Blind Man by Barbara Bjelland, 2026. Oil on panel, 11” x 14.”
All text, poetry and images ©BarbaraBjelland 2026
Last week we looked at the story of the Samaritan woman from John chapter 4. She was the first one to tell others that Jesus was the Messiah. This week we will explore the story of the blind man that Jesus healed from John chapter 9. This was the church lectionary reading for the fourth Sunday in Lent, March 15th 2026.
Jesus healed the man by spitting on the ground, making some mud with the saliva, and putting it on the man’s eyes. Then he told the man to go wash in the pool of Saloam, which means sent. The man came home seeing! Now I will unpack a few of the fascinating things going on in this story.
“I AM”
When people who saw the man who had formerly been blind, they asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some said yes; some said no. The man himself insisted, “I am the man.”
Saying “I am” is significant in scripture.
God the Father identified himself as “I AM WHO I AM” when he appeared to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. In John’s gospel Jesus makes seven “I am” statements himself. Jesus says, “I am the bread of life;” “I am the light of the world;” “I am the gate;” “I am the Good Shepherd;” “I am the resurrection and the life;” “I am the way ,the truth, and the life;” and “I am the true vine. “
So the man who was formerly blind makes a statement which echoes the statements of God himself.
It is clear that God used marginalized people such as the blind man and the Samaritan woman to speak for God. God still uses marginalized people today to speak for God and to change the face of the church.
There was a great book about this by Reverend Dr. Dennis Edwards, Vice President for Church Relations and Dean of North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, entitled Might from the Margins: the Gospel’s Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice.
The formerly blind man was soon kicked out of the synagogue by the Pharisees, who wanted the man to say that Jesus was a sinner. The man replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
When Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out of the synagogue he found him and asked the former blind man, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “The Son of Man” was a title for the Messiah that goes way back to the book of Daniel, chapter seven in the Old Testament. The former blind man asked Jesus, “Who is he, sir? 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 was healed again. He had been healed physically; now he was given spiritual sight. He replied to Jesus, “Lord I believe,” and he worshiped Jesus.
Some Pharisees were still around and became more furious at Jesus. Jesus said, “I have come into this world so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” The Pharisees said, “What? Are we blind too?” Jesus replied, “Now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
Wow! I am reminded that I need to ask God to open my eyes in order to see unseen realities-- realities that make all the difference in the world.
Re-enchantment
C.S. Lewis was one who had his eyes opened as an adult. Lewis realized that the myths and medieval stories he loved and taught about at Oxford and Cambridge, were fulfilled in Christ. Lewis described this process in his life as “re enchantment.” Here I would like to share a reflection inspired by Lewis. This is from a lovely devotional entitled: Wardrobes and Rings: through Lenten Lands with the Inklings. This part of the devotional was written by best-selling poet and author Malcolm Guite. Guite writes of Lewis: “It was if a veil was being lifted and the dark spell of mere materialism was broken.” Then Guite quotes from Lewis’ spiritual autobiography entitled, Surprised by Joy (Chapter XI):
“gradually like the sun at mid morning burning through a fog, I found the light shining… on my own past life, and on the quiet rooms where I sat… I saw the bright shadow coming out of the book into the real world and resting there, transforming all common things and yet itself unchanged… that night my imagination was, in a certain sense baptized; the rest of me, not unnaturally, took longer.”
This is transformative food for thought! It makes me consider when do I see the sun or the Son of Man, “burning through a fog?” It seems to happen when I slow down and take time to look and listen for God’s voice. This happens at times when I take time to sit by the water, pray and read my Bible. Lately, I have been walking a prayer labyrinth or tracing a small prayer labyrinth with my finger. You can see more about labyrinths on my website:
When do you see God’s light shining or hear God’s voice of love speaking?
And now I would like to conclude with a poem I wrote to go with my painting above, and a blessing for you.
Blind Man
To be blind then to see
a profound mystery
only hovering hands
that formed us, out of clay
can re-make, re-create
with dirt and saliva
only hands that scatter
the stars, living silver
and call them each by name
only that touch
brings light.
Sending Blessing
May you be blessed knowing that Jesus is the Son of Man and the Son of God who creates and recreates, who gives us eyes to see his beauty, who re-enchants this broken world, and whose touch brings love and light. And may you know that like the Samaritan woman and like the blind man, that you are sent to share God’s love in word and deed wherever you go. We do this in community with God’s grace, God’s help and God’s power, the same humble and mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead. Easter is coming and a new dawn awaits!
