There was once a time when the world knew not of its Savior. Yet there was hope because it had been foretold that a child would be born and called Emmanuel – God is with us. In Lent, we prepare for his coming anew. During this season, we discover for ourselves the call of salvation and the promise of eternal life.
Do you see?
Jesus was walking with his disciples when he came across a blind man. He determined to do the work God had sent him to do. He approached the blind man. Jesus spat on his eyes and then kneeled to the ground to use the liquid on his hands to form a mass of clay from the dirt. He rose and placed the clay over the eyes of the sightless man and prayed over him. He told the man to go to the pool and cleanse his face. Once he did as Jesus commanded, the man could see.
The people of the town were incredulous. They had known this man and knew he was blind from birth. They asked him what had happened. He told them how Jesus had made him see. The Pharisees, the principal authorities for the townspeople, demanded that the man tell them the truth of how he was healed. They didn’t believe that Jesus was capable of performing such a miracle. They even called for the man’s parents to testify. They acknowledged that their son was blind from birth, but they did not know how he had been made to see.
The Pharisees summoned the man again. They repeated that their skepticism and threatened him with punishment if he was engaging in a sinful pretense with Jesus. The man said:
“Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)
The Pharisees continued to chastise him and denigrate Jesus. Once again, they demanded he tell them the truth. He said:
“I have told you already and you did not listen.” (John 9:27)
Refusing to accept what the man told them, the Pharisees threw him out in disdain.
Jesus saw that the man had been rejected and came to him. He assured him that his faith would be rewarded. He said:
“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” (John 9:39)
Some nearby Pharisees overheard the conversation and sarcastically asked if they were considered to be blind. Jesus said:
“If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” (John 9:41)
Jesus is in our life daily in word and spirit. He tells us why he was sent to us by God. He teaches us how to live according to God’s commandments. Through his life, death, and resurrection he shows us how to gain eternity in God’s kingdom.
This is the way of Jesus.
Do you see?
These Gospel stories are re-imagined in the book series:
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