“The LORD opens the eyes of the blind…” (Ps. 146:8, New American Standard Bible – Updated Edition.)
No doubt the Almighty Creator can open the eyes of the blind. When Jesus was on earth, He fulfilled the words of prophet Isaiah:
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND…" (Luke 4:18-19.) Notice the words, “…recovery of sight to the blind.”
We read those words in Isaiah 42:6-7, “I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations, To open blind eyes…”
In many cases, Jesus Christ opened the eyes of the blind. An example is in Matthew 9:28-31:
“When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘It shall be done to you according to your faith.’ And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: ‘See that no one knows about this!’
But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout all that land.”
The man was physically blind and Jesus made him see.
But we find also in the Bible who are blind spiritually. Speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus said:
"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’ You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering?” “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also” (Matt. 23:16-19, 24-26).
Like the Pharisees, we could also see physically, but we may be spiritually blind. We read, “But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11).
And Jesus Christ did heal also those who are spiritually blind.
Notice the account in the 9th chapter of John. In verses 6-7, Jesus healed the man of his physical blindness: “When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.”
But in verses 35-39, the man was also healed of his spiritual blindness:
“Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.’ And he said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.’”
The man was healed both of his physical and spiritual blindness. Because Jesus removed his spiritual blindness and revealed Himself to him, he was able to believe in Him. And he worshiped Him. The Pharisees could see physically, but they remained spiritually blind!
We read in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
What is worse than those who have blind eyes?
Those whose minds are blinded. They are unable to “see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
What they see is the glory of their own selves – that they could choose to come to God on their own. They may even believe that they are not so bad after all. That they could please God by whatever righteousness they could perform, or desire!
At least, those who are blind physically are aware of their blindness. The blind man in John 9 said, “…One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (verse 25.) But those who are blind spiritually do not know that they “are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” ( Rev. 3:17)!
Everyone of us should be healed of our spiritual blindness. We cannot truly come to God, if we remain in the darkness. God’s Words states: “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see” (Rev. 3:18).
As Jesus told Paul:
"But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, TO OPEN THEIR EYES so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:16-18).
Through Paul, God opened the eyes of the elect. – gave them understanding of the Worth of God’s Gift, so they could not afford to refuse it (1 Cor. 2:12-14)!
He who sees and understands the Excellence of “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” will do anything just to come to Him. If he needs to crawl, he will.
Consider also in Acts 16:14 that Lydia, a woman from the city of Thyatira, responded to the things spoken by Paul, because “ the Lord opened her heart.”
Do we really see the great value of “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ”? Does it attract us more than the wealth, power, and fame in this world? Is it more precious to us than our comfort and convenience, family, church, ministry, or any other things in this world? Do we not hesitate to respond positively to it?
You may not need to be healed of physical blindness. But do you think God needs to heal your spiritual sight – to give you “the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” – to open your heart and give you understanding, so you can really appreciate His Supreme Worth and follow Him relentlessly?
PRAYER: Our Father, the Great Light – whose Brightness blinds the enemies of the gospel, but illumines the path of Your children – we praise You for opening our eyes, giving us Your Holy Spirit, so we can behold Your Great Goodness through Your Son, Jesus Christ and be able to see the narrow path that leads to You. May You also use us to give spiritual sight to others who are groping in the dark. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
