Open Our Eyes
As with these men of the Bible, we need Jesus to open our eyes, sometimes physically, but always spiritually.
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.” John 9:35–39
In the gospel of John Jesus heals a grown man who was born blind. Imagine the man’s joy seeing the world for the first time. He gazes on loved ones, including his parents for the first time. Faces he could only feel before, he now saw. It was the most joyous day of his life.
He also hears Jesus tell his disciples that neither the blind man nor his parents were sinners. It was not their fault that the man was born blind. He was born blind to show the glory of God. God’s glory is revealed in his marvelous healing.
When the Pharisees hear of the healing they question the blind man and his parents. The blind man states that Jesus is a prophet who healed him. In contrast, the man’s parents who already knew that anyone who recognized Jesus as the Messiah would be thrown out of the synagogue were afraid. They refused to recognize Jesus or stand with their son. The parents stayed as members of the synagogue, abandoning their son as he continued to proclaim Jesus as a man of God.
On what should have been the happiest day of their life the family splits. Fear rules the parents. But the son is overcome with praise and joy. He stands firm. For love of Jesus, he is thrown out of the synagogue and abandoned.
But, Jesus, who is mobbed at every turn, slips away and out of his great love finds the man where he has been cast out by the town. Jesus tells the man who he is, and the man responds, “I believe” and worships him.
In our own lives, Jesus opens our eyes. And, when we suffer and are persecuted for his sake, he seeks us out. We are never abandoned despite our circumstances. Despite, the losses of this life, the promises of Jesus, and life with Him is our greatest joy and peace. Share the good news that a Saviour has come.
