Blind While Seeing
June 22, 2025
Dr. Paul Cannings
How can a person literally see the truth and deny it at the same time? Let me provide you with some Biblical examples. Every day, worshippers at the temple in Jerusalem would pass a man they knew was born blind. When Jesus healed him, the leaders would so doubt that he was born blind that they would call his parents to investigate the truth they already knew (John 9). Jesus turned this around when He told the Pharisees, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, we see, your sin remains.” (John 9:38-41)
The man on the road to Jericho (Mark 10:46), when he heard that Jesus was passing by, repeatedly cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” He accepted Christ’s humanity and believed Christ to be the true Messiah, God’s promise through David (Jeremiah 23:1, 5). He was their true King. There were so many people pressing against Jesus, including the disciples, that would in the very near future deny Christ or say “crucify Him,” but this man, while being blind, saw Christ for who He truly was and is.
Judas saw all the miracles Christ did, including Lazarus coming from the grave after four days (the Jews believed that after three days, there was no hope, probably why Mary was crying so hard). Judas heard all of Christ’s teachings, but Judas sold Christ for thirty pieces of silver. Even though Peter was exposed to all the same miracles, God had to open his eyes to know Christ as the Messiah (Matthew 16:13-20). The Pharisees were no different as Christ would say, “Woe to you, blind guides….;” even calling them “You fools and blind men.” (Matthew 23:16-22) These are men who spent all day studying the scriptures, and even though they knew who Jesus was (John 5:39-40), they still crucified Him.
Several eyewitnesses were sent to the disciples after Christ’s resurrection: Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Peter, and John saw the empty tomb and still did not believe that Christ had risen from the dead (Mark 16:9-14). Thomas had to be convinced by Christ, allowing him to touch Him (John 20:24-28). How can they see but be blind?
We must “walk in the Light to be in the Light.” (1 John 1:5-7) Christ is the Light and the Word (John 1:1-10). It is practicing the Word of God, growing in Christ so that we develop His nature in us that because of our spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit, our illuminator, illuminates our minds to grow from blindness to Light (1 Corinthians 2; 2 Peter 1:3-11). He can transform us, so we become “salt and light.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Don’t allow Satan to trick you into thinking you are seeing. Let God be your Optometrist. Allow Him to determine the health of your sight.