This Is What We Were Made For
The man did not instantly know everything about Jesus after his encounter with Him, but he did have a testimony: “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (see John 9:25).
This man born blind who sat begging in Jerusalem his entire life—insignificant to his whole community—suddenly had significance, suddenly had a voice. People had questions for him. They wanted to listen to him. They wanted to hear what he had to say.
Just a little while earlier, this man sat ignored (at best). An encounter with Jesus changed that forever. Jesus approached the man, spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. Then Jesus told him to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. The man went and washed, and suddenly he could see. How strange and miraculous!
The man went home seeing (and being seen). His fellow inhabitants of Jerusalem were in disbelief. They suddenly wanted to know all about him and what had happened to him. This man who was so insignificant that even his neighbors only knew him as the “man who used to sit and beg” (John 9:8, NIV) soon held court before the powerful Pharisees who, too, wanted to now know all about him and his story.
The blind man’s encounter with Jesus left him seeing physically and spiritually, and it left him with an instant, bold testimony. He wanted others to know Jesus—who Jesus is, what He had done in his life. And he told them. When the Pharisees tried to downplay what Jesus had done and who Jesus was (“as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from” (John 9:29, NIV)), the man did not hesitate to point out the truth.
“Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing” (John 9:30-33, NIV).
After his encounter with Jesus, the man wanted others to come and see Jesus—to see the eternal significance in what Jesus did for him; to see what that meant about who Jesus is and our standing in light of Him. Once he encountered Jesus, this man had something important to say to others, something to proclaim. Jesus gave him a purpose, a worth. Behold the transformation from the town beggar to one publically rebuffing the Pharisees. He had gained instant, eternal significance—and that gave him newfound gumption and perspective.
The man’s life now had eternal consequence as he was able to point to Jesus the Savior—to point others to the truth. He suddenly became evidence of Jesus and His love and power. God instantly equipped him to be used to change the lives of people and to represent Him. He was a living, walking, seeing testimony to Jesus.
Earlier, before Jesus had approached the blind man, He had told His disciples that the man was born blind “so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3, NIV). Indeed.
Like the man born blind, once we encounter Jesus our powerful God changes us, and we, too, find our purpose for which we were created. This gives each of us a testimony to share and eternal significance.
The works of God are displayed in us, and they testify about Jesus. Others can see these works and come to know and understand and believe who Jesus is for themselves (see John 10:25, 38).
We encounter the Good News. We receive the Good News. Then we realize that we have the privilege to be the hands and feet to help share the Good News.
Disciples who make disciples. What could be more significant than having the role of being a representative of the Kingdom of God? What a thrill! What an honor! In this world consumed by the fleetingness of time, we get to join with and point to and praise the One who does not change like shifting shadows.
Like the man born blind, Jesus gives us opportunity and boldness and a passion to ask our captivated neighbors and fellow citizens, “Do you want to become His disciples, too?” (John 9:27, NIV).
This is what we were made for!
Since I met this blessed Savior
Since He cleansed and made me whole
I will never cease to praise Him
I’ll shout it while eternity rolls…
(From “He Touched Me” written by William J. Gaither)
Destiny Teasley lives in Nevada, where she is a lover of the arts, pop culture, and travel (you'll often find her daydreaming about being in Israel or Disneyland). She delights in encountering beauty in the world and helping others to see and celebrate it for themselves. Destiny studied at Baylor, UNLV, Oxford, and Dallas Theological Seminary. You can find more of her writing at her blog,whentherockscryout.com .