If You Insist On Seeing, You Are Really Blind

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Reading: John 9:35-41

Reflection: Jesus makes an interesting statement that verifies one of the first steps toward salvation: the realization of and repentance from one's sinful condition. Within this story, Jesus states that He has come into the world to, in a sense, force people's hand. When a person comes into contact with Jesus, they either come to faith and are saved or reject His gospel and are judged. The way Jesus puts this reality is by stating that only those who confess their blindness can actually see, and those who insist that they have sight are really blind. The religious leaders have a problem with this, because they don't think they are blind at all...meaning that they see no sense in admitting guilt and confessing of sin because in their own minds they are the truly righteous ones. In response, Jesus assures them that they are not only blind but on the side of darkness and judgment.

This seems to teach me that if I insist that I am a pretty good person who simply needs some assistance in removing any limitations to allowing all my goodness to flow freely, I have lost the very salvation Jesus came to give. The reason for this is that salvation does not begin with the denial of reality regarding my personal sinfulness, but an open awareness of and confession concerning my utterly hopeless condition. It is only when I confess that I am a dark person that I can gain the light that Jesus brings. As we begin this day, let us search our hearts for darkness, place those dark areas before the Lord, and ask Him to help us see ourselves as He sees us. As we do this, we will walk in the light as He is in the light...and His truth shall set me free.