Self isolate!  Right now this is the catch word here in New Zealand and many other countries around the world.  If we keep apart, the virus COVID-19 can’t spread, and so governments are asking their people to stay at home.

 

This is the first time in modern history we have seen such radical steps taken.  However it is not a new idea!  More than 3000 years ago God instructed his people to self isolate when they had contagious infections and diseases.  Usually the isolation was for a period of 7 days, followed by a further 7 if they were well.  If however, they were not well, they had to live outside the camp on their own.  Isn’t the Bible amazing?  God knew about these things long before we did. 

 

How does Jesus respond to those who are isolated and cut off from society?  One day a man like this, with an infectious disease, comes to Jesus, falls to his knees and begs to be made clean.  Jesus isn’t afraid, nor does he turn the man away.  Rather he is filled with compassion and reaches out, touching the man.

 

Some people experience struggles from the moment they are born, while others face rejection and abuse during their childhood.  What has happened in our past though, doesn’t need to define our future.

 

Consider this man in our story from John 9.  He was blind from birth and the only way he could survive is by begging from others.  And as if life was not painful enough, those around him say his suffering is caused by his own sin.  The future is dark, but then he meets Jesus.

 

A glimmer of hope rises in the blind man’s heart, as he hears Jesus answering the disciples question.  “It isn’t because of his sin,” Jesus says, “but God wants to showcase his glory in this man’s life.”  Could this also be true in our lives?  It certainly can!  Whatever has happened in our past, things we maybe had no control over, God can turn around and use them for good.

 

Are you a child of God?  We are all created in God’s image, yet not all belong to him.  Many claimed God was their father in the time when Jesus walked on earth, but he disagreed with them.

 

In fact Jesus’ words were rather strong!  “You belong to your father the devil,” he told those who refused to believe in him.  Their hearts were far from God.  Rather than wanting to carry out God’s desires, they were fulfilling those of the devil.

 

So, how do we know who belongs to God?  It is those who believe he came from God, according to Jesus.  Then Jesus goes on to describe three characteristics of those who believe in him.