From Blind to Bold: A Beggar's Transformation

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to see for the very first time? Not just with your eyes, but with your soul? In this modern-marvel of an episode you won’t just get told the story, but you’ll actually hear from the man himself. That’s right for the first time ever, join Auntie Lala  for an incredible interview that reaches beyond space and time to speak with the man formally known as the Man Born Blind. 

This story in John 9 is a masterclass in courage, transformation, and what happens when religious rules collide with divine love.

When Jesus encounters a man blind from birth, he doesn't just restore his sight—he ignites a fire. Using nothing but mud, saliva, and instructions to wash, Jesus performs a miracle that shatters cultural assumptions about sin and suffering. But the religious authorities can't celebrate this transformation because it happened on the Sabbath, and their rules matter more than the truth and this man's newfound vision.

What unfolds next is extraordinary. The formerly blind beggar transforms from a passive recipient of alms and healing to a bold defender of truth. As the Pharisees interrogate him repeatedly, his spiritual vision sharpens while theirs dims. His parents cower in fear of excommunication, but he stands firm—even when it costs him everything. "One thing I do know," he declares with new-found clarity, "I was blind but now I see." His journey culminates in a beautiful moment of recognition when Jesus seeks him out after his expulsion from the synagogue, revealing himself as the one they’ve all been waiting for. 

This episode invites us to examine our own spiritual blindness. Where are we clinging to religious exercises at the expense of love and compassion? Where might we be missing God at work because it doesn't fit our expectations? And most importantly, do we have the courage to speak about Jesus to others when we've encountered His transforming touch? Join us for this powerful exploration of sight, insight, and the courage to stand firm when everyone else looks away. Subscribe now and share your thoughts with us—we'd love to hear how this ancient story speaks to your modern journey!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome back to Preach it Girl podcast, where we
aren't just sitting aroundwaiting for Jesus to return or
Skinny Pop to make us skinny.
No, ma'am, we aren't justtaking up space, but we're
taking back what the enemy hasstolen and given him a terrible,
awful, very bad day.
Today we are in John, chapter 9, and I am so excited about this

(00:29):
episode.
I'm doing something kind ofunique and crazy and we do have
a special guest.
But first let me read you thestory about the man born blind.
As Jesus passed by, he saw aman blind from birth and his
disciples asked him Rabbi, whosinned this man or his parents?
Wow, okay, let me continue.

(00:49):
We must work the works of him.
Who sent me?
While it is day, night iscoming when no one can work.

(01:11):
Having said these things, hespit on the ground and made mud
with the saliva.
Then he anointed the man's eyeswith the mud and said to him go
wash in the pool of Shalom,which means sent, and he got
sent to the pool.
So he went and washed and cameback seeing for the first time
in his life what the neighborsand those who had seen him

(01:34):
before as a beggar were saying.
Isn't this the guy who was bornblind, who we always saw
begging in the streets, and thensome people were like no way,
that's not possible.
And then other people were likewell, it sure looks like him.
You know these neighbors,they're kind of bossy because
they just swoop him up and takehim to the Pharisees.
Now, this is the religiousestablishment of the day.

(01:57):
They were the boss of thecommunity, basically.
Now it was Sabbath.
It was a Sabbath day when Jesusmade the mud and opened his
eyes.
Jesus kept doing that.
I think he was having a goodtime.
He's like it's Sabbath, let'sgo heal some people.
I love that about him.
So basically the neighbor saidthen how are your eyes open?

(02:18):
And he answered the man calledJesus made mud and anointed my
eyes and said to me go to Siloamand wash.
So I went and washed andreceived my sight.
And they said to him where ishe?
And he said I don't know.
So the Pharisees asked him howhe received his sight and he
said to them he put mud on myeyes and I washed them and I
came back seeing Some of thePharisees said this man is not

(02:41):
from God, for he does not keepthe Sabbath.
You know, jesus is called theLord of the Sabbath.
But others said how can a manwho is a sinner do such things?
Now they're using their noggin.
There was a division among them.
They said again to the blindman, what do you say about him?
And the blind man said well,it's obvious, he's a prophet.

