The man who began to see
Jesus met a man who had been blind from birth. People around him were more interested in deciding who was to blame for his condition, but Jesus saw the man himself and responded with compassion.
Jesus placed mud on the man’s eyes and told him to wash in a nearby pool. The man followed his instructions and returned able to see.
Instead of simply celebrating with him, religious leaders questioned the man repeatedly. Because Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath, some of them refused to believe that Jesus could have come from God.
The man did not have an answer to every religious argument. He could only speak honestly about what he knew: he had been blind, he had met Jesus and now he could see.
As the story continued, the man’s understanding of Jesus grew. At first, he described Jesus simply as the man who had healed him. Later, when Jesus found him again and spoke with him, the man placed his faith in Jesus and worshipped him.
Christians believe that this story warns against allowing religious rules and arguments to become more important than compassion and truth. Some of the Pharisees were so concerned that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath that they failed to recognise the goodness of what had happened or consider what it revealed about him.
The man’s understanding of Jesus developed gradually. He began only with the certainty that Jesus had changed his life. As he reflected on what had happened and later spoke with Jesus again, his understanding grew into faith.
Jesus approached the man before the man understood who he was, and later sought him out again. Christians believe that Jesus may also be drawing close to us before we fully recognise him. We can respond honestly to what we have experienced and remain open to discovering who he is.
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