“’If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,’ Jesus replied. ‘But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.’” (John 10:41 NLT)
What draws you to another person? What do you look for in a prospective friend? If you’re looking for a spouse, what is it about that special someone you won’t live without? Whether we realize it or not, we all have, for lack of a better way to describe it, a mental “checklist” that we scan when we see or meet someone for the first time.
A phone conversation with my wife was our first contact with one another. She was an oncology nurse who was assigned to my son’s care when he was diagnosed with leukemia. That was nearly thirty years ago, but I still tell her that I loved her before we ever met. At first it wasn’t a physical attraction, but more of an emotional appreciation that I had for her. She gave me hope that my son would survive his illness.
The verse above is the closing verse of John chapter 9 that tells the story of a man born blind. After being healed the Pharisees badgered him for an explanation, which led to a verse that always makes me smile when I read it: “’I don’t know whether He is a sinner,’ the man replied. ‘But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!’” (John 9:25 NLT)
Jesus’ problem with the Pharisees was they were “blind” spiritually but claimed they could see. Unfortunately, that’s still a common problem. One of my greatest fears centers on the fact that I don’t know what I don’t know. That’s one of the reasons I love Jesus. He gives me hope. My “sight” may not be perfect now, but this one thing I know: “Once I was ‘blind,’ but now I see! Once I had no hope, but now I’m walking in newness of life I never knew existed before I met Jesus!”
When we first meet Jesus, similarly to how it is when we first meet anyone, we have no assurance that He is who He claims to be – God in human flesh! Savior of mankind! The only way to heaven!
When I first met my wife, I didn’t know what kind of nurse she was. I had no idea of her “credentials,” but I loved her anyway. Of course, had she proven over time she was the proverbial “quack” nurse, it might have changed my opinion of her.
But isn’t that the issue? She was the “real deal.” She was everything she claimed to be and more, just like Jesus. I’ve now been walking with my wife for nearly 30 years and the longer I’m with her, the more reasons she gives me to love her more. April 10, 1992 was our first date, and I was so nervous I couldn’t stop shaking. In my mind, she was (and is 😊) way out of my league.
That’s similar to the way I feel about Jesus. The more I get to know Him, the more assurance I have that He’s exactly who He claims to be. He’s never lied. He’s never made a promise He hasn’t kept. He’s walked with me on the mountain tops and in the deep, deep valleys. When earthly friends were walking away, Jesus was running in.
In John 9:35 Jesus asks the former blind man: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” To which the man responded: “Who is He sir? I want to believe in Him.” Jesus said to the man who now could see: “You have seen Him…and He is speaking to you!” That’s when the man fell at Jesus’ feet and worshipped Him! In my mind’s eye I can see Jesus asking those questions with His winsome smile, and the former blind man answering Jesus: “Yes, Lord, I believe, and I love what I now see!”
Being blind enabled that man to have heightened awareness in the use of his other senses. Even though he hadn’t seen Jesus physically, I have no doubt he would have recognized His voice. And, like me and my wife, I’m confident He loved Jesus even before he “met” Him.
Have you met Him? He’s the “real deal!” He delivers far more than He promises, and His promises are awesome. Maybe you’ve walked in blindness long enough. Let Him heal your “blindness” and enable you to see things you’ve never seen before. I’ll guarantee you – you’ll like what you see!
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 