Alpha

His neighbours and those who formerly had seen him as a beggar said, "Isn't this the man who sat begging?" Some said, "He's the one." "no", others were saying, "but he looks like him." He kept saying, "I am the one!"

" Therefore they asked him, "then how was your eyes opened?"

He answered, "the man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, 'go to Siloam and wash'. So when I went and washed I received my sight." John 9:8-12

The man who was an outcast, because he was judged to have sinned, now has his neighbours up in arms about his healing. His healing, miraculous indeed, is not received well. It is almost, 'how dare you', coming from his neighbours. They cart him off to the Pharisees who grill him about his healing.

Jesus did two things forbidden on the Sabbath, healing a man and sending him on a journey and making mud. You and I would find these trivial and very petty but such was the religious bondage that existed. Jesus was judged for 'working' on the Sabbath and the man for travelling.

When religious fervor is such that it persecutes the divine, the liberty and the wholeness of Christ it has to be questioned.

What grip has religion got on you? Do you have petty bondages, rituals, performances?

Yesterday I travelled 500 kms to speak to a man who was once a krishna follower but lately convicted of the reality of Christ. I went to see him about business but the greatest gift I gave him was my words about Christ. What a blessing it was to hear this man's testimony. He is on the road to truth.

While on the road I was on the telephone calling a friend offering a way of leading a loved one to Christ, Alpha.

I had the pleasure of watching DVD about Alpha and loved it. Immediately I went in search of those who would benefit and sent invitations. Why? Because it was 'good news.'

Jesus came with good news to the man in the scripture above. His testimony was one of life. He was set on fire by Christ and persecuted for it, but then, he had known how to survive in religious persecution, he had a tough skin.

Jesus came breaking all the norms to bring freedom. He comes today in the same way. Let Him in for He is so good. Amen!