"SIMPLE BUT PROFOUND" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 8/19/25

“…one thing I know, that, whereas once I was blind, but now I see.” (John 9:25)

It is striking how wonderfully calm and collected our Lord must have been at this time. He has been preaching in the temple, where He made that grand declaration, “Before Abraham was I Am.” Yet, Abraham, as our Lord noted, saw His day, being yet future, and in that sight of faith was made glad. A multitude of Jews heard these words and were infuriated at Him. They took up stones which were lying about on the floor to be used in repair work and began hurling them at Him. He, as on other like occasions, somehow forced a passage through the crowd and escaped out of their midst. He then came, with His disciples following in the lane He was able to make through the unruly throng to the gate of the temple. Jesus there spied a blind man, and as if there were no bloodthirsty mob on His heels, He stopped as calmly as if an attentive audience had been waiting to hear Him. The disciples stopped too, but they paused to ask questions. The Savior, however, needed not ask anything, but was ready to act. We, like the disciples, are always curious, and have many questions: “How did this man come to be blind?” Then comes speculation theories. “Did he sin, or did his parents sin?” Our questions are endless. We want to know about the origin of sin; or to have answers about certain strange providences. But Christ is all about cures and remedies. He asked the sightless man no questions. He gave His attention not to the cause of the disease, but to the way by which the malady could be cured.

The blind man was brought to Him. Jesus asked no questions, but spitting upon the dust, He stooped down and worked the dust and spittle into a mortar, and taking the mixture up in His hands, applied it to the man’s eye. He plastered them so that on-lookers saw a man’s eyes (or eye sockets, as some) that they were covered with clay. “GO,” said Christ, “to the pool of Siloam, and wash.” The man, who was glad enough to go, was led by some kind soul to the pool. He was not like Naaman, who made objection to the prescribed cure for his leprosy, but was more than happy to avail himself of the divine remedy. He went and washed the clay from his eyes, and he received his sight. Can we even imagine this man’s joy, having not known sight before. With what rapture he gazed upon the beautiful scenery all around and looked upon the faces and put them together with voices.

The neighbors, who had only known this man as “he that sat and begged” were truly amazed. Some could not believe it, suggesting that he was not the same man, only one who held a close resemblance. When Jesus opens the eyes of the spiritually blind, the change can be so great that it’s hard for those who knew him before to believe it’s the same person. When a sinner receives spiritual sight (understanding) it changes one’s whole outlook on life. The natural man must receive spiritual sight, or he shall never know the things of God. (I Cor. 2:14) And except he be born gain, he shall never receive that sight. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Thus, it is by regeneration that spiritual sight is restored.

Difficult as it is to accept, there were enemies of Christ there, who not only did not rejoice that this man had received his sight but condemned our Lord for this wonderful gracious act. “This man,” said they, “is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day.” They said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such miracles?”

It was their interrogation of this now sighted man that resulted in this “Simple but Profound” confession. As they were grilling him, they said unto him, “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”