Jesus is Essential
John 9:36–41: He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
The blind man knew his need. “I see” was not a part of his vocabulary. He knew he was in the dark, and he knew it was not only physical but spiritual. We can be sure that the disciples’ discussion about the cause of his blindness was not his first exposure to the idea of his being a great sinner.
And while he did not know whose sin caused his blindness (if indeed anyone’s), he did know he was a sinner. Self-sufficient? No. He was a beggar. Proud? Proud of what? His status? His great knowledge? His physique? His accomplishments? Ironically, that is possible. He could have said to himself, “I am the best beggar there is. I am the king of beggars.” But the thrust of our chapter is one who sees his need—the blind who want to see. 1
Walking with Jesus
How do “seeing eyes” become blinded by the philosophies of this world? What causes this blindness to happen? How can this blindness be cured? How can spiritual blindness be prevented from infecting the sight of our youth and young adults?
He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
Seeing is believing, when our eyes are upon Jesus.
Praying
Lord, open my eyes to see Your greatness, and open my heart to worship You.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
