Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

I've always resonated with the story of a man born blind. Maybe, it's because I am nearly blind myself (my optometrist has told me that I am almost legally blind). Or maybe, it's because I have worked as a summer counselor for the blind and deaf. Or maybe, I identify with those famous lines from Amazing Grace that "I once was blind, but now I see". So in today's blog post, let us meditate on Jesus who gives us both sight and salvation.

The Gospel of John in chapter nine says, "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 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 home seeing. (1-7)"

Pool of Shiloam

In the first part of the story, Jesus' disciples ask, "Why this man was born blind?" To us in modern times, this might sound like a strange questions. We know today that there are many factors that could cause blindness: birth defect, bacteria or virus, genetics, diseases or illness. During this time, however, the Jewish tradition stated that people were born blind because either this man or his parents had sinned against God. This idea probably came from the passage in Exodus 34;7 that a person suffered from the sin of their parents or grandparents. However, Jesus abolished this idea by stating that neither this man nor his parents sinned (as to be born blind) but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed. What does Jesus' response teach me? This passages teaches me that we all have faults, imperfections, and defects but God's work can still be displayed in our life. If Jesus can use a man blind from birth, if Jesus can raise the dead to life...then I know Jesus can also use me a sinner saved by grace.

The Gospel of John in chapter nine continues, "His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 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. 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. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 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. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.(20-25)"

This is my favorite part of the chapter when the man blind from birth says, "Whether he [Jesus] be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." Of course, I know Jesus is not a sinner but I love the genuine heart of the man given sight. He states the simple facts. He once was blind, but now he can see. I want to do the same thing in my life and share what Jesus has done for me. I, too, was blind but now I see. I was once lost but now I am found. I am a sinner saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.