A Man Born Blind!

The Apostle John has a different agenda in his writings to those records of Matthew, Mark and Luke. He is primarily concerned that “men might believe”. Each of John’s “eight signs” focus on faith! Ensuring that faith motivates (and not tradition) is as valid a message today, as it was then.

A man “born blind” is the sign John chapter 9 gives us. It has a wonderful lesson and one that is vital to our own salvation. This account has a message for those who believe and those who may not!

“I am the Light of the world” is the claim of the Lord and I suggest that both the disciples and “the man born blind”, heard these few words. We can learn much from the detail of this account, but let’s focus on two points only:
• What Jesus said and did!
• What the man said and did!
If we do this we will see a wonderful ‘picture’ of the true relationship we can enjoy with our Lord.

What Jesus said to him was, “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam” He did NOT say, “that you may see”. Wiping mud and spit on a blind man’s face might be seen as a gross indignity! We wonder at that! However, the man responded in total faith ...went and washed as instructed, and returned “seeing!”

His very first objective was to “find Jesus”. The next was thrust upon him, to publically declare that Jesus IS a prophet! He did that well.

John’s message to us is clear. We must first

“find Jesus” for ourselves, seek Him out amongst the crowd – then be willing to defend and declare His true status as Messiah, “Lord”, Saviour, Healer, Teacher and Friend.

Jesus waited. Time passed and the challenges for “he who was blind” were intense. Yet he longed to meet His Saviour! Finally, the Lord appeared, but more than that. The record John gives us in Verse 34-35 is again very clear. “They cast him out” then, “Jesus FOUND him.” Many of Jesus’ friends have and do experience similar rejection by others- family, society, ruling powers, but counter-balanced by the Lord’s presence and His timely coming. “They be blind leaders of the blind” say the Lord of the Pharisees, but he who was “born blind” simply saw, believed and worshipped the Lord Jesus, his Messiah. Verse 37 states these facts.

We are all as Adam’s family, “born blind” and it is ONLY because Jesus was ‘sent’ (Siloam) by Our Heavenly Father that we “now see” and may come, seeking the Lord and speaking of His Messiahship, to an unwilling and unbelieving world. Baptism brought us into God’s special family.

We now live in the sure belief that our Lord will soon appear, find us in the crowd, that we may “see Him” as He really is- the Son of the Living God with power to save and to heal.

“Even so come, Lord Jesus!”

Bro Neil Todd (New Zealand)