When Jesus healed the blind man He encountered after being thrown out of the temple, He showed him much grace. According to the narrative (John 9), the man did not even ask to be healed. Truth be known, he did not even know who Jesus was because, had He known that the One who was able to make blind eyes see (Luke 4:18–19) was in his path, he would have probably shouted his name to get His attention. Even as Jesus spoke, the man did not recognize His voice.
But on this day, Jesus was simply in the mood to do a miracle; to demonstrate to unbelieving people that He was indeed the Light of the world (John 8:12) who had stepped into the world of darkness. After correcting the theology of the disciples on the cause of the man’s blindness (vv. 2–5), “He [Jesus] spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing” (vv. 6-7, NKJV). It is quite possible that if the man could have seen what Jesus did before sending him off, he would have been offended. Sure, Jesus could have said a word and he would have been healed, but He did something for him that he could not see so that he might see who Jesus was. In other words, if the man had been able to see it, what he might have found offensive was Jesus’ demonstration of grace rather than an act of uncleanness. It was the blessing he could not see, and because he could not see it, it never occurred to him to give God thanks. Nowhere in the text does it say that he did, though he would later believe in Jesus after the Pharisees had excommunicated him from the temple (vv. 18–38).
The majority, if not all of us, are in the same position. While we often thank God for the blessings we see, when was the last time you thanked Him for the blessings you could not see? The accidents He prevented that could have occurred as you went about your day? The wheels He set in motion so you could receive an answered prayer? The job you kept that you should have lost? The pain and hurt you suffered to spare you even greater pain and hurt? Stop and think about it. Even as you are reading this, and though you cannot see it, no matter the circumstances in which you find yourself, the Lord is blessing you right now! The psalmist reminds us that He “daily loads us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19), and we did not even ask. Perhaps you are not even thinking about Him; nevertheless, He sees you and is demonstrating grace.
Are you ever really out of things to thank God for? I didn’t think so. Me neither.
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