A group of people once were invited to descend into a mine and turn off their lights to see how dark it was. They did, and the darkness was overwhelming. It was darker than when you simply close your eyes. In fact, it didn’t matter if they closed or opened their eyes. It was darker than dark.
The world of total darkness is where many people who are blind have to live. There is no light, no color, no visible perception of the majesty and beauty of nature or the surrounding world. How dreadful it must be!
As dreadful as physical blindness can be, spiritual blindness is even more hopeless. We cannot see the true meaning of life. We stumble through life, making poor choices and wrong decisions. We are discouraged, distressed, and diseased, yet we cannot find true healing.
Today’s text, the last text of this week, tells us the story of a person who was born blind but had an encounter with someone who gave him an amazing gift. This is one of the longest for this Lenten season, spanning the entire 9th chapter of the Gospel of John. So be patient and be blessed as you enjoy the word of God.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
1 As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” He told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God and tell the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where He comes from, yet He opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does His will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” 34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Spiritual Blindness
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is He, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, He is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?” 41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
This man who was born blind (v20) had an encounter with Jesus. This encounter “shattered” his world of blindness, both physically and spiritually – physically, because he could now see the beauty of this world and those he loved (v7, 25), and spiritually, because he could also “see” that Jesus was from God, was the Messiah, and was to be trusted and to be worshiped (v30-33, 36,38). This gift of spiritual sight brought him out of his lonely world of fear and isolation into a world of courage and hope as he testified boldly to the miraculous work of God (v9-11, 15, 17, 25, 30-33), even when facing opposition and ostracism by those who were still spiritually “blind” (v18-23, 28, 29, 34,39-41).
The encounter with Jesus Christ gives us the gift of spiritual vision that transforms life, just as Jesus promised before and after his encounter with this blind man:
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12)
“I have come that they (sheep) may have life, and have it to the full.” (Jn 10:10)
Today, Jesus still comes to those who are in need, and He grants spiritual sight, saving faith, and abundant life to all those who ask.
Pause for a few minutes before the Lord and examine your life by asking yourself some hard questions:
1) Where have I felt blind in my life? Perhaps you have never been able to see clearly who Jesus is. Perhaps you have been covering your feelings of insignificance and insecurity with addictions to substances, work, “compulsive” activities, or habits. Perhaps there are some strongholds of unforgiveness, resentment, cynicism, helplessness, or hopelessness in your life.
2) Where do I, along with my fellow Christian brothers and sisters, need to receive a new vision from the Lord so we may live as “children of light” and shine in this world like stars in the dark sky (Eph 5:8; Phil 2:15)? Perhaps you need to bring calmness to the unsettled, courage to the discouraged and the fearful, comfort to those who mourn, simplicity to a life that is complicated with possessions, honesty to a world that is decaying in deception, hope to a generation whose survival depends on it…. Perhaps, the call is simply to tell others, “I was blind but now I see.” (v25)
Whatever your situation may be, you need a true encounter with Jesus. So come to Jesus, in humility, in prayer, through the word of God, with the help of the Spirit of God. Remember Jesus’ promise, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7)
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