The Blind Man
The Blind Man
'Impossibilities we can do, miracles take a bit longer' - most of us will have heard this at some time or other - we know what it means and we can have a wry smile. We read in our Bible that Jesus performed lots of miracles.
In John Chapter 9 we have the story of Jesus healing a man who had been born blind. Jesus was escaping from the 'stone throwing' Jews, he slipped away from the temple grounds and it was then that he met the blind man, who was begging. For most of us it is very difficult to understand exactly what it must feel like to have never seen anything. The disciples thought his blindness must be a result of either his or his parent's sins, but Jesus told them it happened so that the work of God might be shown in his life. To the disciples this man represented a puzzle, but to Jesus he represented a challenge!
The story tells us that Jesus used his saliva to make some mud, which he placed on the blind man's eyes. He then told the man to wash in the pool of Siloam (meaning sent). This man had two choices - to ignore what Jesus did and told him, or to put his trust in Jesus and obey him. He obeyed and amazingly when the mud was removed, he could see. What a miracle! Performed by Jesus - the light of the world - the One who was sent of God.
Imagine how this man would have felt, probably very frightened and overawed - what a difference Jesus had made to his life. He looked so different people were questioning if he was the same man that had sat and begged. The Pharisees could not agree so they asked him. "I am the man" he assured them and proceeded to tell the people how Jesus had healed him.
The Pharisees were jealous of Jesus and were looking for a way to 'trip him up.' The miracle had taken place on the Sabbath, so they said "this man is not from God for he does not keep the Sabbath, how can a sinner do this miracle?" They should have been pleased for him, but sadly they were the ones whose eyes were not open, they said they did not know who Jesus was. They still could not believe that this man had been blind and could now see. On being questioned the man's parents confirmed it was indeed their son, who had been born blind but now could see.
The man who had been healed was no ordinary man, he was becoming bolder in his testimony, and emphatically stated "one thing I do know, I was blind but now I see." Because the man continued to speak about Jesus as a man from God the Jews were very angry and threw him out of the synagogue and from religious fellowship.
Jesus found him, and told him who he was, and he worshipped Jesus giving him the glory for what he had done for him. This man can now see both physically and spiritually. Two miracles had been performed - his eyesight had been restored and his heart opened to the things of God. The purpose of the miracle had been fulfilled, the work of God had been shown in his life. He now has forgiveness of sin and can enjoy the love, peace, and joy that Jesus gives to those who put their trust in him.
Can we say like the man born blind "I believe - I once was blind but now I see" Have you opened your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ?