Blind from Birth
As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)
There once was a man who couldn’t see. He was born blind. He couldn’t see trees. He couldn’t see houses. He couldn’t see his friends or his family. (Feel free to close your eyes for a minute and image what that would be like.)
Jesus and His 12 helpers saw this man as they were walking down the road one day. As they passed the blind man, they asked a question: “Jesus, who sinned? Was this man born blind because he disobeyed God, or was this man born blind because his parents disobeyed God?”
Jesus quickly answered, “Neither! This man wasn’t born blind because of anyone’s sin. This man was born blind so everyone could see how big and great God is!” Jesus then performed a miracle, something only God could do. He bent low to the ground, spit on the dirt, and scooped up a little mud into his hands. He squished it between his fingers and gently smeared it over the man’s eyes.
Then Jesus said to the man, “Go and wash at the pool of Siloam where the water flows from a fresh spring. The man heard Jesus, he found his way to the water, and he washed. As the mud washed away from his eyes, the blind man became the seeing man! He could see trees. He could see houses. He could see his friends and his family!
Everyone in town was amazed and somewhat confused. They asked, “How can the blind man now see?” The seeing man answered, “I don’t know who he is. I don’t know how it worked. I do know one thing. I was blind but now I see!” Later that day, Jesus found the seeing man. The man saw Jesus! He believed, and he worshipped Him.
Friends, what can we learn?
- We don’t need to know why people are hurting before we help people them. Be like Jesus and help.
- We can all be blind to the sin in our lives because sometimes we don’t like what we see. Be like the seeing man. Listen to Jesus, choose to obey, and believe.
- Know that our God is mighty. He can do big things. He helped the blind man. He can help you, too.
Writer: Shannon Meadors
Shannon Meadors is Minister to Children at Nashville First. She is married to Kyle Meadors. (Best husband EVER!) They have two children, Jacob (17) and Ava Lauren (14) and have been members at First for 12 years. Shannon’s favorite things are cheering on our kids, soaking up sunshine, and getting to tell First Kids about Jesus! Easter is her favorite holiday.