The Blind Man

John 9

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 work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work 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.”

Even though I couldn’t see him, I did hear the men he was with talking in quiet whispers. They were trying, in their own confused way, to explain why I had been born blind. One of them even went so far as to suggest that either I or my parents had sinned. Then, in a gentle, patient voice, I heard the stranger from Galilee explain that it was neither my sin, nor my parent’s sin that had caused my affliction; but, that this happened to me so that the work of God might be displayed in my life. The work of God displayed in my life? I was just a beggar. No one ever paid any attention to me. I was a nobody. I tell you, I was dumb-founded! God…use me?…The idea was ridiculous!

Then, as I found out later, He stooped to the ground and spit into the sand. With His saliva, He made a paste-like substance and gently placed it on my eyes! Who had ever heard of such a thing? He told me to go to the pool of Siloam and wash my eyes. Now, let me tell you, I didn’t even know this man; but, something inside me compelled me to obey Him. I stumbled to the pool and without even waiting my turn, plunged my entire head into the cold water and lo, I could see! The explosion of light was almost more than I could stand. The colors, unbelievable!

With feet, that were as light as feathers, I ran as fast as my legs would carry me toward home. My neighbors didn’t even recognize me. Some of them even thought that I just looked like the man that used to spend his days begging. They wanted to know how I suddenly had received sight. I told them how the man named Jesus had placed the wet sand on my eyes. I told them of the wild rush to the pool and how, to my wonder and amazement I received sight.

It was then, that my neighbors took me to the Pharisees. They wanted to know why, after all these years, I was able to see. They even questioned my parents. My parents were reluctant to talk about what had happened and told the Pharisees to talk with me because they had seen others thrown out of the temple for confessing that Jesus was the Christ. A second time, I was called and questioned by the Pharisees. I think they were just looking for a way to condemn Jesus’ loving act as a sin. Finally, I got tired of all their questions and told them that I really didn’t know whether Jesus was a sinner or not. I just knew that once I was blind and that now I could see. They were so angry with me that they accused me of being one of Jesus’ disciples and banished me from the temple. Can you imagine that?

The really odd thing is that after all this happened, Jesus sought me out and He began to question me. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” I was truly perplexed and asked Him, “Tell me who He is so that I may believe in Him.” And, can you believe it? Wonder of all wonders, He announced that He was the Son of Man and that I had been speaking with Him all along. With that, what more could I do but fall at His feet and humbly worship Him?

I am an old man now and have walked in my Lord’s footsteps for many years. Even now, in my advanced years, my sight is still as good as the day that Jesus reached down, touched me, and restored my vision. You must know that Jesus the Christ, not only heals, but heals perfectly. Are there things in your life that need the touch of the Master Physician’s hand? Do you, just as I did as a young man, sit in the dust of a busy street, waiting for a healing touch? Are there wounds so deep and so painful that only Christ can heal them? Are you, just as I was, blind and need the restorative touch of the Master’s hand? Then come, let Him touch you. Open your eyes and see the wonders that the Savior offers. Join with me in walking in His footsteps and receive not only sight, but life everlasting.