Joh. 9,35-41: "Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' 'Who is he, sir?' the man asked. 'Tell me so that I may believe in him.' Jesus said, 'You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.' Then the man said, 'Lord, I believe,' and he worshipped him. Jesus said, 'For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.' Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, 'What? Are we blind too?' Jesus said, 'If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains."    (Today’s NIV)

What hindered the Pharisees not only to see what is written in the Word of God and who stood in front of them, but also to recognize who Jesus was and how significant he was for their own lives? The answer of the former blind man made it clear: „... that I may believe in him“. He wanted to believe. He came with an open and humble attitude to Jesus. Without reservation he bowed down and worshipped him.

To the contrast, the Pharisees had already formed their opinion. For that reason they had angrily thrown out the healed man. They were proud of their insights. In their opinion they saw crystal clear how the Messiah would have to be and what was necessary to be accepted by God. Therefore it was far beyond their understanding that Jesus called a man from the street seeing and free of sin and that he called them blind and full of guilt.

Christians also are in danger again and again to recognize sin primarily in the life of another. In his life it is evident whereas they themselves are faithful followers of Jesus. Jesus calls this perspective on following God „becoming blind“, blind for the gracious work of God and blind for their own inability and sin. The eyes of the blind man had to be opened by Jesus. In the same way we too are dependant that the Lord opens our eyes again and again so that we by faith can take steps forward.