As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So, he went and washed, and came back seeing. (John 9:1-7)
I love to talk about miracles. The God of the Bible, your God and mine, He is a God of power, of love, and of action. In this story we find something very unusual. Jesus was going into a city with His disciples. They all saw this man who was born blind, and yet they had different responses. This man had never seen a thing: he had never seen his mother’s face, never seen the beauty around him, never seen the blue sky or the beauty of the flowers; this is something which touches me emotionally. One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the gift of sight. I understand from scientists, that one of the strongest arguments against evolution and one of the strongest evidences of God’s creation, is the human eye. Our eyes are so wonderfully complex. As the Psalmist said, ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.’
Instinctively, if you or I were to see this blind man, our hearts would go out to him. Yet the reaction of the disciples – this is not from the religious leaders, nor from the bystanders – the reaction from the disciples of Jesus, who knew His ministry, who knew His power, who had seen all the miracles He had done, when they saw the blind man, they didn’t say, “Let’s go and help him; can we buy him a good meal; can we give him some clothes; can we give him some money.” No, their first reaction was to ask, “Why?” The most profound question ever asked by adults, and also the first question ever asked by a child, is always the question why. Why this, why that? All those religious disciples could say was, “Why was he born blind? Who sinned?” Jesus responded, not by examining sin, but focusing on forgiveness: “I want to tell you why this man is blind. This man is blind so that God can demonstrate His power, His kindness and compassion.” Jesus spat on the ground, made clay with the saliva, smoothed it over the man’s eyes, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man did as he was told and came back seeing.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law. (Psalm 119:18)
‘Happy Song’ used by kind permission of www.vinesong.com