In Order That Newsletter #309 - July 2004 It is important to understand why Jesus did things the way that

He did. The phrase "in order that" is often followed by the reason Jesus did something. He didn't do anything without a purpose. If we take time to understand the reason, we will better understand the Word. Let's begin our study in the Book of John. John 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?" The disciples thought someone must have sinned for this man to be born blind. Jesus is going to explain to them the reason this man was born blind. It wasn't sin. John 9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. The reason this man was born blind was so Jesus could utilize him to show the people that Immanuel, meaning "God with us", as prophecied was indeed here on earth. On a deeper level, many people today have physical sight, but they are spiritually blind. John 9:4 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." When it becomes night, everyone is blind. Satan brings a lot of spiritual darkness into the world today. If you think it's dark now, wait until he appears as the antichrist. Many will be deceived. John 9:6 -When He had thus spoken, He spat on ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. Jesus is the Living Water, and Adam was made from clay. There isn't anything unusual about what Jesus did. John 9:7 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. There is a great deal I want you to absorb here. This blind man was "sent" as an apostle means "one sent". Siloam was in the area of the Fountain of the Virgin. Jesus was born of a virgin. The blind man obeyed Jesus, and he gained his sight. He was obedient and had faith.

John 9:8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, "Is not this he that sat and begged?" 9 Some said, "This is he:" others said, "He is like him:" but he said, "I am he." Some people have difficulty believing a miracle which happens right before their eyes. Who is blind now? John 9:10 Therefore said they unto him, "How were thine eyes opened?" 11 He answered and said, "A man That is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash:' and I went and washed, and I received sight." Those who obey receive blessings. John 9:12 Then said they unto him, "Where is he?" He said, "I know not." 13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. Let's take him down to the church and get to the bottom of this. John 9:14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Uh Oh! This won't set well with the Pharisees. They didn't realize He Who we should put our sabbath, that is to say our rest, in was in their midst. John 9:15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, "He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see." This didn't seem all that complicated to the man that was blind. I'm sure his patience is beginning to run thin. John 9:16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, "This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day." Others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles?" And there was a division among them. Some were having trouble understanding the truth, just as many have difficulty understanding truth today. John 9:17 They say unto the blind man again, "What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. This is so unbelieveable we better ask his parents. John 9:19 And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who ye say

was bom blind? How then doth he now see?" This is raising suspicion that the man wasn't ever blind to begin with. They think he was faking blindness to beg. John 9:20 His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself." He is a grown man; ask him yourself. They already had asked him a half-dozen times. They simply didn't believe the answer they were hearing. John 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that He was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Don't ever be afraid to speak the truth; even if it means you might get thrown out of a church. The church they belonged to was denying Messiah. John 9:23 Therefore said his parents, "He is of age: ask him." 24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, "Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner." To admit that Jesus had the ability to heal this man would have hit the Pharisees in the pocket book. They wanted to give God the credit, and let it go at that. Obviously, calling Jesus a sinner is very dangerous. John 9.25 He ansered and said. "Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." 26 Then said they to him again, "What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes?" Here we go again. He had already told them. John 9:27 He answered them, "I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? Will ye also be his disciples?" 28 Then they reviled him, and said, "Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is." They weren't very good disciples of Moses. Moses prophecied, "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren" (Deut. 18:18). The Prophet had arrived, and they didn't realize the fact. Who is blind now? John 9:30 The man answered and said unto them, "Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he

hath opened mine eyes. 31_ Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. Do you Pharisees have any record of that happening at any time in history? He's giving a good Bible lesson. John 9:33 If this man were not of God, He could do nothing." 34 They answered and said unto him, "Thou was altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?" And they cast him out. They excommunicated him. He should have been rejoicing that he was free from that bunch of hypocrites. John 9:35 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?" 36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?" The man isn't questioning that Jesus is the Son of God. He is simply seeking information. Seek truth, and it shall be given to you. I have never seen this fail. John 9:37 And Jesus said unto him, "Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He That talketh with thee." as And He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshipped Him. This one who was blind from birth was touched and healed by the Lord, and he believed on Him. There was a reason for all of this. John 9:39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." The word "that" in this verse is "hina" in the Greek manuscripts. "Hina" means "in order that". You will need a set of manuscripts such as the Green's Interlinear Bible to document this. Jesus came into this world "in order that" those who are spiritually blind to the truth might see God's overall plan of salvation which includes Jesus. Those who see with only their physical eyes are spiritually blind. This is the purpose this blind man was sent. Turn with me to Luke. Jesus is about to heal a man with palsy. Again, there was a purpose in His doing so. Luke 5:20 And when He saw their faith. He said unto him, "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." Whoa! Who is able to forgive sin? This will light the scribes' and Pharisees' wick.

Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is This Which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said unto them, "What reason ye in your hearts? What are you scribes and Pharisees thinking about so hard? Luke 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, 'Thy sins be forgiven thee'; or to say, 'Rise up and walk?' The man that he healed wasn't a hypochondriac; he was paralyzed. Luke 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins," (He said unto the sick of the palsy.) "I say unto thee, 'Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.' " The word "that" is "hina" in the Greek manuscripts. This is the reason Jesus performed this miracle. Jesus was showing all that Immanuel, that is to say "God with us", the Messiah was with man as prohecied by Moses and many others. John 5:25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. He had very good reason to glorify God. He had been healed of the palsy. John 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things to day." They had seen the power of God through His only begotten Son. There was a purpose in every thing Jesus did in the flesh. He performed these miracles "in order that" all would know that Messiah was on earth. In His Service, Arnold Murray