I always find it interesting that when things happen we don't understand, we are blinded by our own sight. We see things the way we want to see them. We question the facts. We disavow what is right in front of us not believing our eyes. It seems we are just blind. Blind to the truth. Blind to reality. Blind to possibility because we can't believe it. Sometimes I think those that are truly blind - may see more of the truth than we actually do.
I've always admired those are blind, not because I've ever wanted to switch places with them. However, I watch them as they navigate in the world; strong, courageous, independent, and aware of everything around them. I stand in awe of their ability to function and enjoy life, especially when they can't see what I take for granted everyday. The beauty in the world. The joy of a sunset or sunrise. The special look on my children's face that makes me just adore them and fall in love with them all over again even when I'm disappointed in what they did. I long to see as clearly as they do at times, even though they have no sight.
God recently opened my eyes through a great story in His word in about this. It's a simple story, yet a miraculous one where one who was blind sees clearly and those that see...are blind. John Chapter 9
It starts simply v1 "As he passed by, Jesus saw man, blind from birth." Jesus SAW this man. He SAW a need. He SAW something wonderful. The disciples didn't see that. They saw a blind man and asked Jesus v2 "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They saw someone blind and assumed he must have sinned to have this judgement upon him. But I love Jesus response v3, "It was not this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him."
WOW! That 3rd verse got me....
I couldn't help but thinking that maybe this man's whole life had been prepared for this encounter with Jesus where he was seen, and about to see more clearly than ever before.
This man was was a beggar. He couldn't earn a living the same way everyone else did because he was blind. He had no Braille language, no guide dog, no support. He couldn't work. He had to depend on others to survive. I only hope too that he was also blind to the mocking that went on around him, faces people made at him but I somehow have the feeling that he saw that too.
As I read this story, what I loved is that it wasn't just that a blind man was about to receive sight, but that through giving him sight, it would confront all those around him that thought they saw so clearly yet were blind.
It is not a glamorous miracle. In fact I think if he could have seen, he might not have liked what Jesus was doing to heal him. I love it. Jesus spit into mud. He then put that on his eyes. Told him to go wash that mess off, in a pool Siloam (which meant sent) and He did just as Jesus said. When he washed it away - he came away seeing. I imagine it wasn't unclear either. Not like I see when I half awake in the middle of the night. I bet is was clear - crystal clear and almost overwhelming.
The Lord Jesus spit into mud. The blind man washed. He sees. Pretty simple. Pretty amazing story. Of course the fact Jesus did this on the Sabbath, caused quite a stir...but more on that later. This man whose been blind for years suddenly sees. His neighbors and those that saw him didn't even recognize him. They were perplexed. They argue about whether or not he IS the same man. I imagine his outward appearance didn't change much - so why the big mystery? Oh, maybe it's because no one could believe that a man born blind could see... maybe they couldn't see what was right in front of them.
They took the man to their leaders, the Pharisees. The Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. He told him. They argued how Jesus could do this. Was He of God or the Devil? They didn't believe he was born blind. They called his parents to confirm it was true. His parents feared them. They answered, this is our son, he was born blind, but how he sees we don't know (even though they did). Ask our son, he's of age and will tell you. he Pharisee's asked him again in They called him and said, "Give glory to God. We know this man (Jesus) is a sinner." v24 He answered them, "Whether he is a sinner, I do know know. One thing I do know that thought I was blind now I see." v25
The Pharisees asked him again what Jesus did to him. He can't believe they don't see what he is saying. v 26..."I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Not only were they blinded by their misbeliefs about Jesus, they were deaf too. Or were they?
The Pharisees eventually kick this man out of their fellowship. Too threatening all that he saw. Jesus hears about it and comes to find this man. He asks him a simple question of belief. v25 ..."Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The man answers him v26 "And who is he sir, that I may believe in him?" What happens next is amazing...Jesus said to him v27 "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you." This man who was blind now sees fully. He is seen and known and sees and knows fully. He worships him and says, "Lord I believe..."
It is perhaps the last verse of that tells the whole story, we'd call this the "SO WHAT" in business... v39 Jesus said, "For judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see, may see, and those who see may become blind."
Oh Lord, that I would see. The choice is clear. Our eyes are opened. The question now is how we will respond?
Will we be like these neighbors, questioning how this can be? Will we be like these leaders, told again and again how these things happened, and yet we are blinded by our own perceptions and beliefs? Or will we be like the blind man and receive sight and believe?
One of the reason's I love this story is it is so raw. It's honest. It's humble. It's a bit in your face. It's clear. It's not something we can do. Jesus sees the blind and frees them. He SAW... he ACTED....and all the man had to do was RESPOND. Jesus didn't see a beggar, He saw someone whose life was about to display God's glory. He saw one who would receive sight and treasure it so he opened his eyes and in doing so, showed everyone else around him their blindness.
As a Christian, I'd like to think my eyes are always clear, but I know they are not. I miss seeing things every day. I don't always see the need. I don't always see the glory about to come. I miss the potential in others because the way they show up may put me off. How grateful I am that God opens eyes. I pray I would see as clearly as the blind man and believe, worship and treasure the sight I've been given.
