Healing a Man Born Blind

In John Chapter 9 there is a story of a blind man who was healed by Christ. It is an interesting story because you can see the spiritual growth of some, while others growth is halted because of their own spiritual blindness. The Pharisees had the hardest time believing and even had to call in the previously blind man’s parents to verify his story.  Some claimed that Christ was a sinner because he wasn't keeping the Sabbath, while others claimed that a sinner wouldn't be able to work such miracles. The parents of the blind man, when asked about how their son received his sight, were fearful to answer because if anyone openly admitted Jesus was the Christ they were to be thrown out of the synagogues so they pretty much opted out to answering by using the excuse that their son was old enough and they should ask him what happened.  The blind man’s spiritual growth is actually really neat to watch throughout this chapter. You can tell by how he answers the questions of who healed him. The man refers to Christ in three separate ways. First he calls him a man (vs 11), then he says that he is a prophet (vs 17), he then claims that Christ is “of God” (vs 33), and even calls him “Lord” (vs. 36) when he sees Christ again. In the end when Jesus tells him he is the Christ, the man falls down and worships him and believes.

I think the man’s faith and how he got to that point where he did believe in Christ is interesting. When I am reading that chapter I almost can put myself in his shoes. In my mind it seems that he was getting frustrated with everyone around him not believing that such a marvelous miracle had occurred. He knew something special had happened and as time went on I think he recognized that and also recognized that the people were spiritually blind to what had really happened. In the end his testimony in Christ has grown and he is ready to believe when Jesus tells him who he is. I wonder if he would have believed if Christ told him at the very beginning.

It kind of reminds me of the trials we sometimes go through. The blind man may not have had a strong testimony in Christ in the beginning, but I believe that while people were arguing around him, he was pondering the things that had happened to him and he was paying attention to what everyone was saying. In the end his faith grew and he had a stronger testimony in Christ.

Physical blindness is considered a handicap in someone’s life, however spiritual blindness can handicap someone as well. The Pharisees and even to some extent the blind man’s parents, were so concerned with specifics and were so afraid of the world that they were not able to recognize the miracle right in front of them. In some cases they almost couldn't accept that it even happened. It makes me wonder in my own life what I choose to believe and what not to believe. What hinders my spiritual growth? I need to make an effort to look past my obstacles. Just as the blind man shared his story and testimony and grew each time he shared it, I too can grow and learn when I share what I believe.