no one can serve both God and money.

Their disobedience and wickedness led them further away from God, hardening their hearts. Everyone is experiencing pressure and difficulty in life. Yet God uses trials to draw people back to Him. Suffering isn’t random; it’s meant to teach and refine.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? (Hebrews 12:7)

Why keep rebelling and suffering more punishment?

5 Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. 6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil (Isaiah 1:5-6).

Every act of rebellion brings consequences. God, in His holiness, cannot ignore sin. His wrath is revealed against all ungodliness (Romans 1:18). Refusing to repent only stores up wrath for the day of judgment (Romans 2:5).

There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (Romans 2:9).

Yet God’s wrath is an expression of His holy love. Though He has every right to judge the world immediately, He delays, longing for all to repent and be saved. This doesn’t mean He tolerates sin. Instead, He allows the pain of sin to teach us its cost and severity. King David expressed this in his psalm of repentance after sinning:

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin (Psalm 32:3-5).

God’s invitation is clear: Turn back to Him. Confess your sins. Though your sins are like scarlet, He will make them white as snow.

The Lord leaves a remnant for us

7 Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers. 8 Daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege. 9 Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. (Isaiah 1:7-9)

God's wrath was not limited to people's souls—it also extended to the land because of their sin. The land was left desolate, cities burned, and fields destroyed by foreigners, making farming impossible. Jerusalem, the Daughter of Zion, was surrounded by enemies and barely survived, like a fragile hut in a field. If the LORD Almighty hadn’t left a remnant, they would have faced complete destruction like Sodom and Gomorrah.

But God's judgment is not His goal. His purpose is to lead people to repentance and salvation. Even in times of rebellion and wickedness, God preserved a remnant—a faithful few who would hear His Word, repent, and turn back to Him. In Elijah’s time, God reserved 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal. These remnants symbolize God's mercy and grace for those who return to Him.

Jesus Himself demonstrated this grace when He blessed the faith of the widow in Zarephath and welcomed salvation into Zacchaeus’s house. Through His abundant mercy, God left behind a remnant like Abraham, from whom countless souls have come to believe in Jesus Christ and find salvation.

Hear the Word of the LORD

10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11 “The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?” says the LORD. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. 14 Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!” (Isaiah 1:10-15)

God commanded His people to listen to the Word of the LORD. The kind of worship God desires is obedience (1 Samuel 15:22). It’s not about the blood of animals, the fat of offerings, or sacrifices given during festivals. It’s not even about burning incense. Burnt offerings, incense, and sacrificial rituals were prescribed by the Law, but here’s the problem: they were offering these sacrifices without true obedience. God does not delight in sacrifices that lack a heart of submission. Such offerings are meaningless, a burden to Him, and He even refuses to hear their prayers.

The Law lays out the regulations for sacrifices, but it’s crucial to understand why sacrifices like animal offerings, burnt offerings, and incense were commanded. The motivation behind these rituals matters. Sacrifices required the shedding of blood. This symbolized that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. The blood of the sacrificial animals pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would one day shed His blood on the cross for the sin of the world.

When offering a sacrifice, the worshiper would lay their hands on the animal and then kill it, symbolizing that the animal was taking their place as the sacrificial substitute. This act foreshadowed the substitutionary death of Jesus.

Therefore, God delights in sacrifices offered with a contrite and broken heart. He accepts the worship of those who come to Him in repentance and humility.

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)

Come Now, Let’s Settle This Together

16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (Isaiah 1:16-20)

God called the people of Israel to cleanse themselves, not just outwardly but by turning from their wicked ways and living according to His Word. The only way to truly be clean was to trust in the LORD, obey His commands, and follow His ways. If they sinned unwittingly, they were to acknowledge it, come to Him, and offer the prescribed sacrifices to restore their relationship with Him.

God also commanded them to pursue good deeds and seek justice: to help the oppressed, care for orphans, and defend widows. James later echoes this, saying that pure and faultless religion before God is to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27).

In reality, all of us are like orphans and widows—helpless and in need of God’s mercy. God, in His compassion, chooses to show mercy to those He wills (Romans 9:15).

