When we come across sickness and other problems we assume that the reason for our sickness is our sins.  Likewise, we too judge others when they suffer.  We read in Romans that the wages of sin is death and we think that every sickness and suffering leads us towards death.  If that is true, what is the meaning of the death of Christ in our lives?

In John Chapter 9 we read about a man born blind. The disciples were curious to know the reason for his sickness. They wanted to blame his sins or his parents’ sins for the plight of this man.  “Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” – John 9:3

The blind man did not even know who Jesus was or what he could do for him. But Jesus knew him, loved him and desired to give him sight. This is the grace of Christ. Jesus applied mud on his  eyes and sent him to the pool of Siloam to wash his eyes.  He obeyed Jesus and got his sight. When he was asked about his healing he told people that a man named Jesus healed him.  He understood that his obedience to the command of Jesus made him whole.  The Pharisees expected him to be subjected to their ideologies. But with his rich experience of receiving his sight, he was able to witness Jesus. When the priests understood that this man had gone out of their boundaries, they called him ‘a sinner by birth’.

On the other hand, the parents of the man who received the sight, were afraid of the priests.  They were unable to celebrate the healing of their own son. More than the healing of their son, their position in the synagogue bothered them. They were unable to identify Jesus, who is available to everyone, who is inside and outside the synagogue. Are we still under any influence that is stopping us from celebrating our salvation. Our salvation must be renewed day by day as our physical body grows old. Then only our inner being will become stronger in Christ.  Celebration of salvation is possible only when a person has the assurance of forgiveness of his sins. Unless and until we place ourselves on the cross, where Jesus took every curse and sin on our behalf, our sins cannot be forgiven. It is something that is beyond our knowledge and understanding.

In John Chapter 9 verses 24 to 34, for a second time there was a long argument between the man who received his sight and the Pharisees. They were unable to accept this forgiven child of God and still they addressed him as a sinner according to the knowledge they gained from the Law of Moses and casted him out of the synagogue.  On hearing this, Jesus reached out to him. Till now he was thinking that Jesus was a man or perhaps a prophet but when Jesus revealed Himself as the son of God, he believed him at once.

“He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” John 9:36-39

Amazingly, this person was under the bondage of blindness, a little while ago, but now he was able to see because of his open-mindedness  and understand the son of man. The Pharisees knew that many prophets had foretold the coming of the son of man. They had the knowledge yet they were unable to accept Jesus. For the man who received his sight did not have any knowledge about the son of man but had a personal experience with Christ.  Paul is describing a course of action taking place in us towards our salvation in the book of Romans.

“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”  – Romans 10:8-9.

Salvation is a simple confession of our belief that is deep in our heart, out of our mouth.  But often this coordination between the heart and mouth is a misappropriation in most of our lives.  We think something in our heart, but speak out something else. For example, we hate someone but on his face we welcome him.  At times we refuse to accept a gift or bribe with our words but at the same time stretch our hands forward to accept it.  Because of this human nature we miss the coordination between our heart and mind while confessing our faith and are unable to receive the invaluable salvation offered to us. We have our sight yet we are blind.

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Psalms 119:18