City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and went and found him. He asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

³⁶ The man said, “Point him out to me, sir, so that I can believe in him.”

³⁷ Jesus said, “You’re looking right at him. Don’t you recognize my voice?”

³⁸ “Master, I believe,” the man said, and worshiped him.

³⁹ Jesus then said, “I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind.”

⁴⁰ Some Pharisees overheard him and said, “Does that mean you’re calling us blind?”⁴¹ Jesus said, “If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you’re accountable for every fault and failure.”

John 9:35-41 MSG

Aisha’s Analysis

Today’s verses give us a glimpse into the intentionality and love of our Savior. In John 9, Jesus performed an unprecedented miracle when He healed a man born blind. This caused dissension and sheer bewilderment amongst the Jewish leaders. They couldn’t believe it. 

What is very strange about this miracle is that nobody celebrated it with the man who was healed. Not even his own parents! Can you imagine it? This man couldn’t see anything from the time he was born. Then one day, Jesus happens to be passing by and totally changes his life. However, the way Jesus healed him broke the rules of the Pharisees. Jesus made mud on the Sabbath, which the Pharisees considered to be a violation of the commandment to keep the Sabbath.

This miracle was not only the first of its kind, it was controversial. It rubbed the Pharisees the wrong way, and they just couldn’t reconcile it in their minds. It angered them so much that they cast the formerly blind man out. The man’s own parents refused to support their son in his miraculous healing. Can you imagine his utter loneliness at that moment? He once was blind and now that he can finally see, he has no one to celebrate it with.  

Now we can more clearly see the beauty and intentionality of today’s verses. Verse 35 says Jesus heard they had put him out of the synagogue and finding him, Jesus asks him “Do you believe in the Son of Man.” 

I love it! No matter who rejects you or no matter how lonely you may feel, God will find you. He’ll come searching for you and reveal Himself to you in a unique and personal way. Jesus gave this man an opportunity to see in more ways than one. The blind man not only received his physical sight, he got the opportunity to see and believe in our Lord Jesus. 

Verse 36 shows us the blind man’s hunger and excitement to know his Savior:  The man said, “Point him out to me, sir, so that I can believe in him.”

Jesus makes it perfectly clear: Jesus said, “You’re looking right at him. Don’t you recognize my voice?” (Verse 37). 

The blind man’s response to Jesus is so touching, and I’m sure it resonates with every one of us who came to know and believe in Jesus for the first time: “Master, I believe,” the man said, and worshiped him (Verse 38). 

These verses show us how the idea of sight comes into play. This story is not just about the blind man being able to see. It’s also about how God sees us. He sees us and wants us to see Him.

Application

Jesus healed the blind man by making mud with His saliva and telling him to wash in the pool. Sometimes things get messy when you’re walking in obedience to God. 

Has God put you in a “messy” situation? With your job, with your spouse, with your family? Perhaps, He’s beckoning you to go wash in the water of His Word. Regardless of the muddiness and messiness of the situation, as you read His Word, you’ll find you can see more clearly, maybe even better than you’ve ever been able to see before. 

Today, read John 9 in its entirety with the specific intention of wanting to see Jesus more clearly. Allow His Word to wash you clean. Focus your attention on seeing Jesus and worship Him in reverence and awe. 

Prayer

Father God, I thank You that even when I can’t see, You see me. You know exactly what I need and You know where to find me. I’m right here, Lord. I want to know and trust You, and worship at Your feet. In Jesus’ name, amen.