John 9
“One thing I know,” replied the poor beggar to the scribes and the doctors who sought to make him deny his faith “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
Not all the learning of his judges could drive this knowledge out of him! Arguments, threats, persuasions, could not shake him out of the belief in the sight which he possessed and, therefore, in the One who had given him his sight. No one could gainsay the fact that the man had his sight. He stood before the council with his eyes open, and all the efforts made to disprove his having been blind were in vain. His testimony was his victory: “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
It is ever refreshing to read of this man’s simplicity, to note his wonder at the folly of the wise men who examined him, and his amazement at their ill-speaking of Him who had opened his eyes! Holiness, power, and grace, he was assured, dwelt in Christ Jesus, for to none but one who did God’s will would God give such power. Since the world was, who before had had the power to give sight to one born blind? Who but One of perfect grace would have condescended to give sight to a blind beggar?
“I received sight,” “I... do see,” “I see,” “He hath opened mine eyes,” were the glad words of the man, which character of argument all advance who have had their eyes opened by the Lord. Each truly converted person can and does say: “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see”; and saying this, he utters his faith in the mighty power and grace of Christ as wrought in himself.
Jesus is the light of life. He opens our eyes to see the reality of our sinful state by nature—of God’s hatred against sin, and of the preciousness of the blood which cleanses us from all sin. How comforting to get back from the dust of conflict, from the clamor of controversy, to this exultant point, “One thing I know”! I know—I, myself, for myself—for Jesus has done a great work in me, as well as for me. He bade me obey His word; I obeyed, and I see!
Such faith as this is not easily disturbed. Modern infidelity has no more influence upon this simplicity than has an army of locusts upon a stone wall. Weak and feeble reasonings may go down and perish before its advance, but no infidelity can disprove to a man who sees that he has his sight.
Simple faith in Jesus is a stronghold for the soul. How often has the testimony of what Jesus has done broken up the ranks of skeptics! The poor blind man, of whom we speak, had received his sight and he rejoiced in it. True, the doctors of the law cast him out of the synagogue. They were the blind the spiritually blind and this the man felt and saw; he had light.
After he had been cast out, Jesus found him and He said unto him, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”
Jesus ever finds and comforts such as suffer for His Name. He would not have it that the man should be the loser. Having lost his parents and the advantages of the synagogue for Christ’s sake, the Lord revealed Himself to the man, and he worshipped Him. To belong to the synagogue, with Christ outside it, was indeed but poor honor.
To belong to Christ, and to worship Him and the Father, is honor indeed.
“THERE IS A WAY
WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT
UNTO A MAN; BUT THE
END THEREOF ARE
THE WAYS OF DEATH.”
“JESUS SAITH.
I AM THE WAY, THE
TRUTH, AND THE LIFE:
NO MAN COMETH
UNTO THE FAIRER,
BUT BY ME.”