Former Blackout Artist

“Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) – John 9:19-22

The parents of a man born blind were being interrogated by the Pharisees. Their son had been miraculously healed by Jesus, and the religious leaders were looking for a way to discredit Jesus and his miracle. The parents, however, were caught between a rock and a hard place. While they confirmed their son’s identity and his prior blindness, they stopped short of affirming how he was healed or who healed him, out of fear. They knew the consequences of confessing Jesus as the Messiah – being expelled from the synagogue and ostracized from their community.

Fear can often silence the truth. Like these parents, we may find ourselves in situations where acknowledging our faith or speaking the truth could lead to rejection or criticism. It’s not easy to stand firm when the pressure is on. The temptation to protect ourselves, to stay comfortable, or to avoid conflict can cause us to retreat.

But as Christ followers, we are called to stand firm, even in the face of opposition. It’s not always easy, but it is necessary. Jesus says, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). Our faith is not something to hide or shy away from – it is a light meant to shine in a world filled with darkness and doubt.

The healed man, unlike his parents, boldly stood his ground when questioned about Jesus. He didn’t have all the answers, but he knew one thing: he was blind, and now he could see. His courage reminds us that we don’t have to be theologians to testify about what Jesus has done for us. Our story, our testimony, is powerful in itself.

Thought for today: Consider a situation where you may have hesitated to speak about your faith out of fear of judgment or rejection. Pray for courage and wisdom, and ask God to show you how to share your faith with boldness and love in your daily life.