A man transformed and sight restored

Why would someone be born blind? Is there a preexisting condition in the parents? Or did something happen to the child before birth? These questions have been asked for centuries, and even though medical science can often provide an explanation, there may still be a feeling that somebody somewhere did something wrong.

Jesus and his disciples came face to face with this point of view during an encounter with a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples—interested in learning how to heal, perhaps—asked Jesus directly: who’s to blame, the man or his parents?

According to John’s Gospel, Jesus replies, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” For Jesus, healing began with the assertion that the man’s relationship with God was the only factor to consider. But it also seems to me that in his Gospel John wants to explore how the man’s inner sight changes as people question him after his healing.

First, the neighbors accost him and want to know if it’s really true that he has had his sight restored. “How were thine eyes opened?” they ask him. Perhaps not fully realizing what has happened to him or maybe unable to describe the underlying force of this healing, the man focuses on the human interaction, saying, in essence: “The man Jesus did it.”

Next he is marched off to the Pharisees, who want to hear the story for themselves. In response, they proclaim that Jesus is not from God because he did this healing work on the Sabbath. Others say that he must be of God because how else could he have healed the man.

And now we begin to see a change in the man. Perhaps more convinced that he has been touched by something of God, he is less hesitant in telling about his experience. He declares that the man who healed him was a prophet. The Hebrew tradition was that only two prophets were healers, Elisha and Elijah. By putting Jesus in this category, the man is elevating Jesus’ work, despite the Pharisees’ disapproval. That’s a very bold step to take!

Clearly, this is not very satisfying to the Pharisees and they are divided over how to interpret what has happened. They call in the man’s parents to confirm that he was blind from birth but now can see. Afraid of what might happen to them if they answer truthfully, the parents reply: “He is of age; ask him.”

What follows is an incredible exchange between the man and the Pharisees, during which he staunchly defends Jesus against their accusation that he is a sinner. The man’s words have rung down through the ages: “Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” As the dialogue continues, he declares a bit later: “Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.”

Through John’s account of this healing, we see the physical and moral transformation of the man. In addition to a dramatic physical healing, the man perceives the spiritual implications of what has happened to him. His expulsion from the temple acquaints him with some of the challenges that result from following Christ. He becomes a Christian hero, willing to defend Jesus’ healing ministry.

When Jesus learns what has happened to the man, he seeks him out and reveals to him his true nature as the Son of God. The man responds, “Lord, I believe.”

What a wonderful affirmation of the transformation that has taken place! Throwing off a lifetime of physical and religious beliefs, he identifies himself with the newfound spiritual vision that has restored his physical eyesight.

His testimonial has helped many people down through the centuries. In The Manual of The Mother Church Mary Baker Eddy pointed out the great value of such testimonials, which provide proof that the healing Christ is present. She wrote: “Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ, ‘who healeth all thy diseases’ (Psalm 103:3)” (p. 47 ).

The healing touch of Christ opens the way to a more spiritualized sense of who we are. We can turn away from human history, with all its limitations, to see more clearly that our identity transcends heredity and other material factors. This new-found vision of our relationship to Christ heals and empowers us.

Vision restored:

Science and Health

King James Bible