24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God," they said. "We know this man is a sinner."25 He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"
Isn’t it interesting how smug and confident unbelief comes across in the attitudes of our interrogators of this once blind man? Regarding Jesus, they so confidently, albeit wrongly, proclaim – “We know this man is a sinner”! You can certainly feel by the force of their words they held their opinion in high esteem. They were learned men with pomp and splendor – they knew best, or so they thought. Unfortunately, faith and confidence in the wrong thing does not make it the right thing – no matter how much we may hope and wish that it were so! We must never be so convinced of our own rightness that we miss the way, that we miss the Truth. Paul tells us:
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 1 Cor 1:25 (NIV)
All the while our healed protagonist tenaciously clings to what he knows to be true. He had had a firsthand experience with the Truth and no one was going to alter his stand, change his mind, or convince him of anything differently- it was fact no matter how much they belittled or ridiculed him. Simply put, he had been healed and no one knew it better than he. He once had lived in blackest darkness never seeing the light of day. His job description consisted of begging for alms because his sightless eyes had prevented his labor. He had never had the privilege of seeing a sunrise or a sunset, a bright sunny day or a starry night. Both a smile and the gazing into the eyes of another had totally eluded him. So much of the life he had missed was now being fully displayed in vivid color all for the sheer enjoyment of his viewing. A flower, a butterfly, a bird, and a bee - all the sights he could now clearly see must have been overwhelming to his senses. It was a fact that no one could convince him any differently of – he had been blind up until that very day - then he encountered Jesus, the restorer of sight. He knew very little about Him. Indeed, all he knew he clearly stated. He did not know if Jesus was a sinner or not – but what he was confident of he was faithful to proclaim boldly: “I was blind but now I see!” He does not let himself get sidetracked rather he sticks to the reality of the miracle itself.
“He was theologically untrained. He may have been totally unschooled. He had only recently even heard the name of Jesus. And yet he stood before the most powerful and learned religious men of his day and witnessed to them. He couldn’t articulate an elaborate proof of the deity of Christ. He didn’t have any well-written brochures complete with Scripture verses and diagrams. He simply told what had happened to him when he met Jesus.” Touch Point Reference Bible
I am reminded of the words written in Acts regarding Peter and John’s boldness as well:
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NIV)
When Christ has worked a true work of grace on a heart by His Spirit the recipient remains forever changed. True encounters with Jesus will do that. We can remember how it was before our spiritual eyes were opened and we are not anxious to go back to once again wallowing in the mud. Just as when a blind man is given sight his physical view of everything changes, so too, when our spiritual eyes are opened the view of everything changes – in both cases, neither are desirous of turning back to their original conditions. When the lame can leap, the lame desires to leap and when the blind can see, the blind desires to see. Paul tells us:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Cor 5:17 (NIV)
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:11-14 (NIV)
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” C.S. Lewis
“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed. The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures. When we've been here ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we've first begun.” John Newton