A memorable line from Robert Burns offers a good beginning in hearing the word of Christ to us today:

"O what power the Giftie gie’ us that we see ourselves as others see us ..."

The ninth chapter of John’s Gospel is about seeing, not only as others see us but seeing as God sees us. It is one of the most dramatic chapters in the New Testament, as the Savior calls out to us not to be blind, but seeing.

Trying To See What Can’t Be Seen

It all begins with a question to Jesus from the disciples as they saw a man who had been born blind.

"Who sinned," they asked, "this man or his parents?" It’s the kind of question we can understand. One predictable emotion in parents who are told that their newborn has a calamitous affliction such as blindness is the haunting sense of guilt. We humans ins…