Was Blind But Now I See - Your Daily Forward Devotional

Was Blind But Now I See

February 4

Read John 9:8-12 (ESV)

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

Reflect

How is the blind man’s story a beautiful picture of salvation?

One of the most beloved hymns of all time is “Amazing Grace.” I think it is loved across generations because it simply and beautifully communicates the truth of the Gospel: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.”

In the first verses of chapter 9, we read about Jesus healing a man who had been blind since birth. His disciples wondered if the man was blind due to his own sin or his parents’ sin. Jesus said the man wasn’t blind because of anyone’s sin but that “the works of God might be displayed in him.” In other words, the man was blind and healed for the glory of God.

In today’s passage, we see the once blind man again. His community was in awe of his transformation. They couldn’t even believe that he was the same man. When asked how his eyes were opened, he simply told the story about how Jesus had spit in the dirt to make mud, anointed his eyes with it, and then told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. His testimony is that he encountered Jesus, Jesus told him what to do to be healed, and he obeyed. The end result? He once was blind but then, he could see.

The truth is, at one point in time, we were all blind. Not physically, but spiritually. In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, the apostle Paul wrote: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Those apart from Christ are spiritually blinded by Satan. They can’t see the truth of the Gospel unless Jesus opens up their eyes. The blind man had not sought Jesus out, rather Jesus had found him. The man wasn’t even able to see that Jesus was passing by! Similarly, all of us were once blinded by our sin, unable to recognize who our Savior is and often, not even recognizing our need for one. But, once Jesus reveals Himself to us, He tells us what we must do to be saved. Just as the man trusted that if he obeyed Jesus, he’d receive his sight, we too have to trust that if we accept the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that we’ll receive our salvation. The man put his faith in Christ’s words in action when he obediently went to the pool of Siloam to wash his eyes. And in the end, Jesus was glorified among this man’s community because of his testimony concerning God’s work in his life.

Friends, sharing your testimony with others doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful. The blind man simply shared what Jesus had done for him. He once was blind but then, he could see. What about you? How has Christ transformed your life? What is your testimony and who can you share it with? Don’t overthink it. Just share how encountering Jesus has changed you.

Respond

Lord, Your grace is amazing. I once was blinded by my sin but You sought me out, opened my eyes to my need for You, and completely transformed my life. Help me to simply tell my story so that You can receive all the glory for changing my life forever. Amen.

Reveal: How has Jesus changed your life? How does your transformation testify to God’s power?

~ Pastor Nat Crawford