The story

One day Jesus and his disciples passed a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples asked whose fault it was. Jesus’ answer was short: “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents.” He didn’t blame the man, or anyone (John 9:1–3).

Then Jesus spat on the ground, made clay, and put it on the man’s eyes. He told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. The man went, washed, and “came seeing” (John 9:6–7).

You might expect that to be the happy ending. It was only the start. The neighbors argued about whether this was really the same man. The religious leaders questioned him again and again. They even called in his parents. When he wouldn’t change his story, “they cast him out” (John 9:34).

That’s when Jesus went looking for him. When Jesus asked if he believed, the man answered, “Lord, I believe” (John 9:35–38).

What stayed with me

Notice the man’s answer to the experts, when they pushed him to explain everything: “one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

He didn’t have a theory. He had one thing he knew, and he held on to it. Notice, too, what he doesn’t do. He doesn’t claim to understand how it happened, and he doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. He simply says what happened to him.

Earlier in the story, Jesus says something about himself:

If that sounds familiar, it may be because the Bible’s first spoken words from God are “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Many readers hear John’s Gospel as echoing Genesis here. If so, this story shows what it looks like when that light reaches one person.

Most of us don’t have a neat answer for every question about faith. This man didn’t either. You can start with the one thing you do know: a person who helped you, a moment you got through, a time something changed. When the big questions feel too heavy, it helps to come back to what you know.

For today

Try this today Finish this sentence in one line: “One thing I know is…” It doesn’t have to be about God. It can be small and true. Say it out loud once today, and let that be enough for now.

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Nathan Ellsworth
The Faith Letter