Unseeing to Seeing!
Opening Prayer
Father, as I read this passage, help me to see the Light, Your Son, who gave sight to the
blind man.
Read John 9:1–12
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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 After saying 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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Imagine that you are in a cave in absolute darkness. Then a light goes on. You can suddenly see everything around you.The healing of the man born blind reveals more about Jesus’ identity. First, the disciples ask whose sin caused the man’s blindness (2). They reflected the understanding of the day, that sickness or disability were caused by specific sin. What is Jesus’ response (3)? Verses 4 and 5 contain a hint about his death. Before that, he and the disciples together must do what the Father sent him to do. His suffering and death is coming, when no one will be able to work.
Until then, he is the light of the world. They must get on with revealing that light. He proves the point by healing the man born blind (6,7). The man born blind, who has spent his life in darkness, is now able to enjoy the light.
The man’s transformation is such that his neighbors can’t believe it’s the same man (8,9), until he insists that it is him. He knows what happened (11) but he doesn’t know where Jesus is (12), partly because he hasn’t yet seen Jesus.
Apply
The man took Jesus at his word. Is there an area of your life you need to trust God in? Write it down and give it to God now.
Closing prayer
Father, give me courage to do what Jesus is calling me to do, even if it seems unlikely and improbable. Help me to reveal Jesus’ light to others.
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