LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil

Monday 1st December 2025

BLIND FROM BIRTH

Scripture Reading: John 9

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” *John 9:1-2

Jesus used His encounter with this blind man to later teach about spiritual blindness and the need for God to open our eyes to the truth. The Lord took a man’s physical blindness and demonstrated the stages of spiritual insight and sight. There are some important points to note from the passage.

Jesus passed by.

The impression you get is that Jesus was going His own way. The words used in the passage give the impression that Jesus did not seem to be going anywhere purposefully. However, we know that our Lord did not do anything without intent.

Jesus saw him.

Jesus saw him, which indicated interest, care, concern and compassion. The disciples apparently felt the same interest and concern for the man, but they became caught up in trying to determine the spiritual cause of his condition.

Interestingly the man did not ask for help from Jesus. Rather, the Lord took the initiative to help him. We must always be assured that the Lord sees us wherever we are. He will not pass us by.

His disciples asked, ‘Who sinned? ’

The disciples were attracted to the man and wondered about him. Was he suffering because of some great sin committed by his parents or because God had foreseen that the man would be a great sinner before he was born? This is similar to how Job’s friends felt about him. They assumed that Job’s troubles were the result of a sin he had committed.

Many times when we go through difficulties, we wonder whether God is punishing us for something we’ve done wrong or whether there is something wrong with our ancestry. Others may look at what we are going through and simply conclude that our suffering is a retribution for our sins.

Whatever the case may be, it is assuring that Jesus did not pass this man by but stopped and took notice of him.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I know you take notice of me. Thank you for not passing me by. In Jesus’ name, Amen.