Want to be a nobody? Are you convinced you are a nobody? Does that belief cause heartache? Is it ever great to be a nobody? Life Lessons are effectively taught by some amazing, anonymous people. Just think of them as Professor Nobody!
Washed & Sent
In John 9, Jesus encountered a man born blind. Jesus put mud on the man’s eyes and sent him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The name of the pool means Sent. Jesus, God’s sent One, brought light and life to blind eyes. The man received his sight when he washed his eyes. But Jesus intended His gift of healing to exceed sight. The man was sent – and if you read his story he became an incredible witness for Jesus. That’s what sent people do. That man represents you and me!
I know – you aren’t blind. You haven’t had to wash your eyes. And you wonder why I said that blind man represents us. In our sin, we are blind to all God wants to be and do in us. It’s not until we are washed in the blood of the Lamb that we receive spiritual sight. But when we receive it, we also become Jesus’ sent ones. Don’t think so? In John 20:21, Jesus said:
As the Father sent Me, so send I you!
Just like that blind man, we have opportunities to show others what Jesus has done in our lives. We can say with Him, I once was blind but now I see. And we should say it often. Remember, you are washed and sent!
Jesus Knows – It’s Enough
One striking factor of the man born blind is we do not know his name. It’s unimportant. Jesus knew his name, but apparently it was unimportant for us to know it. The man’s testimony has survived in the Scriptural record and continues to give glory to Jesus! But this man is not unique!
In Matthew 26, Jesus visited the home of Simon the leper. An unnamed woman washed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. Even this was not uncommon. Other similar events happened:
- John 12 – Mary anointed Jesus while Martha prepared the meal
- Luke 7 – Another unnamed woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears in a Pharisee’s home
In the Luke passage, the woman was forgiven of her sins. John’s record of Jesus’ anointing identified Mary, And Jesus uses her extravagant worship as an example and instruction to all. In Matthew’s account, the anonymous woman received a special honor. Jesus said:
Wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.
A Nobody Focusing On Jesus
What’s common to the blind man and Jesus’ two anonymous anointers? We don’t know their names, but they made much of the name of Jesus. That’s the lesson Professor Nobody teaches!
You see, it doesn’t matter if I know what you did for the Kingdom. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t know what I may have done. It matters that we proclaim Jesus! Why? His name is the only name worthy of recognition (see Philippians 2). And whatever we do for Him, He always knows and never forgets. It doesn’t matter if the world doesn’t know my name! How do I know?
Isaiah tells us the names of the Lord’s own are graven on His hands. Think about that. I may be a nobody to the world, but my name is written on Jesus’ hand right there by that nail print! I’ll never be a nobody to Him, and neither will you!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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