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He Sees Us
John chapter nine is a story about Jesus healing a man, who was born blind. As Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the man, and his disciples asked Jesus who had sinned, the man or his parents, to cause him to be born blind. Jesus replied that it was neither, but that the man’s blindness was an opportunity for the works of God to be displayed.
Jesus then spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva, which he then applied to the man’s eyes and instructed him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man did so, and his sight was restored.
The man’s neighbors and others who knew him were amazed at the miracle, and some doubted that it was the same man. The Pharisees, who were opposed to Jesus, were also skeptical and questioned the man and his parents. They accused Jesus of being a sinner and not from God, but the man testified that he believed Jesus was a prophet.
The Pharisees continued to question the man and eventually threw him out of the synagogue. Jesus later found the man and revealed himself to be the Son of God. The chapter ends with Jesus rebuking the Pharisees and stating that those who claim to see are actually blind, while those who are blind can see.
Here are five quick lessons we can take away from the healing of the blind man in John 9:
Lesson #1: Jesus notices even the least among us.
During the time of Christ, those who were blind or had physical infirmities were considered a burden to the society. Most of them were left by their family and ended up begging for food and money in the streets. They were looked down upon as the lowest class in the society. They have no wealth, nor power for other people to respect them.
We can have the comfort that He sees us. He cares for us, and He wants to develop a close relationship with us. It doesn’t matter whether we are rich or poor, healthy or unhealthy, the country we live in or our heritage. God cares for us all equally. He is calling us, and it is up to us to answer that call.
Lesson #2: Our weakness should lead us to God.
The man was blind from his birth. He had every reason to shake his fist in the face of God and question his goodness and love. However, what most people think as a curse was turned into a blessing in this man’s life.
In many cases, those who are well and healthy are the ones who don’t see the need for God. They have a good life already, so why would they need God? However, those who are weak, sick, and in need are the ones who are more likely to encounter God and seek Help/Hope greater than themselves!
In this case Jesus states in vs. 3: “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” His blindness was an opportunity for God to bless him with vision, and that those around him (Jews, Gentiles, and Pharisees) could see the good works of God.
Lesson #3: We must endure hardships in life / Be compassionate.
The Jews in Christ’s day lived in the illusion that every suffering is caused directly by a sin they commit. While it is true that sin does lead to suffering, illness, and a lot of problems in some cases, we suffer not because of our own doing.
Jesus made it very clear that it is not the man who sinned, nor his parents. There’s a purpose why it happened. The fact is, as long as we are living in this world, we will experience hardships and face difficulties.
Jesus’ healing of the blind man is an act of compassion and kindness. This reminds us of the importance of showing compassion to others, especially those who are marginalized or in need.
Lesson #4: Obedience and faith must come together.
So many people today assume that all they need to obtain salvation is to accept Christ and believe in Him. They think that since grace abounds, they can now do whatever they wish, as long as they “love” one another.
Faith in God must connected with obedience. Christ didn’t simply heal the blind man. For the man to be healed, he needed to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man initially believed Jesus Christ, but he didn’t stop there. He also obeyed Christ’s command. Yes, it was difficult for the blind man to find his way, but that is part of the healing and learning process.
Lesson #5: The focus on Legalism.
The Pharisees’ focus on legalism and adherence to rules caused them to miss the true power and meaning of Jesus’ healing. In fact, they completely missed the miracle. This is a reminder of the danger of religious legalism, traditionalism and the importance of focusing on the spirit of God’s teachings. There needs to be a balance.
John 9:1-41 is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of faith, the importance of showing compassion to others, even in the face of opposition and criticism. Lastly, it shows us the care and concern that Jesus has for every soul no matter their status in life... He sees us.