(03:06):
The Jews did not believe that hehad been born blind.
I mean that's just kind offunny.
So they called his parents in,like we know your parents and
we're going to ask them.
So the parents come in and letme tell you these parents they
had been going through it.
The community believes that ifyou are born blind, somebody
sinned.
So it was either them or thechild.
I'm sure they have been theones under the microscope since

(03:29):
day one and I'm sure that madethem feel different.
An outcast in the community,someone who wasn't good enough.
I mean people just whisperedthey got some secret sins hiding
in that house and all along.
That wasn't true.
And the parents said look, weknow that this is our son and

(03:49):
that he was born blind.
But how he sees we do not know.
Nor do we know who opened hiseyes.
Ask him, he's of age, he canspeak for himself.
Because they were scared.
His parents said these thingsbecause they feared the Jews,
for the Jews had already saidthat if anyone should confess
Jesus to be Christ the Messiah,he was to be put out of the

(04:11):
synagogue.
What does it mean to be put outof the synagogue?
A lot.
It means you're treated like aGentile and not a child of God.
You're an outcast.
They'd already been outcastfrom the get-go.
I mean they did not needanother thing right.
Then the Pharisees called backthe blind man.
You need to give glory to Godfor your healing.
And we know that that other manis a sinner.

(04:33):
And he said well, whether he isa sinner, I do not know One
thing.
I do know that, though I wasblind, now I see.
And they said to him what didhe do to you?
How did he open your eyes?
And he answered them I alreadytold you and you didn't listen.
Why do you want to hear itagain?
Do you also want to become hisdisciples?
Oh Lord, he's getting sassy now.

(04:55):
And they reviled him.
Oh, just like they treatedJesus, so they reviled Jesus and
they reviled this man, becausehe said he didn't know what he
was, but he knew.
He opened his eyes.
You are his disciple, but weare the disciples of Moses, they
said.
We know that God has spoken toMoses, but as for this man, we
do not know where he comes from.

(05:16):
The man answered why.
This is amazing thing.
You don't know where he comesfrom and yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does notlisten to sinners, but if anyone
is a worshiper of God and doeshis will, god listens to him.
Wow, he grew up learning thatGod listens to the people who

(05:40):
obey him, that God answers theprayers of his children.
And then he says never sincethe world began has it been
heard that anyone opened theeyes of a man born blind.
Wow, if this man were not fromGod, he could do nothing.
They answered him you were bornin utter sin and would you

(06:00):
teach us?
And they cast him out out ofthe synagogue.
So that wasn't just a we justthrew you out on your butt right
here.
It was get out of here anddon't come back.
Well, jesus heard that they getout of here and don't come back
.
Well, jesus heard that they hadcast him out and haven't found
him.
Doesn't Jesus just always goget you?
If you got thrown out, jesus isnot afraid to come outside and

(06:22):
get you.
No matter where you are, jesuswill come out to wherever you
are and he will get you.
All he needs to know is thatyou want him to.
That's all he needs to come andget you.
I mean, he's ready to come getyou 24-7, 365 days a year.
But he honors our will, and sothat's.
The only requirement is thatyou say oh God, jesus, help me.

(06:45):
And there he is, lickety split,not even a blink happens
between heaven and earth and himsitting right in front of you,
ready to pull your butt up fromthe mud and throw some on your
eyes too, if you're blind.
So Jesus heard that they'dthrown him out and haven't found
him.
He said do you believe in theson of man?

(07:07):
He answered and who is he, sir?
That I may believe in him?
And Jesus said to him you haveseen him and it is he who is
speaking to you.
He said Lord, I believe.
And he worshiped him.
Jesus said For judgment.
I came into this world thatthose who do not see may see and
those who see may become blind.

(07:28):
Some of the Pharisees near himheard these things and said to
him are we also blind?
Jesus said to them if you wereblind, you would have no guilt.
But now that you say we see,your guilt remains.
Oh man, jesus throws out somestingers.
But I love what he says to theformer blind man you have seen
him Because Jesus made it so hecould see him.

(07:52):
That is so cool.
That is so cool, wow.
Okay, you guys, let meintroduce you to someone who
went from living in darkness toliterally seeing the light and
then totally schooled.
Those hard-hearted elitereligious folks Give it up for
the man formerly known as well,the man born blind.

Speaker 2 (08:16):
Thanks for having me.
It's wild to be here and youknow seeing you.

Speaker 1 (08:21):
Ha, I bet.
Okay, let's rewind Before themiracle.
You grew up well without sight.
What was that like?
And let's talk about thewhispers.
My sources tell me peopleactually.
Yeah, it was rough.

