I Can See
He answered, “Whether or not he’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, but now I can see!
John 9:25 (CSB)
People often find it difficult to grasp how Jesus changes a person's life. Many times, I've heard conversations about someone who has received Jesus, where others focus on their past mistakes and former behaviors. They try to dismiss their salvation and doubt its validity. Such discussions are not new. In John 9, Jesus healed a blind man, and when others tried to diminish the experience, the man refused to let them take away his joy and simply stated that he could see. When we share our God story, we must not concern ourselves with the words and thoughts of others; we must declare, “I can see.”
We should acknowledge our previous ignorance. The man in John 9, who was blind, doesn’t argue with others about his past blindness. He understands it far better than anyone else. He doesn’t dismiss his former condition but focuses on his present reality. When sharing our experiences with Christ, we shouldn’t deny our past. We acknowledge it because it forms the backdrop for our current reality. Remembering our blindness makes the sight we have now even more precious and clear. It’s essential to look back at our life before Christ and recognize the truth of our sinful blindness.
We should remember what Jesus did. The man who gained sight in John 9 understood this well. He wasn't worried about how others tried to dismiss the event, but simply indicated that he didn’t know much about their questions concerning Jesus, but he knew that he was blind and now he can see. The man didn't focus on the proper procedures or whether Jesus's actions were accepted by others. He merely knew Jesus had transformed his life. He was blind, and now he sees. This is a vital truth for us. We shouldn't be concerned with how others judge our relationship with Jesus; instead, we should trust in the truth of what the Lord has done in our lives.
We need to proclaim our vision. The only message the man who regained his sight could share was his ability to see. It was a direct and clear experience. He shared this message because of his encounter with Jesus. When we meet Jesus, we declare a message about Christ based on our personal experience. The message isn't complicated; it’s simply the Gospel. We shouldn’t worry excessively about questions we cannot answer, but rather focus on declaring the One we do know.
Following the example of the man who regained his sight helps us identify key parts of our God story. We need to talk about life before meeting Christ, what Christ has done for us, and our ongoing walk with Jesus.
QUESTIONS
How would you define and describe your life before encountering Jesus?
How would you express Jesus’ work in your life today?