The LORD extended an invitation: “Come now, let’s settle this.” He offered to reason with them, to cleanse their sins through His grace. Anyone who responds to His call, confesses their sins, and seeks His forgiveness will be washed clean by the blood of Christ, made holy and pure.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

If they turned back to Him, God promised to restore the land, allowing them to enjoy its abundance. But if they continued to rebel, they would face His judgment. This is the Word of the LORD, spoken through the prophet Isaiah.

Through Jesus Christ, God has shown His unfailing love and patience. To all who receive Him, He gives eternal life and pours out heavenly blessings. But those who reject Christ will not only forfeit heavenly rewards but also face God’s righteous judgment. Amen!

2025. 1. 26.

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2025, David Lee Ministries ©2025 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the NIV.

 

One thing I know: I was blind, but now I see (John 9:13-41)

What does it mean to truly know, see, or hear something? Even when people see or hear the same thing, their understanding can be totally different. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah prophesied: “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving’” (Isaiah 6:9).

When Jesus, sent by God, came into the world as the Christ, many Jews didn’t recognize Him. Even though they saw and heard the works of God through Him, they failed to understand. Instead, they rejected, persecuted, and ultimately crucified Him. Ironically, they claimed to know God but rejected His Son.

But the man in today’s story—born blind—believed. He couldn’t see at first, but when Jesus gave him sight, he believed in Him. To know and believe that Jesus Christ has opened our eyes is to truly know the truth. Amen!

The Jews refuse to believe the man born blind was healed

13 They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now, the day Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 So the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. He told them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and now I see.”

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

17 Then they turned again to the blind man. “What have you to say about Him? It was your eyes He opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

18 Still, they did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”

20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.”

22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had already decided that anyone who acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” (John 9:13-23)

The Jews brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It just so happened that the day Jesus healed him by making mud and putting it on his eyes was the Sabbath. When asked, the man plainly testified what happened: “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and now I see.”

But some Pharisees couldn’t see past their legalism. They were more concerned about Jesus breaking the Sabbath than the amazing miracle He had performed since the creation of the world. They argued, “He’s not from God because He doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others were puzzled, asking, “How can a sinner perform such miracles?”

The man, however, didn’t waver. He stood firm in his testimony, even under pressure, and said he believed Jesus was a prophet.

The Pharisees, unwilling to accept the truth, called in his parents for questioning. But his parents, afraid of being excommunicated, said, “Ask him yourself; he’s old enough to answer.”

This story shows us who receives God’s blessings. Those who trust and obey God are given even more, but those who reject Him lose everything. As Jesus said, “Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them” (Matthew 13:12).

The secrets of God’s kingdom are a holy gift for those who believe. But those who reject God cannot inherit His blessings. As Jesus warned, “If you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24).

For those who believe in Jesus Christ, sent by God, the gates of heaven are opened, and eternal life is given (John 3:16). The man born blind received God’s blessing, but the unbelieving Jews failed to recognize or understand it.

Since the beginning of the world, no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a man born blind

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. (John 9:24-34)

The Pharisees had interrogated the man’s parents earlier, but when that didn’t give them the answer they wanted, they turned to the man himself. They demanded, "Give glory to God," but they completely misunderstood what that meant. Truly giving glory to God is believing in the One He sent, Jesus Christ (John 6:29). Instead, they presumptuously called Jesus a sinner, refusing to acknowledge who He really was. Their actions weren’t honoring God—they were doing the work of their true father, the devil.

The man stood firm and spoke the truth: "I don’t know about all that, but one thing I know—I was blind, and now I see." His simple testimony carried undeniable power. Despite the Pharisees’ intimidation and attempts to twist the story, he boldly testified to the grace he had experienced.

Before we believed in Jesus, we were all spiritually blind, trapped in darkness. But now, through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, our sins are forgiven, and we’ve been given the gift of eternal life. We hold on to the promise of an eternal inheritance—one that can’t perish, spoil, or fade. We’ve also come to know Jesus as the true bread of life, and we trust that God is shaping us to be a pure and spotless bride for Christ.

The Pharisees pressed on, asking how Jesus healed him, but the man challenged them, "I already told you. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you thinking about becoming his disciples?" His boldness exposed their stubborn hearts. Instead of considering his words, they lashed out, saying, "We’re Moses’ disciples! We don’t even know where this guy comes from." Their spiritual blindness was clear—they couldn’t see that Jesus was sent by God.

