Day 65 – I Can See Clearly Now

Read:  John 9: 13-41

To this point in John 9, the man born blind had not claimed to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.  When questioned by the Pharisees, he said he knew nothing about Jesus other than the fact that He was the One who had healed him.  This experience was, however, enough to lead the healed man to assume that Jesus was at least a prophet (John 9:17) and was certainly from God (John 9:33). The Pharisees had already warned that anyone caught saying that Jesus was the Messiah would be kicked out of the synagogue (John 9:22). While both of this man's claims fell short of declaring faith in Jesus as the Christ, he was, nonetheless, put out of the synagogue.

Following his caustic encounter with the Pharisees, Jesus found the healed man.  Not having seen Jesus, the once-blind man had no way of knowing that this was the Man who had healed him.  He had heard Jesus' voice during their first encounter, so it is safe to assume that when Jesus began to speak, the healed man may have at least suspected that this was his Healer.

Jesus’ question to the man was simple, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 

“Who is he, sir?” The man’s response was earnest. “Tell me so that I may believe in him” (John 9:36).

Jesus then completed the “blind” man’s healing by allowing him to see what to this point had only been a faint hint of faith. “You have now SEEN him;” Jesus declared, “he is the one speaking to you” (John 9:37).

The man responded to Jesus in much the same way those of us who have never physically seen Jesus respond to Him today, “‘Lord, I believe,’ and he fell down and worshipped him” (John 9:38).

The Bible tells us that faith is "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).  We are also assured that there will come a day when all dim reflections will be made clear (1 Corinthians 13:12).

A day when our faith will become sight.  On that day, "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).

When my life work is ended

And I cross the swelling tide,

When the bright and glorious morning I shall see,

I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,

And His smile will be the first to welcome me.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

And redeemed by His side I shall stand.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

I shall know Him by the print of the nails in His hand.

- Fanny J. Crosby