This post is part of a 40-day journey following Jesus in his prayer life. We’ll explore virtually every reference in the Gospels to Jesus and prayer. For a more in-depth treatment, see my book Prayers from the Pit.
“The man answered, ‘Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing’” (John 9:30-33 ESV).
Jesus heals a man blind from birth. The Pharisees attack both the genuineness of the miracle and the character of the Messiah (because he performed this deed on the Sabbath). They demand the once-blind man explain what seems to them to be inexplicable. How could a malefactor like Jesus have performed a miracle like this?
Notice the man’s reply: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.” The Pharisees want to know how Jesus performed this feat. In response, the man describes how God listened to Jesus. There must be a connection between these two. God listened to Jesus. Jesus then healed the man.
To what was God listening? Though it is not stated, the implication is clear—Jesus’ prayer. God listened to Jesus’ prayer for this blind man. In response, God gave Jesus the ability to heal the man. Jesus prayed. God listened. And the man was healed.
Even when it appears Jesus was acting on his own, he was acting in partnership with God. An observer would have only noticed Jesus healing a blind man. But the blind man knew it was Jesus, through prayer, acting in alliance with God.
How about you? Are you acting on your own and only occasionally pausing to prayerfully partner with God? Or is prayer woven into your day-to-day life? Consider how amazing it is that God not only listens to Jesus, but he also listens to you. Consider how you might partner more with God in prayer today.
