I Once Was Blind, But Now I See

   As he entered their cramped home, a toddler, named Josiah, reached out for his busy mother. First one chubby hand, and then the other, caressed her careworn face and silky hair. As he traced the profile of his beloved Mama, a question formed on his 3-year-old lips.  “Mama, what is a sinner?”, he innocently asked. “Where did you hear that word?” was her startled reply. “From the children in our village. They will not play with me, because they say you and Abba are sinners, maybe even me.” he said.  He felt the tear drop as it fell down her cheek.  She knew from his birth that this day was coming. The time when she would have to answer his question, but how?  He was the youngest of her large brood, and secretly her favorite. His docile nature, and sunny smile captivated friends and family alike. “Such a good baby,” everyone agreed. Those early months were precious, but it soon became obvious that this cherished, perfect child had a flaw. His eyes did not focus on her face, even a bright object held before him was ignored. Excuses were made for the slow development, but as he reached his first birthday there was no denying the problem.  He was blind.  Blind, the very word caused terror in the parents.  How can we protect him from harm? Will he be able to learn a skill?  But, worst of all, what will people say.?  As obedient Jews, they knew the answer to that one.  An affliction, such as this, had only one source, SIN.  In anguish the mother and father consulted with the Rabbi, offered blood sacrifices, to atone for their transgressions, and prayed. They understood that no one had ever been healed from blindness, but still they sought God. 

As the years passed, and the boy became a of age, he realized that the only way to provide for himself, and aging parents, was to beg. Daily, he made his way to a spot outside the synagogue.  Some passersby took pity on him, tossing a few coins in his basket. Others preferred to mock and accuse him of the sin he wore like a cloak.  Yes, he had no vision, but his other senses were heightened.  The cruel words had hurt him in the early years, but he was used to them by now. As he sat, hour after hour, he often thought of what it meant to be blind. Having never seen, it was his normal. How can you miss what you never had. People would tell him how blue the sky was, or how lovely the spring flowers were.  He would smile and respond that the sun’s warmth felt like a favorite blanket, and the perfumed air that enveloped him, like Eden.  His reality was blindness. The cause, sin. The cure, none. All the Jewish teachings told him so. Knowing no other life, he became complacent with his fate.  One early spring day, he heard the approach of strangers.  Their coarse accent gave them away, Nazarenes.  Some of the men, seeing that he was blind, asked their Rabbi, whose sin it was that had caused his condition, his or his parents. The blind man’s keen ears listened for the usual reply.  But, today was different, he could feel an inexplicable power surround him. In anticipation he listened as the teacher answered. It is neither his nor his parent’s sin,” he proclaimed.  Josiah gasped.  Then whose sin, was it?  In rapt attention, he waited for the next words.  “This has happened so the power of God can be seen in him.” What can this mean?  All my life I have believed it was sin that cursed me, now I hear good news.  Jesus, the young Rabbi who was speaking, turned his attention to Josiah.  Through the din of the crowd, he could hear him spit on the dusty ground making a clay with his saliva. Strong, yet gentle hands lifted up his head, and applied the mud to his eyes. Years ago, a doctor had tried this same method, but this was different. Jesus offered no rote prayer, or incantation, but his power, and the authority in his voice filled the now silent courtyard. “Go wash your eyes in the pool of Siloam.  This pool was refreshed constantly from a water channel that King Hezekiah had built years before.  Josiah jumped to his feet in obedience to the command.  The pool had always been a pleasant place to relax, but now as he washed the mud off, he not only felt the water, he saw it run though his fingers! Running back, he yelled, “I can see, I can see!”  Those standing by could not believe it. They doubted it was the same man.  He looks like him, they thought, but this is impossible. No, cried Josiah, it is I, and I can see!  Who did this to you? Someone named Jesus. Where is he? Retelling the story in detail, some of the crowd began to grumble.  As they ran to tell the Pharisees, they shouted you cannot work on the Sabbath.  When the Pharisees arrived, they questioned the man repeatedly, wanting to know who had broken the law by healing on the Sabbath, ignoring the supernatural. Others among them believed it a miracle, and so there began a division of opinion. By this time, his parents were aware of what had happened.  In fear of persecution from the Romans and the powerful Pharisees, they declined to answer, sending them back to their son.  Fear, however, could not hide the joy that filled their hearts.  In exasperation, Josiah made it clear that God does not listen to sinners, thus this Jesus must be acting for God. Finally, he shouted, “I don’t know if he is a sinner, but this much I do know, once I was blind, but now I can see.”  As I think back on my own spiritual journey, from blindness to light, I see the similarities.  Josiah and I were used to our condition. We both lived life without the light of Christ. I thought the minimal knowledge I had of God was sufficient. Why seek anything deeper. Maybe you felt that way too. At a point, however, I too heard the voice of Christ, speaking directly to me. He applied that same mud to my eyes, allowing me to see him clearly for the first time.  In our story, Jesus returns to Josiah and asks him if he believes in the Son of Man?  Not totally sure of the question, he says he want to believe. Who wouldn’t?  Jesus asks that age old question to every human being. Josiah’s reply, yes Lord I believe, came not from knowledge of scripture or church attendance, but from God revealing himself. Josiah fell at the feet of Jesus and worshipped. The Bible doesn’t tell us what became of this man, but I’m pretty certain he never stopped telling his story.  Now, let’s look at the other reactions of those who witnessed this miracle. The disciples were only interested in finding out whose sin was responsible. The blind beggar meant nothing to them. The Pharisees were angry, demanding, and blind to the situation. The parents were afraid.  While some were open to belief, many were held back by the demands of the Law. Only the blind man fell to the ground in worship, giving all the glory to God. Jesus came to truly open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf.  If that doesn’t make you want to worship, you need your eyes checked. “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they seee that they are blind.” John 9:39. What condition are your spiritual eyes in
? Do you only think you can see?  Jesus longs to give you 20/20 vision.  Then you too can declare, I once was blind, but now I see!!