Can others see God in us? Have you ever watched someone and seen God through their actions? If you have, what does this tell us about God?
Others could see God in a Young Man
I remember leading a mission trip many years ago where a young man came along because his girlfriend was going. He was not a believer but liked this girl and the trip sounded fun. Along the way, because of what he observed, God began to move in his heart, and he came to believe in Jesus. This changed his priorities. Pursuing a career path of money and status was no longer important but building the Kingdom of God was. There was only three weeks between his return from the mission trip and the start of the semester. In this time, he changed his major and his college of choice. These decisions reflected who he was becoming.
Healing Allowed Others to God in a Blind Man
While Jesus was going about his daily life of ministry, He encountered a man who became transformed by his encounter with Him. Jesus revealed in our story that God wanted to use this man so others could see a demonstration of God’s power.
John 9:1As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” 3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! [1]
As our story unfolds, the man who was healed of physical blindness was also healed of spiritual blindness as he came to know and worship Jesus. (Ref. John 9:38) Jesus said that his transformation would be obvious “so the power of God could be seen in him,” (Ref. John 9:3.)
Transformation allows Others to See God in Us
As we reflect on his physical blindness, we are reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul from Romans 8: 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.[2]
When a heart is open to Jesus, the Light of the world takes up residence in that heart. 2 Cor. 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”[3]
As Jesus’ light shines in us, others can see God in us. God’s power changes and transforms us. Jesus begins to rework our clay vessels into something beautiful that surprises us.
To hear more about the healing of the blind man, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/encountering-jesus-with-a-blind-man
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.