I love the account in John 9 of the man who was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus why the man had been blind from birth. Was it because of his own sin or his parents? Jesus explained to them “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” You probably know the rest of the story. Jesus put mud on this young man’s eyes and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. Instantly, for the first time in his life, he could see!
Can you imagine that? Seeing light for the first time? Finally seeing the faces of your family and friends? What an amazing moment that must have been! His neighbors and friends began asking, “Is this the same man who used to sit here and beg? How can this be possible?” I love the first four words out of his mouth: “The man called Jesus…” That sums it all up. He was blind until he encountered Jesus. He was an outcast, lost, helpless and hopeless – until he encountered Jesus. When you encounter Jesus, he changes everything!
Not only did he have a changed life, he now had a story to tell! A little while later, the man was brought before the Pharisee’s and they questioned him as to how he could now see. But notice that he didn’t have the answers to all their questions. He didn’t understand their religious and philosophical arguments against Jesus. But there was one thing he was certain of. “One thing I know,” he said to the Pharisees, “I once was blind but now I can see!”
You and I both have a story just like this man. While our blindness may not have been physical, spiritually speaking, we were just as blind as this man was. We were blind, lost, outcast and hopeless, until we encountered a man called Jesus. Of course this was no ordinary man. This man was God in the flesh. The God who stepped out of heaven, took on human flesh and gave his life for ours on the cross. 1 Peter 2:24 says “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sin, and live for righteousness.”
Now that he has changed us, we have a story to tell. You don’t have to have all the right bible verses memorized and you don’t have to have a seminary degree. You just have to point people to Jesus – the Man who changed your life.
– Jared
