The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"
His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself. His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner."
He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."
They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"
He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?"
Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."
The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."
They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.
“The man replied, ‘This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes!’” The Message
As a child I remember hearing the grownups say, “Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear.” I also remember that any statement I made as a child usually required confirmation… back up… from a responsible adult. I believe the Pharisees were operating under that saying as well, as they demanded proof. We still find it hard today to believe what someone tells us, so we seek confirmation from others, specific proof, saying, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Lord, open our eyes so that we may see the vision you have for us. Open our hearts to feel the love you have for all. Open our mouths to speak of you and your saving grace. In the name of the One who sacrificed it all for us, we pray. Amen.
Rev. Sylvester Weatherall is Directing Pastor at Grace and Kumler United Methodist churches in Springfield.