Was Blind but Now I See

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Consistent with all encounters with Jesus, the healing of the blind man caused a stirring. The Pharisees, those who oversaw the religious lives of the Jews, were also blind for they did not see the work of the Father. Foremost, in their thinking was, “how could this happen?” The blind man, unaware of who Jesus was, experienced the touch of God. He told the Pharisees, “One thing I know; that though I was blind, now I see.'”

The Pharisees

These religious rulers were in charge but Jesus acted apart from them, saying, “I do the works of My Father.” It made them crazy. When hearing the blind man’s story, they could not accept it. Some countered it by stating Jesus was a sinner for breaking the laws of the sabbath. Others asked how could He do the works of God if He was a sinner. They went back to the blind man. “What do you say about Him since He opened your eyes?” When he told them Jesus was a prophet, they doubted the man had been blind and went to his parents.

Fear of the Jews

The parents of the blind man were afraid of the Jews. They had the power to excommunicate them from the synagogue; the symbol of their relationship with God and their heritage as Jewish people. They confirmed he was their son and that he had been born blind, but, when it came to identifying the healer they told them to ask their son. “He is of age,” they told them.

The Healed

When the Jews found the man again, they asked the same question. “How did He open your eyes?” This man spoke boldly, questioning those whom he had already answered. They didn’t like it and told him that while he was a disciple of Him, they were disciples of Moses. They knew from their heritage about God speaking to Moses, but they missed the parts like Isa. 35:5 where the blind will see. The healed man gave them a three point sermon; He opened my eyes, God listens to true worshipers, and if not from God, He could do nothing. As a result he was excommunicated.

The Healer

When Jesus heard they cast him out, He went looking for him. Then he got right to the point. “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He confessed he did not, but that he wanted to. When Jesus identified Himself, the man believed and worshipped. Next, Jesus explained that He came to judge, that those who were blind could see, and those who did see would be blinded. Those Pharisees that overheard questioned Him yet again. “Are we blind?”

Jesus told them if they were blind they would have no sin but because they knew it all, they remained sinners. The blind man who had been touched by Jesus told the Pharisees, “One thing I know; that though I was blind, now I see.'”