by biblegateway.com
Spiritually Blind
Read John 9:35-41
When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”
“You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”
“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.
Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”
“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.”
(John 9:35-41)
Reflect
The man who had been blind had heard the same questions over and over. He did not know how or why he was healed, but he knew that his life had been miraculously changed and he was not afraid to tell the truth. His new faith was severely tested by some of the authorities. He was cursed and evicted from the synagogue. Yet the longer he experienced his new life through Christ, the more confident he became in the one who had healed him. He gained not only physical sight but also spiritual sight as he recognized Jesus first as a prophet (John 9:17), then as his Lord.
The Pharisees, however, were shocked that Jesus thought they were spiritually blind. Jesus countered that they claimed to understand the truth of God while remaining blind to that very truth: Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. To those who remained open and recognized how sin had truly blinded them from knowing the truth, he gave spiritual understanding and insight. But he rejected those who had become complacent, self-satisfied, and blind.
Respond
When you turn to Christ, you begin to see him differently. The longer you walk with him, the better you will understand who he is. Peter tells us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). If you want to know more about Jesus, keep walking with him. Trust that he will reveal any “blind spots” you might have about your life—areas where you might be complacent or self-reliant. Ask him to keep you tender toward him.