Day 74

Numbers 31-32 | John 9:18-41

A blind man saw Jesus.

The religious leaders did not.

Yesterday, we saw Jesus heal a man who had never seen a single thing—not light, not color, not a single face. With a touch of mud and an act of obedience, his eyes were opened.

But today?

Today, the real blindness is exposed.

Because as this man begins to see more clearly, the Pharisees—who thought they saw everything—prove they were blind all along.

Blind, But Certain

The Pharisees saw the miracle.

They saw a man who had been blind his entire life, now standing before them with perfect sight. But instead of celebrating, they interrogated him.

“Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” (John 9:24)

They weren’t looking for the truth. They had already decided what was true.

And when the man didn’t give them the answer they wanted?

They dismissed him. Insulted him. Threw him out.

Because admitting they were wrong wasn’t an option.

And I hate how much I relate to that.

My Wife Helps Me See

It’s easy to read about the Pharisees and assume we’re different.

But the truth? We all have blind spots. And more often than not, we don’t see them until someone else points them out.

If there’s anyone who excels in helping me see when I’m wrong, it’s Talacey.

She has an impressive ability to gently (and, as needed, not so gently) expose my blind spots. Sometimes with patience. Sometimes with a well-placed question. Sometimes by just giving me that look that only a wife can give.

And I wish I could say I always receive it well.

But the truth?

I often respond just like the Pharisees.

I double down. I get defensive. I build a case for why I’m right instead of considering that I might be wrong.

Because it’s hard to admit when you’ve missed something. It’s uncomfortable to recognize that your perspective isn’t as clear as you thought.

But if the choice is between being right and actually seeing the truth?

I want to see.

Blindness That Refuses to Be Healed

Spiritual blindness is deceptive.

It convinces us that we already see clearly. That we have everything figured out. That if anyone is wrong, it’s not us.

That’s what made the Pharisees so dangerous.

They had knowledge—but no wisdom.

They had religion—but no relationship.

They had sight—but they refused to see.

They weren’t blind because they lacked information.

They were blind because they refused transformation.

“If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” (John 9:41)

Jesus wasn’t condemning them for being ignorant. He was confronting them for being proud.

They could have seen. But they chose not to.

What Am I Missing?

Jesus stood right in front of them—the Light of the World, the fulfillment of everything they had studied, the answer to every question they claimed to ask.

And they missed Him.

Because they wouldn’t let go of their assumptions.

And that makes me wonder—where am I doing the same thing?

Where is my pride keeping me from seeing the truth?

Where is my certainty blinding me to what God is actually saying?

Where is my need to be right keeping me from growing in faith?

Because the moment I start believing I have all the answers—the moment I stop asking God to search me, teach me, and change me—is the moment I step into the same blindness the Pharisees lived in.

And I don’t want that.

The Difference Between Sight and Surrender

The blind man had no theology degree. No position in the synagogue. No status.

But he had something the Pharisees didn’t—humility.

He didn’t understand everything, but he recognized Jesus when he saw Him.

And he believed.

“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)

That’s the posture I want.

Not a faith that assumes it already knows.

Not a heart that refuses correction.

Not a life that clings to old assumptions instead of asking God to refine them.

I want to be someone who sees Jesus—not just in the way I expect, but in the way He truly is.

And if that means having to admit when I’ve been blind?

Then let my eyes be opened. Because true spiritual sight isn’t just about knowing doctrine or having the right beliefs—it’s about surrendering to Jesus as Lord.

Lord, Open My Eyes

Search my heart. Strip away my pride. If there’s anywhere I’m blind, let me see.

I don’t want to claim sight while walking in darkness. I don’t want to assume I’m right when I still have more to learn.

I just want to see You.

And when I do, let me respond with faith, not defensiveness. With worship, not pride.

Because the greatest miracle isn’t physical sight.

It’s eyes that are open to You.