The only cure for Blindness

Read John 9.

When the disciples saw the blind man, they questioned Jesus based upon what they had been taught.  The religious leaders of the day propagated the false idea that bad things only happen to bad people.  So, any malady was the result of some personal sin.  Jesus' response put an end to that erroneous thinking.

But, then, He delivered one of those hard sayings.  Why did this man suffer blindness?  "...that the works of God might be displayed in him."  Really?  How can a bad thing bring glory to God?  God can get glory through comforting those who are afflicted (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).  In such cases, one learns firsthand how to minister to others from their comforting experience with God.  Sometimes one is empowered to live with the affliction as a display of God strengthening grace (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).  Sometimes the best way for God to receive glory is by healing the problem, as in this case.

Then, Jesus made one of the great "I am" statements (v.5).  This is a direct tie to Exodus 3 where Jehovah proclaimed that His name is I AM, the ever present-tense and everlasting God.  Here, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."

To prove the veracity of His claim, Jesus gave sight to the blind man.  That action displayed the glory of God in this unnamed man.  For the first time, physically, he saw light.  The miracles always substantiated the message.  Being able to see spiritual light is another matter.

Notice the progression of the man's understanding that led to his belief in Jesus.
v.11-He only knew He was "the man called Jesus."
v.17-"He is a prophet."
v.33-"If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
v.38-"'Lord, I believe,' and he worshiped him.'"

A popular proverb says, "There is none so blind as those who will not see."  The saying is probably a paraphrase of Jeremiah 5:21-"Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not."  The Apostle Paul wrote: "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14).  Far greater than physical blindness is spiritual blindness.

When a person places their eternal faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit removes the blinders so one may finally see and begin to understand what God is doing.  The testimony in verse 25 was simply this: "One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."  That is amazing grace!