John chapter nine tells how a man born blind from birth was miraculously healed. This shocked everyone. It should cause much more awe and wonder in us today since science affords us a far better understanding of all that was involved.
Not only was this man’s eyes healed, but there would have to be a whole series of miracles taking place at one time. Previously non-existent neural pathways connecting his eyes to his brain would also need to be miraculously created. An undeveloped occipital lobe, the center of the brain that recognized the brand new information from this man’s newly functioning optical nerve needed to be written upon.
This miracle was exponentially more amazing than this man or the critical, unbelieving religious leaders could have ever imagined!
But let’s get to the main point of this blog.
A Tidbit of Truth For Disciples
A great miracle had been performed on a man born blind from birth. Yet, in the midst of all glorious healing story, there is a tiny tidbit of truth tucked and hidden away – it’s a truth for disciples’ ears only:
He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to HEAR IT AGAIN? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
John 9:27
It was originally meant as sharp sarcasm by the healed man to those religious folk challenging him. However, there is a precious truth we can discover about discipleship:
True disciples of Jesus love His Word and have an ever-growing passion to “hear it again.”
“Outsiders” or “Insiders”?
We see this in the disciples when they heard Jesus speaking to the multitudes in parables. After everyone left, they could not sit still. They were itching to ask Jesus what the parables meant. When Jesus and the disciples were “alone,” Jesus was excited to tell them:
And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Mark 4:9-11,34 (Matt. 13:10–17; Luke 8:9, 10)
But when He was ALONE, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are OUTSIDE, all things come in parables.”
But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were ALONE, He explained all things to His disciples.
True disciples are “insiders”
who get “alone” with Jesus
to “hear it again.”
Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes, offering them no explanation. Those on the “outside” went home scratching their heads, not troubled at all that they could not figure out what the parables meant. Perhaps, in their limited commitment to Christ, they chose to believe that “ignorance is bliss.”
However, those disciples – the ones on the “inside” – experienced the true “bliss”! They had a deeper level of commitment and a passion to understand the “words of Eternal Life” that Jesus spoke (John 6:67-68). This, then, is the difference between a true disciple and one who is just a “believer” at a distance on the “outside.”
Jesus excitedly told those disciples:
He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Matthew 13:11,16,17
But BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES for they see, and YOUR EARS for they hear;
For assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Discipleship involves a passion to hear, comprehend, become accountable and cling on tightly to God’s Word:
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”
John 8:31
- Disciples “indeed” – abiding in the Word.
- “Insiders” who eagerly await to be “alone” with Jesus.
- Those who want to “hear it again.”
“Noble-mindedness”
Paul recognized those who longed to have “ears to hear.” In writing Acts, Luke recorded an interesting commentary that he probably picked up from Paul:
Now these [in Berea] were more NOBLE-MINDED than those in Thessalonica, for they received the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Acts 17:11
That comparison between Berea and Thessalonica reveals the difference between those who just hear the Word and are satisfied, and those who are “disciples indeed” with an “ears-to-hear” passion to “hear it again” again and go deeper in the Word. They were not merely Sunday church-goers keeping their eyes on the clock. These believers took notes. They dug into the Scriptures. They asked questions. They were extremely eager to discover the truths in God’s Word as Paul expounded it to them.
Apparently, Luke’s commentary made it to the ears of the Thessalonians. It provoked them to become “noble-minded” also just like the Bereans. Maybe it even turned into a competition! [Oh, that the church had competitions that sort today!] Look at the praise Paul now gives the Thessalonians:
And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (Amplified)
- Disciples “indeed” – abiding in the Word.
- “Insiders” who eagerly await to be “alone” with Jesus.
- Those who want to “hear it again.”
- “Noble-minded.”
Disciples Listen Differently
There is a unique Messianic prophecy in Isaiah that directly applies to Jesus, and it applies on a secondary level to those who would be His disciples:
The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
Isaiah 50:4-5
That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
The Lord God has opened My ear;
And I was not disobedient
Nor did I turn back.
This prophecy informs us that God gives us fresh opportunity “morning by morning” to have our ears opened to “listen as a disciple.” Note that true disciples actually “listen” differently than others – they listen eagerly with an attitude of obedience and trust!
“Hear what the Spirit says.”
This “ears-to-hear” discipleship theme pops up again in the final chapters of the Bible. Jesus’ message to each of the seven churches ended like this:
“He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches”
(Rev 2:7,11,17,29; Rev 3:6,13,22).
It turns out that wanting to “hear it again” may be crucial if we want to be ready when Jesus comes to rapture His Bride. Jesus’ disciples need to be watching, waiting, and listening!
Consider that, although the Rapture will be secret, Paul mentions that a lot of “noise” will accompany that instantaneous event.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
A shout. An archangel’s voice. The trumpet of God.
The Rapture will be Secret and Sudden, but it also seems to be Select – just for those “disciples indeed” on the “inside” who have accustomed their ears to hear the Spirit speaks. These “insiders” will hear and recognize all that “noise” at that catching up of the Bride!
So, yes, dear Lord!
We want to be “alone” with You.
Let us become “insiders,” not “outsiders”!
May we be “disciples indeed” who abide in the Word!
Let “Noble-minded” be in our description!
Grant us ears to hear what the Spirit is speaking!
We want to “hear it again” and again and again!
Amen!
