Fanciful Stories?
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he
was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he:
others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto
him, How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is
called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me,
Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I
received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know
not. They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
John 9:8-13
Read Luke 7:19-23
The neighbours were the first to notice what had happened. They had seen
the blind man begging in the past, but now they were confused; was he the
formerly blind man or did he merely look like him? It could not be otherwise!
When the man heard their questioning he said: I am he. Of course this
required investigation. He was soon surrounded by a group of people. Repeatedly
they asked: Is it truly you? Weren’t you formerly blind? We would
do that too, wouldn’t we? Just imagine if you knew a blind person who had
his sight restored, so when you met him again he could see. Would you not
respond: That’s unbelievable!? This is indeed impossible with man but not
with God, for He opens the eyes of the blind (Ps. 146:8).
The crowd received an answer to their questions. The man born blind bore
witness to what had happened; he told the complete truth. This formerly
blind beggar was an eyewitness of what had occurred. No, he did not recount
some fanciful stories, but he personally experienced full restoration
of his sight. At this juncture he did not know everything about the Lord, but
one thing he knew: A man named Jesus restored his sight. More he did not
know. He did not even know where the Lord Jesus went. But neither did he
conceal what he knew.
Do you know where the Lord Jesus can be found? That is a question we
need to face. The neighbours of this man did not look for the Lord Jesus.
You might have expected them to do so. Instead, they brought him to the
Pharisees. Who would have expected that? We do not just need to be religious,
but we need the Lord Jesus Himself!
Thought: By nature we are all spiritually blind.
Psalter 400: 1,5 (based on Psalm 146)
Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises Of my God through all my days.
Food He daily give the hungry, Sets the mourning prisoner free,
Raises those bowed down with anguish, Makes the sightless eyes to see.
