Blinded to See

“I entered this world to render judgment–to give sight to the blind and to show those who think

they see that they are blind.” John 9:39 NLT

The moment I received my sight was bittersweet. I’d been diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Johnson

Syndrome, which wreaked havoc on my eyes. Doctors said the only way they could save my

eyesight was with eye surgery. I agreed instantly and anxiously, while the rest of my body and

its functions began to decline. Perhaps it was the almost 105-degree fever or my body being on

the verge of sepsis, but I don’t remember what happened after I signed the paperwork. All I

know is that I woke up several days later on a breathing machine, with my eyes sewn shut.

It was in that place– that dark, unsighted place– that I saw God. In that place, He’d become

tangible to me. He sat with me and talked to me. We discussed His Word and His power. He

gave me revelation and comfort. In God’s presence, there was a peace that was so awesomely

overwhelming that I cannot muster or gather the words to describe it. I can’t say that I was like

Paul, caught up to the heavenlies- experiencing things so wonderfully terrible and glorious that

no earthly words could adequately capture it (see 2 Corinthians 12:1-10). But it was indeed a

moment that still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.

As I approach the anniversary of that time, what made this moment so paradoxical was that I

was blind. I saw God best when I could not physically see.

Now, I could end this post right here. God healed the blind person (me), and he could do the

same for you. I mean, it’s not a new story to those of us who know anything about the Bible.

Jesus healed many blind people during his ministry. Oh, but there is one story, Friend, that really

hits home for me.

John 9 tells the story of a blind man. He was blind from birth, and the people in his community

knew him as a man who would sit and beg. One day, Jesus was walking with the disciples, and

they asked him if the man was blind because of his sins or the sins of his parents.

Jesus’ answer-

“This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly

carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one

can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.

” (John 9:4 NLT)

The Amplified Bible says,“...it was so that the works of God might be displayed and illustrated in

him, ”and The New King James version says the works of God will be “revealed.”

So, Jesus heals this man. He spits in the dirt and makes some sort of paste with the mud. He

rubs it on the man’s eyes (the Amplified Bible says like an ointment), and Jesus instructs the

man to wash in the pool of Siloam (meaning Sent). The blind man leaves and returns with sight.

You’d think that was the end of the story. It wasn’t. People in the town don’t recognize the man.

There is great debate as to whether or not he is the same beggar who sat and begged. The Pharisees questioned him twice and even brought his parents in to confirm it was the same man. No one could understand how this man, who was once blind, could finally see.

Once Jesus heard about the controversy, he went and found the man. This is also when Jesus

begins to teach about spiritual blindness.

If I’m honest, I never gave this story a second look until my own sight was restored. On a

surface level, I could tell you about how much we take sight for granted and how important it is

to be grateful for vision. But physical sight is worthless when you’re spiritually blind.

I look at all the “characters” in this Bible story and see the blindness.

The Disciples- blinded by the surface-level/old way of thinking

“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him,

“Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins

or his parents’ sins?”

The townspeople, blinded by confusion and the past

“His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other,

‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said he was, and others said,

‘No, he just looks like him.”

The Pharisees- blinded by ignorance

“Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the

Sabbath.”

The blind man’s parents- blinded by fear

“His parents replied,‘We know this is our son and that he was born blind, but we don’t know

how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.' His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.”

What intrigues me about this story is that the only one who could truly see was the formerly

blind beggar. In his sightlessness, he “saw” enough to recognize Jesus as someone who could

help him. After all, what faithless person would allow someone to rub mud made of spit and dirt

on his eyes and then obey the instructions of a stranger who told him to get to a specific pool

and wash? He had to make it to the pool, still unsighted, to wash himself. Talk about faith! The Bible says that we walk by faith and not by sight. In Hebrews 13:1, it says, “Faith shows the

reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (NLT). We measure faith

by believing in what we cannot see with earthly eyes.

In John 9:41, Jesus says something interesting to the Pharisees who overheard him talking to

the formerly blind beggar. He says, “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,

” Jesus replied.“But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.”

I want to ask you some hard questions. How has your sight corrupted you? Are you one of the

ones claiming to see, but you are really blind?

I am guilty of being a blind, sighted person. I admit it. My temporary bout with physical blindness and that encounter with God showed me how blind I really am.

You see, God values sight. It is important to Him, just not in the way we perceive it. When we

see in the Spirit, we encounter God in His perfect truth. When we see in our flesh, we process

and perceive through our sin- our imperfections, which separate us from God. We must strive to

see in ways that please God.

2 Kings 6 provides a great example of God valuing spiritual sight. In this story, the Israelites

realize they are surrounded by the Aramean army. Elisha’s servant is terrified. Elisha says,

“‘Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs!’ Then Elisha prayed, ‘Oh Lord,

open his eyes and let him see!’ The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked

up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. (verses 16- 17 NLT)”

God needs us to see. The key is that we strive to see the way He does.

Once my sight was restored all those years ago, I went through a period of anger and

resentment. I had my sight back, but I also had permanent eye damage and chronic eye pain. It

felt like a punishment. I’d had this beautiful experience with God, and now all I felt was pain. It

took a long time for me to see the new eye condition as a blessing.

I could no longer rely on my own strength to do things, meaning I was more dependent on God.

I had to start asking for help from others, which humbled me tremendously and forced me to get

rid of my pride. I had to revise my personal definition of beauty to fit the reality of my constantly

red, itchy, burning, throbbing eyes, which allowed me to see beauty the way God does and

release my vanity. I had to slow down and rest more, which made me more appreciative in so

many ways.

God has some unconventional ways of doing things, at least, unconventional to our human

ways. But that’s a good thing. If I had never been blinded so I could see, I would have missed

out on this intimacy with God. I am better for being blinded. It took a severe trauma to get there,

but I am better for it. This is what I want to leave you with. God’s power is displayed and revealed through His works.

This particular work was to cure a man (also us) of blindness. But not an ordinary blindness; the

spiritual blindness that plagues us and makes us believe that we see things well. God’s work is

an illustration of His power. To see things that others cannot see is a miraculous work of God.

Don’t allow your sight to blind you, for your flesh lies, and your physical eyes may not show you

all that is truly there. When you open your eyes to Jesus, you begin to see things in a new light.

That light will guide you on a path your flesh could have never seen.

Let us pray.

Father God, may our eyes see you in all of your glory. Like Elisha’s servant, open our eyes and

allow us to see in the Spirit. Let us walk in blind faith, and not by our physical abilities, so that

our movements and our ways are pleasing in your sight. Don’t allow us, your servants, to

operate in false vision. We rebuke every demonic attempt of visual distortion and distraction that

the enemy throws our way. Guard our eyes. Reveal your works to us and bless us to see you in

everything. In Jesus’ name. Amen