What's in a Name: HealerSample

In John chapter 9 Jesus sees a man who was born blind. The Pharisees, who were the head of the Jewish church, ask Jesus a question to try to trick Him. They ask Him who sinned: the blind man or his parents? Someone must have sinned if this man was born blind, or so they think.

Jesus’ answer is awesome. I’s one that I think we can all learn from. He says that no one sinned, and sometimes things happen so that God can be displayed through the situation. In other words, this man was born blind so that Jesus could come heal him, and His goodness and majesty can be shared through this healing.

What happens next? How does Jesus heal this guy? Great questions.

Jesus went up to the blind man, made some mud, put it on his eyes and then told him to go wash it off. When he washed it off, he could see! A complete and miraculous healing! After being born blind, this man is seeing shapes and light and color and people and nature—the whole world around him—for the very first time!!

This man who was born blind had his life radically changed by Jesus. Not only was he physically healed through being a part of a miracle, but his obedience helped him to become bold in his faith in Jesus.

Put yourself in his shoes. He was blind since the day he was born. He’s probably been told by a lot of people that his parents did something bad and therefore he was born blind. Or maybe that if he prayed hard enough, he would be healed. He was likely ignored by people every day, felt lonely and less-than.

But Jesus! He took the time to stop and speak with the blind man. He helped the blind man feel worthy, noticed, and wanted, even before he was healed! That was the first healing that happened. Before physical healing happened, Jesus helped heal the wounds of not being noticed, of loneliness. What a gracious God!

The blind man is questioned by the unbelieving people of the town and the Pharisees. Instead of getting stuck in their questions, he simply says this guy named Jesus put some mud on my eyes. I was blind and now I see. He has been changed physically AND spiritually by Jesus. His literal blind faith, to trust Jesus after he put mud on his eyes, paid off in him being healed! What a beautiful example of faith!

That’s the cool part about God. His ways are higher than ours, He knows the innermost things of our hearts. Through this physical healing, he also healed this blind man’s invisible wounds!