(A word of testimony marking the 61 anniversary of my conversion)

“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? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him,” John 9:35-38.

I turned to this chapter on many occasions over the last 61 years whenever I have had an opportunity to tell of God’s mercy to me.

I do not intend to speak of the circumstances of my conversion for I have witnessed to that many times here in this pulpit and recordings of it are available for those who wish to hear it.

See the link below to "My Testimony - Ballinamallard Mission"

I have a great fondness for this unnamed blind man. I have enjoyed his readiness to respond to the stupidity of the Pharisees who were ever ready to try and find fault with Christ.

He was unschooled, being blind from birth, verse 1, however, he had native wit! 

* He was observant, 10-11, 15.

* He recognised the divine calling of Christ while others did not, 17.

* He saw the folly of those who spoke ill of Christ, 24-25

* He was ready with a telling rebuke, 27, 30-33 — so telling was it, that he was cast out, excommunicated, from the synagogue! (Verse 22)

* This was all said and done though he did not know Christ. 

It was his excommunication that caused the Saviour to seek him out, 35, and He then posed a question to the man.

I. IT WAS A MOST APPROPRIATE QUESTION

“Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”

1. Whatever our circumstances, this is the most vital issue! It’s a question for all! Excommunication for a Jew had social, family, business and community ramifications! As Dr John Gill says, excommunication, in its ultimate form, was ‘a cutting him off from the whole congregation of Israel; an anathematising him, and a devoting him to ruin and destruction.’ Dramatic and traumatic as this was, the question of his soul’s eternal state was much more pressing and important. How we are related to men may have its importance but our relationship with the Lord is of the greatest importance!

2. This man’s commendable attitude regarding the Saviour did not bring him into a right relationship with the Lord. He had spoken out in His defence and declared his view that He was a prophet, a servant of God and had suffered as a result of his stand BUT that had not changed his spiritual state.

3. It was whether or not he had faith in Christ that mattered. “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” That is my question to you!

II. HIS WAS A VERY EAGER RESPONSE

“Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?”

1. Despite his courageous challenging of the Jewish leaders, he had no personal knowledge of Christ. Verses 11-12. There are many like that! He knew the name of the Saviour but that was all. Doubtless, he would have heard the conversation recorded in vs 1-5.

2. He confessed his ignorance. For one who had experienced what he had, it was difficult to acknowledge such ignorance!

3. He sought knowledge to a good end. “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” This was no mere idle curiosity! He wanted to rest in faith in Christ!

III. HE RECEIVED A WONDERFULLY SIMPLE YET INSTRUCTIVE ANSWER!

“Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.”

1. The Saviour had come to him with the answer. “Salvation is of the Lord”! There is a seeking here by this man BUT that was the result of Christ first seeking him!

2. He was looking at Him and didn’t know it! That is the case with so many people.

3. It is important that we see and hear Christ. We cannot see Christ with our physical eyes but we may see Him by faith and hear Him speak within the Holy Scriptures. Proverbs 6:20-22.

IV. THE MAN’S RESPONSE WAS MOST CORRECT!

“Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” He called the Saviour ‘Master’. 

1. He had joined the disciples in their relationship with Christ, verse 2. A true believer has Christ as his ‘Lord’ or ‘Master’. The title means ‘One to whom we belong’. The hymn, published the year I was born, is right!

Jesus my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow’r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul,
Now I belong to Him.

Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.

2. He boldly declared his faith. ‘I believe’. He had asked, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” As soon as Christ is identified, he believes and testifies of it.

3. His faith was genuine. “He worshipped” the Saviour! The word is illustrated in Matthew 2:11. The wise men “fell down, and worshipped him.” It literally means ‘kiss the hand’! It denotes submission, reverence and honour and obedience. Over a period of time, from April 5th-12th, I was brought to kiss the hand of Christ.y

How is it with you?