THE NIGHT IS COMING

THE NIGHT IS COMING!

John 9:1-7

9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

           Seven particulars leap from the page as you read these words. [1] There was a blind man. [2] There was an earnest question. [3] There was a clarifying answer. [4] There was a miraculous anointing. [5] There was a call for personal action – Go, wash. [6] There was an instant obedience – he went his way. [7] There was a dramatic result. Now, as we say in the business, “that’ll preach!”

           Sandwiched in the middle of this wonderful story is a comment by the teacher to his students. We must be busily engaged in work while we have an opportunity to do so. There is coming a time, called “the night”, when no man can work. I’d like to dig a bit deeper into this thought.

           Our English Bible includes the definite article in verse four. The commentaries and concordances indicate only that “night doth come!”  “The” night then seems to represent a future period of time when work either can’t be done or a period of time when work will not be as productive. I do not read Greek; I only read those who do! I feel it a huge handicap because I suspect that the proper tool might reveal this mystery to me.

           It was the Sabbath Day when Jesus made the clay (verse 14). Yet the light of opportunity did shine upon this blind man and the many that watched. Some concluded that “this man is not of God because he keepeth not the Sabbath day.” However the miracle itself sliced through the binding ritual to present a truth that could not be ignored. It is humorous to watch the Pharisaical contortionists try to prove that the Son of God was “not of God.” Their blindness was darker than that of the blind man and no clay could cure it.

           The night is coming! My thesis is that there is a period of time when darkness will be so deep as to frustrate “the works of him” and perhaps we are in the midst of it now. The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few. Pray therefore that the Lord of harvest that he will send forth laborers. Dare to become a laborer yourself! The window of opportunity may soon close.

Lord of Harvest; give us a little light so that we may work. AMEN