Contemplative Bible Reading

John 9:32 (New Century Version)

Nobody has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a man born blind.

This simple statement is part of the (hi)story of Jesus giving sight to a man who was born blind. Jesus made mud from dirt and spit, put the mud on the man’s face, and told him to go wash it off. Note, Jesus did not tell the man that he would have sight by washing; Jesus just told him to wash his muddy  face.

I think the key to this miracle is the man’s statement shown above. Jesus performed miracles. Some prophets performed miracles in the Old Testament. None of the old prophets had ever given sight to a person born blind. Not Elijah, not Elisha, not Samuel – none of them. Jesus raised people from the dead; that had been done before. Jesus healed crippled people; that had been done before. Jesus gave sight to this man born blind; that had never happened before.

The man here is speaking to the Pharisees. They knew the old scriptures, they knew this miracle was a first. The Pharisees didn’t want to believe that Jesus was from God. Jesus didn’t fit their notion of what the Messiah would be. This healing, among others, occurred on the Sabbath, and that just didn’t fit with someone sent from God.

The Pharisees couldn’t retort the man here. The man knew the scriptures. Everyone present in his hearing knew the scriptures. Note how simple, honest, and powerful was the man’s testimony. There has always been something powerful in simplicity and honesty.