Jesus — Man Born Blind - Monday
TODAY’S VERSE
John 9:1–3
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (ESV)
Recently, we’ve been talking a lot about the idea of your “one more.” The person in your life who is close to you but far from God. The opening verses of John 9 speak directly to that idea in a distinctly literal way. After John 8 centers on an almost spiritual blindness, Jesus encounters a man who has never seen at all here in John 9. In that moment, this man who was blind from birth becomes Jesus’ “one more.”
Before we jump in, I think the contrast is important in these two chapters. In John 8, Jesus goes to the temple to teach and is repeatedly challenged by scribes and Pharisees who are confident that they see clearly. They debate His authority, question His identity, and resist His claims. By the end of the chapter, the irony of their arrogance is super clear as we see Jesus leaving the temple.
Then we’re into John 9.
Immediately after leaving the temple full of smart, studied, self-righteous people, Jesus passes by a man who has none of that and no way of even trying to have it. Before anything else, we’re told Jesus sees him. He saw the man, not the condition. Not the project to fix or inconvenience to avoid. Only a few verses ago, Jesus is proclaiming to be the Light of the World — the Light in the darkness. The obvious opportunity to actualize these claims in a practical, life-changing way — foreshadowing the Holy Spirit in our lives today — is right there! And the disciples do what they tend to do: echo our doubts, our lack of faith, and our fears.
They see suffering and immediately start consolidating into what they know: Who sinned? What’s responsible for this, they wonder. It’s a reflex that the scribes and Pharisees just showed us in Chapter 8! It’s different people, different questions, but the same goal: If we can diagnose the problem, we can keep our distance from the person.
For me, that instinct hasn’t changed much. When things break down, I still look for someone responsible. Sometimes I turn blame inward, assuming my pain must be evidence that I failed or that God is distant. Often, it feels safer or more logical to reflect and inspect than to draw closer to the One who offers healing and wholeness.
The takeaway today that leaves a lot to cover tomorrow is that no matter what, Jesus sees you right where you are. And if that looks like a life turned into a heap — blinded by circumstances, by doubt, by your own actions — Jesus has the same goal for you as He says in John 9:3: He will make things new in you so that the works of God might be displayed in you.
APPLICATION
What’s making it difficult for you to see clearly? Maybe it’s tunnel vision because of what life is throwing at you, or a diagnosis, or just apathy. Turn to Jesus today. He’s right there with you in this moment and can restore your clarity.
PRAYER
Thank Jesus today for seeing you before you clearly saw Him. Pray for trust in His work in your life, even if the circumstances don’t make sense yet.
