John 9

I Was Blind, But Now I See

The actual miracle Jesus performs to give the blind man sight takes up only 2 of the 41 verses in this story. John spends much more time sharing what happened before and after. While the interplay between the blind man, Jesus, the Pharisees, and even the man’s parents is fascinating, and many have written about it, what challenges me is how Jesus’ disciples view this situation.

Although the blind man doesn’t cry out for Jesus to heal him, Jesus stops, takes compassion on him, and changes his life forever. The disciples, though, show no compassion whatsoever for the man. They don’t plead with Jesus to heal him. They view the man as a theological puzzle, not a hurting outcast who needs their love.

The disciples think this is a golden opportunity to get Jesus’ perspective on an age-old problem – is suffering the result of sin in our lives? The disciples are much like Job’s “friends” – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar didn’t really seek to comfort Job, nor bring relief for his suffering, but instead tried to convince him he was somehow at fault for the tragedy that had befallen him. They were much more interested in Job as an object lesson than as a person.

I’m afraid I, at times, look at someone in need, or hurting, or poor, and ponder the social ills of our nation, or the welfare system, or what will it take to break the generational poverty cycle. Instead, like Jesus, I need to see each individual, and follow His lead – how can God be glorified and pain alleviated, right here, right now? How can I bring “the light of the world” to shine in someone’s dark life? How can I help this person see that the “works of God might be displayed in him”?

Maybe I, like the Pharisees, am blind after all.


Lee Thrasher
March 25