Engage in sacred Scripture. Read John 9:1-12.
As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. John 9:1 NASB.
As we read these passages, we can imagine Jesus walking by and nearly passing by the man born blind. I’m so glad He didn’t, because we are going to see a miracle.
How can a man born blind see?
What Does Jesus See?
It is obvious this man was born blind to the naked eye. Even the Apostles could see it. I wonder, was he born with no eyes and the eyelids sealed shut?
From the womb, his parents had high hopes for their son. But he was born blind. The blindness crushed every hope they had for him. His destiny was sealed. He would remain a lifetime beggar!
The trauma is real whenever a child is born with a birth defect.
The parents cry, asking God why? In ancient times, it was assumed that the parents had sinned or maybe the child had sinned in a former life. The parents cry, asking God why? What sin had they committed that even this child should pay the price?
Even the disciples were lost in the cry of why?
And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind? John 9:2 NASB.
This child would grow up and eventually end up a beggar outside the temple. It was obvious that he was born blind. Maybe his mother or father took him to the temple every day so he could beg for alms.
Like clockwork, the blind man sat begging in the same place. Neighbors watched him, and passersby did not forget.
Today, of all days, was different. Jesus was passing by. He didn’t beg for Jesus to heal him. We don’t even hear the sound of his voice. But today, he would feel the touch of compassion of the Son of God.
The Works of God
Jesus sees more than a man born blind. He sees why. The purpose was to show God at work and to be a sign that Jesus is the Light of the world. Without eyes, you cannot see – without the light, darkness prevails.
Did you know that there’s a rare birth defect called anophthalmia? The eye tissue doesn’t develop during pregnancy. The child can’t perceive anything visual – not even darkness. The beggar could not see because he lacked the physical capacity to do so.
How can you restore where there is nothing to restore?
What Happens in the Womb?
The work in creating the eyes is incredibly complex. We live in a day and age to understand how the eyes are formed in the womb:
- Weeks 3 to 4: The neural tubes are formed as the brain and the spinal cord begin to take shape. Two small outpockets, called optic grooves, emerge – optic vesicles grow.
- Weeks 5 to 6: The optic vesicles collapse into optic cups, so the inner part of the cup becomes the retina. The crystalline lens is now formed.
- Weeks 7 to 8: A groove at the bottom of the optic cup closes tightly, trapping the hyaloid artery inside because it provides the nutrients to form the growing eye.
- Months 3 to 5: Now the cells surrounding the front of the eye build the clear cornea and the tough white outer shell (sclera). The front edges of the optic cup shape muscles that control the pupil and focus the lens. The eyelids grow and fuse completely shut until the late second trimester period. This process protects the delicate structure underneath.
- Months 6 to 9: The eyelids now open at around 26 weeks. The photoreceptors mature, so rods and cones complete their formation. Finally, the optic nerve wraps itself in a protective coating to efficiently transmit visual signals to the brain.
After birth, the eyelids open and the child detects light and can see.
Born Blind
Scripture is not clear, but it was obvious to all that this man was born blind: no eyeballs and his eyelids sealed shut. With your mind’s eye, can you see what happens?
Jesus applies mud to the man’s eyelids like an ointment. He’s sent to the pool of Siloam to wash his face. We don’t know how he navigated from there, down the thirty-three steps to the spring-fed pool.
He bent down to wash his face. In a matter of seconds, the complex design is complete: the eyes are formed, optic nerves set in place, and visual signals are sent to the brain.
He can see!
It was neither that this man sinned nor his parents, but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 NASB.
The Work of God Displayed
Only God could do what cannot be done. Only God would get the glory here. It had been obvious that the man had been born blind, but now the Light of the world has come: the blind see!
The neighbors and passersby could see that his eyelids were open and he could see. It was such an incredible event that they thought that this was not the same man. He kept telling them, “It is me.”
How did this happen?
Only God could do this. The sign that Jesus is the Light of the world was complete.
Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:3 NASB.
What now?
We could easily move on to the religious leaders’ reaction, but let’s linger here a moment and see just what God has done.
A man born blind can now see!
God is still at work around us, doing what unbelievers find impossible. Salvation, redemption, sanctification, and eternal life are ours because of what Jesus did and is doing in our lives.
Once we were born blind (once born) and now we see because we’re born again. Jesus is still the Light of the world.
Gaining spiritual awareness is not just a miracle; it’s our birthright!
This is indeed the will of My Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day. John 6:40 NRSV.
Call to Action
The Lord has given you “spiritual eyes” to see. So make it a daily habit to engage with sacred Scripture. Not to discover what to do, but to see God.
Take your time; God has entrusted to us His breath, for Scripture is God-breathed. He is as near as the breath you breathe and as close as the beating of your heart.
Read, prayerfully, God’s word and “see” God. You’ll never regret it, for the rewards are priceless. To see God is to know Him, and to know Him is to love Him.
The love of God is shed abroad in your soul because you, who were once blind, can now see
It is God’s will for you.
May God bless and keep you until we meet again
Note: No generative artificial intelligence (AI) is used in writing Echoes of the Holy.
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