March 05, 2026 | Be Connected
Was Blind but Now I See!
Scripture: John 9:24-34(NIV)
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” 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!”
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Devotional
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.
This is one of my favorite hymns and one of the most beloved hymns of all time. And the last line of this verse is taken directly from vs. 25 of today’s passage. Amazing Grace was written by John Newton in 1772. Newton grew up with no religious belief and, through various life choices, became heavily involved in the Atlantic slave trade in England. He was known as one of the most disrespectful and vulgar men at sea. But God and God’s grace saved John Newton. He had a conversion experience, became an Anglican clergy and eventually worked with William Wilberforce to abolish the slave trade in Britain. Amazing Grace is his spiritual autobiography. He had been born blind to the injustice with which he was involved but was healed of his blindness and experienced the truth.
In this passage, the Jewish leaders were adamant that Jesus was a sinner. After all, the Law explicitly forbids working on the Sabbath and Jesus had healed this man of his blindness on the Sabbath. The man, then, is being badgered by the religious authorities. They are desperate to get him to admit that Jesus is a sinner. They knew the prophecies of the Hebrew scriptures. “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” (Isa. 35:5) But this man Jesus just could not be “from God.” He was a sinner!
But the healed man - this uneducated and forgotten man - displays exceptional wisdom as he speaks to the authorities with extraordinary boldness. He admits that he does not understand it all but does know one thing - he now can see. That is the undeniable truth of his situation. And if God rejects sinners, why has his sight been restored? Fearless against the authorities, he declares, “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” We can see clearly the contrast between the blindness and conceit of the Pharisees with the vision and humility of the man healed of his blindness.
Who truly is the blind one in this story? The religious leaders were blind to who Jesus really was. They just could not see. Their pride and jealousy prevented them from the truth. But the blind man from birth was now healed and is a testament to the power of a transformed life. He experienced the truth of Jesus and is the model of Christian witness.
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.......Was blind but now I see.”