The man didn’t hold back. "This is amazing! He opened my eyes, and you don’t know where he’s from? God doesn’t listen to sinners but to those who do His will. Nobody’s ever heard of someone healing a man born blind. If this man weren’t from God, he couldn’t do anything."

His words echoed the truth, much like how God used Balaam’s donkey to speak sense into him (Numbers 22:28). Balaam, blinded by greed, couldn’t see the angel of the Lord blocking his narrow path until his donkey spoke up.

In the same way, God used the man who had been blind to rebuke the unbelieving and stubborn-hearted Jews and to teach them the truth. The Old Testament doesn’t record anyone born blind having their sight restored, but this man—once blind—understood the secrets of God’s kingdom that even the religious leaders didn’t grasp. Through his healing, he recognized that Jesus was the prophet sent by God. But the Pharisees, filled with pride, rejected him, cursed him, and threw him out, saying, “How dare you try to teach us?”

If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains. (John 9:35-41)

Jesus sought out the man who had been cast out by the religious leaders. He strengthened his faith, revealing Himself fully so the man could believe even more deeply. In response, the man declared, “Lord, I believe,” and worshiped Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of eternal worship, praise, honor, and glory.

The first time He came, He bore the sins of the world as the sacrificial Lamb of God. But Jesus will return in glory, power, and majesty as King of kings and Lord of lords to judge the world with righteousness and justice. At the same time, He will gather those who believe in Him—like the man who was blind but now sees—from all corners of the earth. He will crown them with the crown of life and lead them into eternal joy and blessing.

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:30-31)

Even now, judgment has begun. Jesus said He came into this world for judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind. He restored not only the physical sight of the man born blind but also his spiritual sight, enabling him to see and believe in the Son of God. This man was fully healed—body and soul—and became an heir to God’s kingdom.

But the Pharisees, who claimed to know God, rejected Christ, the fulfillment of Scripture. In doing so, they revealed their own blindness and their allegiance to darkness.

When some Pharisees overheard Jesus, they asked, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Jesus also said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). In Adam, all humanity is spiritually poor. But those who recognize their desperate need for God’s salvation are truly blessed. Like the prodigal son, who returned to his father’s house, those who turn back to God are embraced with open arms. The Father clothes them in the finest robes, puts a ring on their finger, and celebrates their return with a feast (Luke 15:22-23).

Jesus invites us all to see our spiritual poverty, to receive His grace, and to enter into the joy of His kingdom.

January 19, 2025

Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2025, David Lee Ministries ©2025 – All Rights Reserved.

Scripture taken from the NIV translation.

While I Am in the World, I Am the Light of the World (John 9:1–12)

 

While I Am in the World, I Am the Light of the World (John 9:1–12)

No one wants to walk in darkness, but not everyone chooses to walk in the light. Jesus is the light of the world. Anyone who follows Him will not walk in darkness but will live in the light. Through Jesus Christ, we have been cleansed by His blood and freed from the darkness. Now, we can live in the light forever and fully obey the Lord's laws and commands.

Because of this, we are no longer slaves to the darkness. But if we fail to love our neighbors as Jesus has loved us, we are still walking in darkness. Jesus gave His life to free us from the chains of hatred and anger. The evidence that we are living in the light is this: loving others as Jesus has loved us. This is the new commandment God the Father has given us. Amen!

As Long as It Is Day, We Must Do the Works of God

1 As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned—this man or his parents—that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:1–4)

While walking with His disciples, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. The disciples asked whether the blindness was caused by the man’s sin or his parents’ sin. This reflected their belief in cause-and-effect thinking. But Jesus corrected them, saying it wasn’t because of sin, but so that God’s works might be revealed in him.

The disciples saw the man’s situation as hopeless, but Jesus saw it as an opportunity to show God’s glory. Life is full of difficulties, and like the disciples, we often try to find someone to blame. But Jesus reminded them that it was still daytime—there was work to do. The "day" represents our time on earth, where we have the chance to accept Jesus and share His love. Once we die, that opportunity is gone.

