John 9:24-29: a reflection

24So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25He therefore answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.” 26They said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?” 28They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.”

The man born blind, whom Jesus has healed, is dragged before the religious authorities, who are determined to discredit the miracle. They press him, argue with him, insist that Jesus is a sinner. But the man will not be moved from what he knows. He cannot answer all their theological objections; but he holds to one thing that no argument can take from him: Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.

Notice the simple strength of his testimony: one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see. He does not claim to have all the answers; he cannot debate the learned authorities on their own ground. But he knows what has happened to him, what God has done in his own life, and to that he holds firmly. His personal experience of Christ's work was something no clever argument could overturn; it was simply, unshakably, true.

That is an encouragement for our own witness. We may feel unable to answer every objection to the faith, unequipped to debate the learned or argue down every challenge; and we can be intimidated into silence. But like this man, we can hold to what we know: what God has done in our own lives, the difference Christ has made, the ways we were blind and now see. This simple testimony of personal experience carries real weight, and no argument can take it from us. When you cannot answer every objection, do not be silenced; hold to what you know, and tell it simply: this is what God has done for me. Your own experience of Christ's work is a witness no clever argument can overturn.

Lord, when the authorities pressed and argued with the man you had healed, he could not answer all their objections, but he held to one thing no argument could take from him: that though he was blind, now he sees. Encourage me with that for my own witness. I may feel unable to answer every objection to the faith, unequipped to debate or argue down every challenge, and can be intimidated into silence. But like this man, help me hold to what I know: what you have done in my own life, the difference Christ has made, the ways I was blind and now see. This simple testimony of personal experience is strong, and no argument can take it from me. When I cannot answer every objection, keep me from being silenced; help me hold to what I know, and tell it simply: this is what God has done for me. Thank you that my own experience of your work is a witness no argument can overturn.