Speaker 2 (08:44):
Not being able to see was one thing, but the why was
always a question and the ideathat it was because someone
maybe my own parents messed up.
It wasn't exactly a greatfeeling, but Jesus cleared that
up real quick.
He said it wasn't about sin atall.
It happened so the power of Godcould be seen in me, like my
whole existence was just waitingfor this mind-blowing moment.

Speaker 1 (09:07):
Okay, pause, that is a serious glow-up reason.
Fast forward to the main event.
Jesus sees you walking alongthis interesting thing with spit
and dirt, not gonna lie, soundslike a DIY facial gone wrong
tells you to wash it off in thepool of Siloam and bam, you wash
and you come back seeing, afterbeing blind your entire life.

(09:29):
What in the actual world didthat feel like?

Speaker 2 (09:33):
Oh, wow, describe it.
It's everything.
One moment I'm just trying tofollow directions, hoping this
weird mud spitting thing works,and the next the world just
opened up Colors, faces, the sky.
My neighbors saw me and weretotally freaking out.
I mean, imagine seeing your ownhand for the first time.

Speaker 1 (09:52):
That's incredible.
But then, because this amazingmiracle happened on the wrong
day, the Sabbath of all days,the religious authorities, the
Pharisees, got to get involved.
Were you scared dealing withthose guys, the rule checkers?
You just got your sightEverything's new and suddenly
you're in interrogation mode.

Speaker 2 (10:12):
Honestly, yeah, a little.
They had all the power and theywere already divided about
Jesus.
Some thought he was bad newsbecause he worked on the Sabbath
.
Others were like normal sinnerscan't do this stuff.
They kept asking me the samequestion.
I told them what happened.
Jesus made mud, put it on myeyes, I washed them and I saw

(10:32):
Simple.

Speaker 1 (10:33):
Simple for you maybe, but then they pressed you.
They wanted your opinion andyou fresh eyes and all.
They didn't even believe youwere born blind and called.
Your parents who, bless theirhearts, were so scared of
getting kicked out of thesynagogue for saying Jesus might
be the Messiah that theybasically pleaded the fifth.

Speaker 2 (10:52):
Yep, my parents were afraid.
All right, the leaders had madeit clear Talk about Jesus and
you're out.

Speaker 1 (10:58):
You basically asked if they were secretly fans.

Speaker 2 (11:02):
Well, they didn't like that.
They cursed me out, called mehis disciple and said they knew
God and Moses, but they had noidea where Jesus was from.

Speaker 1 (11:12):
As if that matters when he's opening eyes.
Born blind, that's what.

Speaker 2 (11:16):
I said it's very strange.
He healed my eyes and theydon't know where he comes from.
Everybody knows God doesn'tlisten to sinners and nobody in
the history of the world hasopened the eyes of someone born
blind.
If this man wasn't from God, hecouldn't have done it.
It's simple logic.

Speaker 1 (11:35):
You went from blind beggar to theological debater,
schooling the experts.
That was incredibly brave,especially knowing your parents
were terrified of being kickedout.
You risked the same thing bystanding up to them.
Was that fear there, or was thetruth just too important?

Speaker 2 (11:52):
I mean, I'm not saying I ain't a sinner, isn't
everyone.
But yeah, they threw me out.
It happened just like they said.
But the truth, seeing andknowing what happened, I
couldn't deny it and I couldn'tpretend Jesus wasn't from God
after what he did for me.
Being thrown out wasn't great,but honestly, standing there
seeing them refused to see theobvious, it felt important to

(12:14):
speak up and Jesus found meafterwards anyway, and I'd
rather spend one minute in thatman's presence than 10,000
elsewhere.

Speaker 1 (12:24):
And that, folks, is why this man is a legend.
He didn't just gain sight, hegained the courage to speak the
truth, even when it cost him hisplace in the community.
Talk about seeing thingsclearly.
Thank you so much for sharingyour story of Jesus' power and
your sassy boldness with us atPreach it Girl.

Speaker 2 (12:43):
Thanks for having me and keep seeing the light of
Jesus.

Speaker 1 (12:47):
You got it and you listeners.
You keep seeing the light too,or keep seeking it and looking
for the truth.
Hey, if dum-dum sauce isgetting spread around like
barbecue sauce, somebody's gotto speak up.
So remember, don't be afraid toget a little sassy when needed.
And I love you.
Don't forget to listen in nexttime for Preacher Girl.