35 Jesus said, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." (John 12:35–36)

Jesus saw the blind man as a way to reveal God’s work on earth. At the same time, He was also speaking to His people—those who could see but were spiritually blind and deaf. God had spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’” (Isaiah 6:9)

Jesus invites us to live in His light and share His love so that we, too, can be children of light. Let us walk in His light and glorify God in all we do!

Jesus, the Light of the World
"While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5)

In John 8, Jesus declared, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) Jesus came to bring the light of life to a world trapped in the power of darkness and death.

How did Jesus reveal this light? Through His works, Jesus showed the power, glory, and authority of God the Father. In a world consumed by ignorance and darkness, God revealed Himself through Jesus, the light of life. As John wrote in his letter, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5) On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus' face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light, displaying His glory (Matthew 17:2).

Darkness is the opposite of light. To be outside the light is to be in darkness—unable to see, lost, and without direction. Darkness also represents ignorance and a lack of knowledge. While human knowledge has grown, and libraries are filled with vast resources, there is still far more that we don’t know. We are just beginning to uncover the mysteries of the universe and humanity, but complete understanding is beyond us.

However, those who are in Jesus are no longer in darkness but in the light. While we cannot know everything, there is one truth we must know: Jesus Christ, God’s Son, sent to save us. God sent His Son to free us from darkness and lead us into the light.

To be in darkness is to be under sin, as Adam was. Humanity, trapped in sin, faces death and, after that, God’s judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Without deliverance from this darkness, eternal punishment awaits. But God, in His great mercy, sent His only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Now, anyone who is in Christ is no longer in darkness but walks in the light. In Christ, we are no longer slaves to darkness but can live as children of the light.

"But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober." (1 Thessalonians 5:4–6)

Walking in the Light Means Obeying God’s Word
What is the evidence that we are no longer in darkness but in the light? It is fellowship with God and walking with Christ.
"If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:6–7)

We can walk in the light because the blood of Christ cleanses us. As we continue to walk in the light, His blood keeps us clean and free from sin. Jesus taught us to pray, "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matthew 6:12)

The evidence that we are walking in the light is obedience to God’s commands:
"Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them." (1 John 2:8–11)

Walking in the light means living in love, forgiving others, and obeying God’s Word. Through Jesus, we are no longer in darkness but can live as children of the light, reflecting His love and glory in all we do.

Go, Wash in the Pool of Siloam
"After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 'Go,' he told him, 'wash in the Pool of Siloam' (this word means 'Sent'). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." (John 9:6-7)

Jesus spit on the ground, made mud, and applied it to the blind man's eyes. Then He told him to wash in the Pool of Siloam, which means "Sent." The man obeyed Jesus' words, washed, and returned with his sight restored. The journey to the pool wasn’t easy, but the return trip was free of difficulty. He left behind the darkness and walked freely in the light.

Before we accepted Jesus, we didn’t know where we came from or where we were going. But now, in Christ, we know we are pilgrims, coming from God and returning to Him. Though we were once in darkness, we now walk in the light, following Jesus, who is the Way. By His grace, the Lord will guide us in the light until we reach His heavenly kingdom. Amen!

"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 1:24-25)

How Were Your Eyes Opened?
"His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, 'Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?' Some claimed that he was. Others said, 'No, he only looks like him.' But he himself insisted, 'I am the man.' 'How then were your eyes opened?' they asked. He replied, 'The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.' 'Where is this man?' they asked him. 'I don’t know,' he said." (John 9:8-12)

When the man received his sight, the people around him were divided in their opinions. Some said he was the same man who had been begging, while others said he only looked like him. But the man testified, "I am the one."

When asked how his eyes were opened, his answer was simple and clear: "The man called Jesus made mud, put it on my eyes, and told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went, washed, and now I can see." He testified plainly about how Jesus’ grace had opened his eyes.

Persecution Follows Grace
Receiving God’s grace often brings persecution because we no longer belong to the world. Those who belong to Christ follow the path He walked, including suffering. Jesus said, "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:19)

However, in Christ, we are safe, walking in the light. Jesus Himself promised, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) Amen!

2025.1.12.
Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2025, David Lee Ministries ©2025 – All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the NIV.