From Darkness to Light

Wandering down the staircase in the early morning hours, I walk through the house with confidence. Though it is dark, enough light filters in to make me aware of my surroundings. I can see just enough, but then I flip on the light. The house darkened for the hours of sleep and quiet is suddenly illuminated. I can see.

I have no idea what it is like to be in complete darkness, to have no vision from my eyes. Blindness is a reality some people face. Some gradually lose sight through the course of their lives, and some have been blind from birth. John shares the story of a man blind from birth and his encounter with Jesus.

“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.” (John 9:1-7)

Even as today people will come to the church for help, those who suffered during Bible times would gather near the temple seeking help. Often their physical difficulties kept them from earning the needed money for food and basic needs, so they would beg. Nearing the temple that day, the disciples noticed the blind man. In those days, it was commonly thought that physical afflictions were the result of sin. As Jesus addressed this question of the disciples, he was clear to point out that sometimes God allows difficulties to do His work in the lives of people and to show His glory. He sought the blind man and began to open his eyes.

While Jesus prepared for healing through the mud He formed, the blind man had to prepare for the healing of his eyes through his heart. Jesus asked him to take a step of faith. He applied the mud to the man’s eyes but then had the man go and wash in the pool of Siloam. The man had to take the step of faith to go, wash, and believe the Healer had healed. His faith in Jesus brought sight, and right away he knew this miraculous healing only came from God.

Upon returning from the pool, the blind man could see. Not only did he experience sight in his eyes for the first time, but sight was coming through his spiritual darkness. His faith was awakening as he understood only God could restore his sight, and in meeting Jesus, he had met God.

Of course, not all that day were physically blind as this man, but many who witnessed this miracle of God were walking in spiritual blindness. The neighbors questioned if he was the blind beggar and how the miracle took place. It was easier to question the man’s identity then to accept that healing came from God. The Pharisees were blinded by their own self-righteous system. In healing on the Sabbath, Jesus was breaking Sabbath regulations, and in their eyes showed He was a sinner and, therefore, could not be God. Rather than accepting the facts of what took place right before their eyes, they rejected truth, rejected Jesus as God, and remained in spiritual darkness.

This was not the case for the blind man. He had not yet seen Jesus. In walking to the pool in blindness, he returned with sight. The healing of his physical sight led to the conversations opening the need he felt in his spiritual blindness. He was cast from the temple by the Pharisees, and again Jesus found him.

“Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.” (John 9:35-38)

In this meeting with Jesus, the man who had been physically blind saw Him for the first time. In this second encounter with Jesus, the spiritual blindness also afflicting him was removed. No longer was the blind man in spiritual darkness. Jesus brought sight. In God’s perfect timing, the healing for this man was both physical and spiritual. For the first time in his life, he saw God. Through his testimony to all around him, God’s work and His glory were displayed.

Though many that day saw truth, they chose to remain in spiritual darkness. The blind man shared the truth of the miraculous work God had done in both his physical eyes and in his heart as he professed faith in God and worshipped.

This Christmas season, pray for blind eyes to be open to the miraculous birth of our Savior. Jesus left His Father to come to earth as a helpless baby. Pray for God’s light to be seen in the spiritual darkness, so the unsaved will receive Him.

In His Love,

Susan