According to John, Chapter 9

John 9 

What has Jesus done for you?

In the ninth chapter of John, Jesus encounters an adult man that has been blind form birth. The Jews thought his blindness was the result of someone's sin -- if not his since he was born that way, then perhaps his parent's or someone else's. It may seem weird that they would think that way, but people still think that all manner of things are punishments from God. Even severe weather events have been attributed to God's wrath. Remember hurricane Katrina was said to be God's judgement on the sin of New Orleans. I guess God doesn't really care about collateral damage or maybe it's okay since we are all sinners.

While the giving of sight to the blind man is a noteworthy miracle, what happens afterwards is where the real story takes place. The Jews seemed to be less concerned about the miracle of a blind man seeing and more concerned about people recognizing God in Jesus who healed him. The religious rule by fear is evident when the man's parents are afraid to speak on his behalf for fear of what the religious leaders would do to or say about them.

The man's testimony was simple -- "I don't know anything about the guy. All I know is I used to be blind, but now I see." (Pardon the paraphrase)
Our own testimony or witness about God's influence in our life is similar. People can argue about whether or not it was Providential influence, fate, or coincidence, but no one will ever convince us that God's actual intervention in our life didn't happen.

I believe that our encounters with Jesus should affect us the same way that the encounter with the blind man affected him. I believe the change should be noticeable. Everyone that knew the blind man knew that something was different and that difference was plain to see. They didn't know how he could see; they simply knew that he used to be blind, but now he could see.
When they asked how it happened, his response was simple -- "The man called Jesus healed me."  That's pretty hard to argue with.

Jesus was a pretty famous guy back in the day. He still is.
And there are still people that name drop to gain status or influence.
The thing is -- the real one-on-one, personal encounters with Jesus are evident by the change that happens in our lives. If there is no real change, then I wonder if there was ever a real encounter.

Has your encounter with Jesus changed how you think?
...how you act?
Has anyone ever noticed the difference or asked why you think or act the way you do?
Have you ever responded with something similar to -- "I know, I used to be a jerk, but then I met Jesus?"

Vision isn't the only way that people are blind. Mud made from dirt and spit isn't the only way that Jesus helps us to see.
What are your thoughts about about this story?

John