One of the many miracles that Jesus performed stands out for being a lesson and a demonstration to his disciples and to us, of God’s plan and interaction with His people. It is the story of the man born blind who was healed by Jesus as a display of God’s works and of the workings of faith in a fallen world: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) This is followed by a remarkable healing in which Jesus spit on the ground to make mud to place on the man’s eyes, and told him to wash them off in the Pool of Siloam, which resulted in his vision being fully restored.

This was only the beginning of Jesus’ plan and provision for this unnamed man. Jesus was being pressured by hostile Pharisees when he went in search of the man he had healed. Jesus said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “ Who is he Sir?” the man asked, “ Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe.” and he worshiped him. (John 9:35-38)

This miracle was initiated entirely by Jesus, not by the blind man or any of his friends or family. It is a mirror in which we see reflected God’s purpose and his method in drawing His people back into his fold. In this miracle Jesus heals the eyes of a blind man, but unlike other miracles he goes beyond the healing to convey belief upon the man. This reaches beyond the life of the man’s eyes, to eternal life itself. It is a powerful demonstration to us of that which transcends all physical needs: faith itself. More important than physical vision was the belief he acquired in the son of God. That belief was the real gift to the mankind, as it would never end.

Today that gift of eternal life is still conveyed by Jesus through belief in his resurrection. The gift came to the blind man by way of a healing, but it comes to us by way of the cross on which Jesus died and from which he rose to open in us a belief that, like the man born blind, defies all denial that God is offering such a gift. The man knew that he was rejected by all the temple authorities, yet he worshiped Jesus, and Jesus had in Jerusalem a man who refused to deny him.

All of Jesus’ words and works display his Father to those around him, but in this episode we can see God’s very purpose in sending Jesus. Faith is a gift offered to all. To those who receive it and thankfully worship, the door to eternal life is opened.

Love in Him,

Prue