As [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam”(this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. … Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “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 9:1-7,35-38
A Miracle
Daily Devotion – March 4, 2018
Devotion based on John 9:1-7,35-38
See series: Devotions
“Why doesn’t Jesus ever do stuff like this for me?”
Do you ever find yourself asking that question after reading a Bible story like this one? There he was—a man who had been blind since birth—and just like that, Jesus restores his sight! His greatest problem fixed in a flash. What a miracle!
But don’t you have similar problems in your life? You may not be physically blind, but what about your other health problems? What about your emotional problems? Your financial problems? Your relationship problems? Jesus certainly has the power to fix those problems too, doesn’t he? You wonder, “Why doesn’t Jesus ever do stuff like this for me?”
When you find yourself asking that question, consider this: Was this man’s physical blindness really his greatest problem? Jesus makes it clear that it was not. Even after restoring his physical sight, Jesus seeks out this no longer blind man once again in order to fix a far greater problem—a problem that every single human being is born with—spiritual blindness. This man could not see Jesus as his Savior from sin.
So, what did Jesus do for him? Jesus opened his eyes again. Only this time Jesus did not grant physical sight; he granted spiritual sight. Jesus caused this man to see what he could not see before—that Jesus, “the light of the world,” was his Savior. “Lord, I believe,” was the man’s simple confession of faith. Through it, he now possessed all the blessings that come through faith in Christ: the forgiveness of sins, the comfort of salvation, and the certain hope of eternal life. What a miracle!
Why doesn’t Jesus ever do stuff like this for you? Dear friend, he has! For you, too, were born in the same helpless condition—spiritually blind, stuck in the darkness of unbelief, and unable to see Jesus as your Savior. But then Jesus performed a miracle in your life. Through the waters of your baptism and the message of his Word, Jesus opened up your eyes. He brought you out of the darkness of unbelief, granting you spiritual sight. You, too, are now able to confess, “Lord, I believe.” You, too, now see Jesus, “the Light of the world,” as your Savior from sin. What a miracle. A miracle that Jesus has done for you!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world. Thank you for overcoming the darkness of unbelief in my heart, that I may see you as my Savior from sin. Amen.
This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.
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