"Whereas I was blind, now I see"

Do you ever read certain stories about the Savior and think, "Why did I not see how amazing this story is before?" I feel like often I will read a story about Jesus Christ, and initially think, "Yeah I know this story. I've heard it before." I'll keep reading, and before long, things are jumping off the page that I never noticed before, and I am making connections in my brain to my life and my situations. I think, for me personally, this is one of the strongest ways God gives me revelation. I have often felt like the man in the story I read this week, who when healed by Jesus declared "whereas I was blind, now I see."

You'll remember the story found in the book of John chapter 9. Jesus and his disciples pass by a blind man who has been blind since birth. The disciples of Christ ask, "who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answers, "Neither hath this man sinned nor his parents." For the rest of this post, I'd like to copy straight from the Bible the text, with my few insights and what really stood out to me as I read and was taught this week.

3...but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Could it be that sometimes we deal with trials and challenges simply so that the works of God can be made manifest in us? And oftentimes, while we are the beneficiaries of those works, there are others as well that will be blessed and have a renewed strength in the Savior because of God's dealings with us. Too often, I look at my challenges and issues and think, "Okay God, why aren't you hearing me asking you to take this away from me?" I think a much better prayer to a loving Heavenly Father would be something along the lines of, "God, teach me what it is that you need me to know because of this."

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

This to me is so beautiful! Can you imagine what it would be like for the blind man to have someone put dirt on your eyes? I'm sure he's nervous or scared or thinking, "What in the world is going on?" Then this person tells you to go to this pool and wash it off! Recognize that Christ doesn't tell him that he will be healed, He just asks this blind man to be obedient. Too often in my life, I am looking for the direct blessing of doing what the Savior has asked of me, and not just being obedient and waiting for the blessing to come.

8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 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.

12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.

14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.

16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

Whenever we have a spiritual experience in our lives, the adversary is going to do everything he possibly can to make us forget or doubt what has just happened. In this case, the blind man is not only confronted by the Pharisees and told that what has happened can't be from God, but they also question him, the blind man! They doubt whether or not he is the same man. I wonder what he is thinking while they sit there and question that. If we look at these verses with a different perspective, the Pharisees are actually correct. The blind man is different. He has changed. Each of us will experience a change in our lives when we have had an experience with the Savior of the World. We then are asked to stand firm in that belief, and not let the questioning or doubting of others deter our faith.

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.

19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?

20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.

22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.

Sometimes even those closest to us will not believe the miracles that have happened in our lives. At first, I wondered why his parents wouldn't admit in front of the Pharisees that in all reality, this had happened. Verse 22 adds some clarification to why that might be. Sometimes, one of the biggest challenges we may face after having an experience with the Savior of the World will be whether or not we will be okay standing completely and utterly alone.

24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.

29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Once again, completely alone, knowing that a man named Jesus has done this, but I am sure he might be questioning. It's hard not too when everyone else around you is putting you down, casting you out, and making it seem like you are lying. Despite it all, however, we know that we are never alone.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

It is my personal belief that when we have done all that we possibly can to stand up for the Savior and His teachings, and when we feel that we are at our absolute lowest of lows, we recognize that the Savior is there. I love how in the video (see the end of the this post to watch it) the Savior comes to the blind man, teaches him that He is in fact the Lord Jesus Christ, and then with open arms accepts his loving embrace. Our Lord and Savior is always available to each and every one of us. He is always watching, and He perfectly understands the issues and trials we face as we strive to become more like Him. How grateful I am for the spiritual experience I have had with Jesus that have helped me "see" Him better. How grateful I am that as I strive to be one of His disciples, even if everyone else around me is trying to diminish or cast away my belief that Jesus is always near.

Each of us are blind. We come to Earth having passed through a veil. We need to be taught and reminded of the truthfulness of the Gospel. We need to be reminded that Jesus is the Christ, and that He heals all that is broken or not right. Each of us in our lives will face times where we have received sight, a higher vision of who we are and what we can become, and will then be faced with the daunting task of defending our new spiritual perspective. May we each follow the Savior's counsel and commands, which allow us to "see" more clearly. May we each find the courage to stand up in defense of the One who makes the miracle possible, and know that someday we will find ourselves in His loving embrace.