“One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see” (John 9:25).

As a writing instructor, I frequently railed against the use of clichés, those ready-made, oh-so-handy phrases that eliminate thinking about word choice. “But the cliché says exactly what I want to say,” students would moan. “Don’t be lazy; use your own words,” I would (kindly) retort. At the risk of losing all credibility, I am going to use several clichés to help us Step into the Story of the man healed of his blindness because, yes, they say exactly what I want to say!

Blind faith. When we use that cliché, we mean figurative blindness. We act without full knowledge, trusting someone or something will come through for us. But this man must exhibit literally blind faith. He must believe the words of a Man he’s never heard of, let Him put saliva-infused mud on his eyes, and then get someone to lead him to a specific pool of water. Jesus doesn’t even say why He’s doing this. Yet the man submits and then goes.

Has anyone ever accused you of not seeing the forest for the trees? Being distracted by details can mean we can’t (or won’t) see the whole picture. Could any accusation be more applicable to the Pharisees who have stepped into this man’s story? All they can see is Jesus performed a so-called miracle on a maybe-he-wasn’t-even-blind man on the Sabbath. The man’s testimony is irrefutable, but they keep focusing on trees, repeatedly questioning the man, his neighbors, his parents. Their myopia is crucial. Without it, they’d have to believe in Jesus, the bigger picture, and thus radically alter their own lives. 

I love how this man, facing likely expulsion from the synagogue, gives as good as he gets. Insulted by the Pharisees and harangued by question after question, he doesn’t back down. He (yes, I know) gives as good as he gets. Just listen to his boldness: 

“I have answered you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become His disciples, too? You don’t know where [Jesus] comes from, yet He opened my eyes. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing” (vv.27, 30-33). 

With hostility bordering on fanaticism, the Pharisees indeed “throw him out” (v.34). 

I count at least fourteen questions in this passage (mostly religious badgering) before Jesus gets to the heart of the matter with one eternally significant question: “‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Lord, I believe’ and he worshiped Him” (v.35). 

This is true sight, not blind faith. This is seeing the forest because of the trees. This is getting as good as it could ever get.

Lord, rescue us from focusing on peripheral issues. Help us center our sight on You.