The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-09-22
onefte.
SIGHT FOR THE BLIND
John Gill
John Gill

Me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life"
(John 8:12). He not only made
a claim, but He proceeded to
prove it. What He can do in
the physical realm is only type
or illustration of what He can
do in the spiritual realm.
AS we think upon this passage
OF Scripture we want to consider
the mans condition, the man
healed, and the mans testimony.
We notice that this man had
been blind from birth (now he
was of age, verse 2D. Humanity
speaking, his condition was hope
less. He had never seen a ray
of light. He was in total dark
ness. He was helpless. He
could do nothing to remedy his
condition. Spiritually, this is
a picture of the natural man who
is in utter and total darkness
(Ephesians Alb; I Corinthians
2:14).
This man was blind, not be-
cause he had sinned, nor because
of the sins of his parents, but
because of the permissive will
of God. God allowed this man
to be blind, and for such a long
period of time, in order that
His glory might be advanced in
the display of His mercy and
grace. There are many things
that are worse than physical
blindness, and there are greater
blessings than physical sight. A
mans greatest joy is to expert
ence the power of God in His life.
God has seen fit to allow sin
and evil to exist in redemption
and recreation blessing.
Jesus came to "Work the works
of Him that sent Me-" It was
purpose to reveal the eternal
God in all His infinite perfec-
tions, to minister to the needs
of His creatures, manifesting His
grace and power, and finally, to
accomplish human redemption by
dying on the cross.
Although this man had been
blind many, many years, no one,
up to this time, had been able
to help him. Then Jesus came
into his life, and he was healed.
The means that Jesus had used
was, from human point of view,
foolish. Jesus had "spat on the
ground, and made clay of the
spittle, and he anointed the eyes
of the blind man with the clay"
Then He instructed the man to
"go, wash in the pool of Sloan"
The man obeyed land came see
ing"
How often Gods commands
for mans salvation appear "fool-
ish." Yet we find that His
thoughts are not our thoughts,
neither are our ways His ways.
"There is a way that seemeth
right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death" "
proverbs 1929. ''The fool
ishness of God is wiser than
men," Ct Corinthians 1:25).
BY applying the clay to the
mans eyes, Jesus was activating
the mans faith. BY sending
him to the pool, Jesus was put
ting the mans faith and obedi-
ence to the test. He was expect
ing the man to put his faith into
action. Faith is based upon the
Word of God (Romans 10:lO,
which, when heard and received,
brings help and blessing from
God.
There is no doubt but that
| something wonderful had actual
ly taken place. The man "came
seeing" His neighbors and ac-
quaintances acknowledged n {
fact. It caused them to take
notice-he was a different man
They could not believe theil
eyes. Surely his appearance haC
changed. 1t is always true thai
those who experience the pres,
| ence of Christ in their life anc
receive spiritual sight from Hin
are transformed in life and walk
Finally, notice the mans will
ingness to testify. His new way
of life caused others to become
inquisitive, and he was ready tt
tell what Jesus had done for him
When one has experienced the
love, mercy, and grace of God ir
his life, he wants to tell other:
about it. In fact it will be 81
evident that others will take no
tice of it and ask for the reason
Then comes the JOY of being able
to tell them of what Christ ha'
done.
| No matter how desperate you
case-if you are willing to take
Jesus Christ at His word, you
need can be satisfied.