Evidence

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

EVIDENCE

John 9:6-12

6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man." 10 "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded. 11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." 12 "Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.

NIV

Having just said that He was the light of the world and that this man’s blindness was not a result of sin, but so the work of God could be displayed in his life, he now proceeds to heal the man. It is interesting that Jesus did not just restore his sight instantly, but made mud and had the man go and wash it off in order for him to be able to see. What must it have been for this man who had never seen anything, never knew what light was, all of a sudden to able to see everything for the first time in his life. John does not tell us if this man was excited, and telling everyone about his miracle, but just that he went home seeing. Did he appear that different just because he could see, that some of his neighbors said he was not who he was, but just a look-alike? We are just at the beginning of a very long narrative surrounding this man born blind who now can see. However, why were people so confused about whether he was that man born blind and now can see? Maybe they just could not believe in miracles and had to come up with some other explanation. But he said he was the man born blind and now he could see. Well, then they had to know how his eyes were opened. If in fact, he is that man, how in the world could this have happened? This nameless man, which is interesting that the whole narrative is about this blind man, and we are not told his name. We don’t know any of the names of his neighbors and as we look further in this narrative to its conclusion, we are not told any of the names of anyone, except the name of Jesus. Everything is always all about Jesus, this is why John wrote this account, this gospel, to show the divinity of Jesus. Yet, the story also gives us insight into the heart of men. Some will refuse to believe even when the evidence is right in front of them. Even if this is the man who was blind, then where is this man they call Jesus? They needed more proof, more evidence before they were going to take his word. Is that the same today? Do some always want more evidence before they will believe? What about us believers? Do we want more evidence before we will believe for healing? Do we want more evidence before we believe Jesus will provide for us, especially in this pandemic period in our culture? Although it is a nasty situation and we should be wise in our affairs of life, not putting God to a foolish test, we still have to know that he is watching over us and that should include protecting us from all harm. It would seem we either believe or we want more evidence, which would mean we really do not believe. The question is which side of the fence we stand.  Yes, be careful, be wise, but believe. These people, although the proof was before them, could not believe. How much proof do we need? We can recount the multiple miracles Jesus did in our life, almost too many to enumerate without writing a book. So then why would he stop now? Why would he not continue to work miraculously in our life? He will and he does, we believe it. We do not need any more evidence.