The religious spirits hate the miraculous and supernatural moves of God because it points out the lack of power in the life of the religious spirit. The powerful and life-giving supernatural miracle of God will always destroy the bondages that the religious spirit tries to establish.
In John 9:1-9, Jesus healed a man who had been blind all his life. Those who knew the blind man were astonished. They wanted an explanation for this miracle. The man could only answer “Jesus healed me.” So in search of answers, they brought the man to the religious spirits to explain. The man spoke and shared the truth about Jesus. “Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” ” (John 9:15, NIV84)
Notice this man was not a stranger. The people knew him. They knew the hard life he had. The Pharisees had seen him in synagogue. They knew his circumstances and they could see the change in the man. People of faith would rejoice with the man and thank God for the miracle. The religious spirits however felt threatened. “Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” (John 9:16, NIV84) Instead of looking at the sign and the wonder, instead of thanking God for His Love and His Mercy, they looked for a reason to destroy the person God used to heal the blind man.
What happened next shows the heart of the religious spirit. “Finally 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.” The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 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.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 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!” Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 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?” Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” ” (John 9:17–29, NIV84)
The religious spirits demanded answers and condemnation of Jesus. They first looked to the man who had been blind. This man, who had experienced the Love and the Power of Jesus, responded with the truth that he knew. Jesus was a prophet sent by God. This angered the religious spirits who refused to believe the miracle standing in front of them. The religious spirits went on the question the blind man’s family. The family understood the desire of the religious spirits to destroy. They told the religious spirits to look at the evidence in front of them which was the healed former blind man.
Once again, the religious spirits sought to destroy the reputation of Jesus. Without discussing if the miracle was real, they condemned those who trusted God and God’s Power. “A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” ” (John 9:24, NIV84)
Those who have experience the true Love and Freedom of God hope that everyone can experience it. “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?” ” (John 9:27, NIV84)
The religious spirits realized that they could no longer control and manipulate the blind man. They realized that the power of God in the blind man’s life was more powerful than their manipulation. They set to destroy the one who had received a true touch from God. “Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” ” (John 9:28–29, NIV84) Then they kicked him out of church. ” “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. ” (John 9:34, NIV84) If the religious spirit cannot halt a move of God, they will publically condemn and evict those who have been touched by love and freedom.
The good news is this: Jesus is always stronger than the religious spirits. Jesus came and fellowshipped with the man who had been blind. Jesus came and encouraged the man. Then Jesus spoke. Those who condemn what Jesus does stand condemned by their words. “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 9:41, NIV84)
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