9 As he walked 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 Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. (John 9:1-3)
In Chapter 9 of John we hear of Jesus healing a man born blind. This is a report that confirms Jesus’ statement in Chapter 8 that he is the “light of the world.” Jesus meets a man born blind, spits in the dirt to make mud, puts the mud on the man’s eye holes and tells him to go and wash. He went and came back seeing. The people are confused and debate if it is the same man. The Pharisees question the man but discount his story for he was born blind, a sure sign that he was a sinner. They call the parents as a second witness and the parents refuse to stick their neck out. The man, who of course could not recognize Jesus, then meets Jesus and believes. “’Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped him.”
Jesus responds, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’” (John 9:39) Jesus is talking about spiritual blindness and spiritual light, discernment and wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives us. I love the explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed that talks about the Holy Spirit, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in JesusChrist my Lord, or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”
The blind man could do nothing to heal himself. He was born without eyes. No great confession of faith is recorded. God reached into his darkness and gave him sight. The man saw and believed. Perhaps we don’t have as dramatic a story. Perhaps ours was a slow recognition or a moment of insight. Maybe you have grown slowly in your faith. Relationships take time.
Think about the changes since you first believed. Sometimes it helps to draw a line. Above the line mark the good events and below the line record the tough times. Do you recognize God working? Lord, open my eyes that I might see clearly in 2024.
On the Way to Wonder 