Who Is He? Who Are We?ಮಾದರಿ

John chapter 9 tells the story of a man born blind—a man who, because of how culture viewed his physical suffering, was marked by sin before he ever had a chance to live. But when Jesus and His disciples encounter this man, Jesus reframes the narrative of his life and restores the purpose of his identity. He declares, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3, NIV). Jesus puts mud on the man’s eyes, tells him to wash it off, and when he returns, he is healed.

This miracle could have easily gone unnoticed. Some witnesses even refused to believe it was the same man, insisting it must have been someone else. Yet even while surrounded by disbelief and skepticism, he could not deny what had happened. He had been healed by a man he knew very little about, and his healing became his testimony and his alone to share.

As the story progresses, there’s a continuous debate from the Pharisees, questioning whether this prophet who heals is really from God and what his intentions could be. Demanding explanation from the man, he replies simply, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see” (v. 25). His response tells us that our initial recognition of God as our savior and acknowledgement of what He’s done for us does not require a complex understanding of who He is or why He’s done it. Though the man cannot testify of Jesus’s character yet, he is able to testify of the work that was done in him. Seeing the change in himself revealed more of the One who began and completed that work, and it can do the same for us. Revelations of who God is don’t always have to be heard through a prophetic vision- they can also be found by remembering where you were and seeing where God has brought you. Reflecting on God’s creation, including ourselves and our stories, will always highlight more of His character and will.

John concludes this chapter revealing why Jesus came. Verse 39 reads, “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’” We see this both in the man’s physical healing and in our spiritual journey to see a divine God through human eyes. When we recognize that we will never fully know Him or reflect Him perfectly, we keep the opportunity to stay in curious pursuit of an all-wise, all-powerful, and all-present God, denying our own reservations in exchange for divine revelation.

When we seek Him, we see His heart in every moment He’s been near. Let His actions, His promises, His provision, His Word all speak for themselves. Let us simply wait in His presence, acknowledge and reflect, and allow Him to open our eyes to see every moment His heart has been on display. How much time have we wasted in grieving our misconceptions, rather than resting and rejoicing in what we know? The good thing is, God doesn’t want to confuse you or scatter your mind in endless theories about Him; He’s already called you by name and invited you to dine with Him. Instead of only dissecting scripture and theological ideas, remember that the author and finisher Himself is also your Father, and He’s been revealing Himself to you in every part of your story and identity- through your history, personality, talents, passions- each aligned to form a reflection of Him.

To put it practically, anytime you feel as though you’re struggling to know God personally or understand all of who He is, try asking these questions:

1. What “I was blind but now I see” moments can you recognize in your story, and what have they revealed to you about God’s character?
2. How does knowing more of His character shape your own self-identity?