Lenten Reader | Day 24

March 12th, 2024

Lord, I Believe

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 worshiped 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.

John 9:35-41

Today’s reading follows Jesus’ healing of a man born blind. A miracle Jesus performed on the Sabbath, a violation of Jewish law. In response the Pharisees questioned witnesses, the man’s parents, and the man himself. Now able to see, he declares of Jesus, “If this man were not of God, he could do nothing” (Jn 9:33). In their anger, the Pharisees throw him out of the synagogue. This is a severe punishment. To be removed from the synagogue is to be removed from the religious and social life of Israel and become an outcast.

Hearing this, Jesus, ever the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:14), seeks the man out (Lk 19:10). Having healed the man from the darkness of his physical blindness, Jesus, the Light of the world (Jn 8:12), now comes to save him from his spiritual blindness. Jesus asks, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” In Scripture this is how Jesus most often refers to himself. It is a title of both humility and deity, and the man would have known this to be a reference to the Messiah from the prophecy in Daniel 7:13-14.

The man replies that he is willing to accept and believe if he knows who the Son of Man is. Jesus tells him clearly that he is the Son of Man and points to his miraculous healing, saying, “You have now seen him.” Having experienced the healing power of Jesus, he now experiences the saving power of Jesus and responds with the declaration, “Lord, I believe.”

Two things stand out in the man’s reply. First, he moves from calling Jesus “sir” to naming him “Lord.” Second, he responds in worship. Right knowledge of Jesus recognizes him as healing Savior and glorious Lord and responds in worship.

The words, “Lord, I believe,” are life-changing because they are life-giving. May the Lord open the eyes of our hearts (Eph 1:17-19) so that we too acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior. May we daily declare, “Lord, I believe,” and worship Him with our entire lives. (Rom 12:1-2).

Mike Dombrowski