Born Blind

 John 9: 1-41v 32-33 “Ever since the world began no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, He couldn’t have done it.”

This passage starts of with a question from the disciples to Jesus “Why was the man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” Jesus replied, “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” The man’s neighbors were shocked to find that he could see. Some didn’t believe their own eyes and said “no he just looks like him” They took him to the Pharisees. They asked the man to repeat his story. The Pharisees were divided in their opinion was this from God? They asked the man to repeat his story. They asked his parents what had happened. Then they asked the man to repeat his story yet again. And he told them the truth as he saw it. Ever since the world began no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, He couldn’t have done it.” The Pharisees threw him out of the synagogue. Then Jesus said. “I entered this world to render judgement- to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

My grandchildren love reading books and so I have repeatedly read a book about spiders and bugs. I didn’t particularly like the book as it didn’t make sense to me, who would find a bug wearing a crown or eating a cake? I must have read it skeptically many times as they loved the book, then one day I suddenly realized it meant to teach children to leave bugs alone. I was blind to the meaning behind the story until one day, after reading it countless times I saw it!

I have come to understand that things in your life that are repeated are for a purpose too. If you don’t see the truth the first time, then the experience will be repeated. A slightly different angle can give us greater insight. Just as the Pharisees in this story the man, his parents, his neighbors all give us a different angle so that we can see the truth. If this man were not from God, He couldn’t have done it.

Are you blind to something in your life today? Do you keep hearing the same message from a variety of sources? “Why do you want to hear the message again? Do you want to become His disciples too?” Yes you do. God is the answer for us all.

Prayer: Holy God, we thank you for the examples your Son Jesus gave us to show us that you are indeed a God that does good things. Who cares for those who are born with disabilities. Who repeatedly teaches us so that we can open our eyes to  see your love all around us. Amen.