Are you blind too? Has He opened your eyes? If not, do you want to see more clearly? Just ask Him. He is faithful. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this and I'm always happy to pray with or help you.
I've always admired those are blind, not because I've ever wanted to switch places with them. However, I watch them as they navigate in the world; strong, courageous, independent, and aware of everything around them. I stand in awe of their ability to function and enjoy life, especially when they can't see what I take for granted everyday. The beauty in the world. The joy of a sunset or sunrise. The special look on my children's face that makes me just adore them and fall in love with them all over again even when I'm disappointed in what they did. I long to see as clearly as they do at times, even though they have no sight.
God recently opened my eyes through a great story in His word in about this. It's a simple story, yet a miraculous one where one who was blind sees clearly and those that see...are blind. John Chapter 9
It starts simply v1 "As he passed by, Jesus saw man, blind from birth." Jesus SAW this man. He SAW a need. He SAW something wonderful. The disciples didn't see that. They saw a blind man and asked Jesus v2 "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They saw someone blind and assumed he must have sinned to have this judgement upon him. But I love Jesus response v3, "It was not this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him."
WOW! That 3rd verse got me....
I couldn't help but thinking that maybe this man's whole life had been prepared for this encounter with Jesus where he was seen, and about to see more clearly than ever before.
This man was was a beggar. He couldn't earn a living the same way everyone else did because he was blind. He had no Braille language, no guide dog, no support. He couldn't work. He had to depend on others to survive. I only hope too that he was also blind to the mocking that went on around him, faces people made at him but I somehow have the feeling that he saw that too.
As I read this story, what I loved is that it wasn't just that a blind man was about to receive sight, but that through giving him sight, it would confront all those around him that thought they saw so clearly yet were blind.
It is not a glamorous miracle. In fact I think if he could have seen, he might not have liked what Jesus was doing to heal him. I love it. Jesus spit into mud. He then put that on his eyes. Told him to go wash that mess off, in a pool Siloam (which meant sent) and He did just as Jesus said. When he washed it away - he came away seeing. I imagine it wasn't unclear either. Not like I see when I half awake in the middle of the night. I bet is was clear - crystal clear and almost overwhelming.
The Lord Jesus spit into mud. The blind man washed. He sees. Pretty simple. Pretty amazing story. Of course the fact Jesus did this on the Sabbath, caused quite a stir...but more on that later. This man whose been blind for years suddenly sees. His neighbors and those that saw him didn't even recognize him. They were perplexed. They argue about whether or not he IS the same man. I imagine his outward appearance didn't change much - so why the big mystery? Oh, maybe it's because no one could believe that a man born blind could see... maybe they couldn't see what was right in front of them.
They took the man to their leaders, the Pharisees. The Pharisees asked him how he received his sight. He told him. They argued how Jesus could do this. Was He of God or the Devil? They didn't believe he was born blind. They called his parents to confirm it was true. His parents feared them. They answered, this is our son, he was born blind, but how he sees we don't know (even though they did). Ask our son, he's of age and will tell you. he Pharisee's asked him again in They called him and said, "Give glory to God. We know this man (Jesus) is a sinner." v24 He answered them, "Whether he is a sinner, I do know know. One thing I do know that thought I was blind now I see." v25
The Pharisees asked him again what Jesus did to him. He can't believe they don't see what he is saying. v 26..."I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Not only were they blinded by their misbeliefs about Jesus, they were deaf too. Or were they?
The Pharisees eventually kick this man out of their fellowship. Too threatening all that he saw. Jesus hears about it and comes to find this man. He asks him a simple question of belief. v25 ..."Do you believe in the Son of Man?" The man answers him v26 "And who is he sir, that I may believe in him?" What happens next is amazing...Jesus said to him v27 "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you." This man who was blind now sees fully. He is seen and known and sees and knows fully. He worships him and says, "Lord I believe..."
It is perhaps the last verse of that tells the whole story, we'd call this the "SO WHAT" in business... v39 Jesus said, "For judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see, may see, and those who see may become blind."
Oh Lord, that I would see. The choice is clear. Our eyes are opened. The question now is how we will respond?
Will we be like these neighbors, questioning how this can be? Will we be like these leaders, told again and again how these things happened, and yet we are blinded by our own perceptions and beliefs? Or will we be like the blind man and receive sight and believe?
One of the reason's I love this story is it is so raw. It's honest. It's humble. It's a bit in your face. It's clear. It's not something we can do. Jesus sees the blind and frees them. He SAW... he ACTED....and all the man had to do was RESPOND. Jesus didn't see a beggar, He saw someone whose life was about to display God's glory. He saw one who would receive sight and treasure it so he opened his eyes and in doing so, showed everyone else around him their blindness.
As a Christian, I'd like to think my eyes are always clear, but I know they are not. I miss seeing things every day. I don't always see the need. I don't always see the glory about to come. I miss the potential in others because the way they show up may put me off. How grateful I am that God opens eyes. I pray I would see as clearly as the blind man and believe, worship and treasure the sight I've been given.
Are you blind too? Has He opened your eyes? If not, do you want to see more clearly? Just ask Him. He is faithful. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this and I'm always happy to pray with or help you.
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