Will Jesus Grant You Sight?

November 4, 2025

“And Jesus said, ‘For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind” (John 9:39 NASB95).

Why did Jesus come into this world?  It was for judgement.  But how can this be reconciled with Jesus’ earlier statement in John chapter 3?  Jesus said to Nicodemus, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17). Jesus did not come to earth with the goal of condemning mankind.  No, He came to save.  He came to offer eternal life.  Nevertheless, the words of Jesus, which embody truth and light, will by their very nature create a separation.  In John 9:39, Jesus uses the word “judgement” not in the sense of condemnation, but in the sense of separation based on the response of people to His word.  Some, when they hear the words of Jesus, will come into the light, but some will reject His word and go farther into the darkness. This type of judgement is unavoidable.

And what is the judgment?  That those who do not see may see.  Who are those who do not see in this passage?  It is those who have been in darkness but who long for the light.  It is those who recognize their spiritual poverty but hunger and thirst for righteousness.  It is those who recognize their spiritual ignorance and their need for God.  It is those who, like the tax collector of Luke 18, beat their breast and cry out to God, “Be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13).  It is people like this to whom Jesus will grant sight!

But on the other side of this separation are those “who see.”  Jesus came that those who see may become blind. Who are those who see?  It is those who are like the Pharisees.  It is those who are self-righteous.  It is those who think they already know all the answers.  It is those who think they already have their lives together.  It is those who are impressed with their own spiritual performance.  It is those who are so sure that they already see.  Jesus says it is these who will become blind because they will reject Christ and His word.  It is those who say, “we see” who will remain in their sins (John 9:41).

In all of this, there is encouragement and warning for you and me.  On which side of the divide will you fall?  Will Jesus grant you sight?    It all depends on our willingness to recognize our spiritual need and to humbly listen to the words of Jesus.

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Posted by Scott Colvin

Jesus, the Light of the World

October 21, 2025

Jesus is the light of the world, and His light shines upon all, but people will have vastly different reactions to Him.  What is your response to the Light? 

John writes in the opening of his gospel, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5 NASB95). Jesus stepped in to this dark world as a blazing beacon of light. What was the response of the darkness?  They didn’t comprehend it. What do we learn from this? Don’t be surprised if the world cannot grasp who you are or what you stand for. John continues, “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John 1:9) Those who will step into the light of Jesus will find enlightenment. God will shine light into their hearts and onto their path.

In John 3, we learn more about how people respond to the Light. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:19-21). We learn some profound truths here. Why will some people refuse to come to Jesus?  It is because they don’t want the light shining on how they are living. If we live in darkness we can come to love the darkness and desire to remain in it. What a dangerous situation to be in! It is like spiritual Stockholm syndrome, where abused captives begin to love their captor. What else can we learn from these verses? We should not be surprised if the world hates us. It is the nature of darkness to hate the light, and we are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8).

But there is also good news here.  We see that those who practice the truth will come to Jesus. It may not always be comfortable for us to come, because the light does expose our sinfulness. But those who love truth will come. And even those who are walking in darkness can choose to come, as you and I did. Not everyone in darkness wants to remain there.

Let us be encouraged by the offer of Jesus, made to all people: “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life’” (John 8:12) Let us continue to follow Jesus and let Him light up our world.

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

You are Light in the Lord

January 1, 2025

When we came into Christ Jesus, each one of us was fundamentally changed.  We became new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17) There are many ways in which this is true:  We were freed from sin, we died to the Law, we became a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, we were transferred out of darkness, we were made alive in Christ.  And to me, one of the most profound things that happened to us is this: we became light.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.” (Ephesians 5:8 NASB95)

We were formerly darkness.  Sin darkened our inner being and controlled our thoughts and actions.  But that was before we came to Jesus, the light of the world.  Now that we have been enlightened by Him, we have taken part in His nature.  We have become light. 

This is the reality of who we are.  Now we must ask ourselves what we are going to do with this profound truth.  Paul is urging us to be what we are—to walk (live our lives) as children of Light. 

How does one do that?  Paul goes on to say, “… (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…” (Ephesians 5:9-11 NASB95) The fruit of the light is expressed in goodness, righteousness, and truth.  To walk as light, we must be about pursuing these qualities. This means we must live a life concerned for the welfare of others (goodness), we must pursue moral and holy behavior (righteousness), and we must relentlessly pursue what is true in a world filled with lies. 

What else must we do to walk as children of light?  We must stop participating in the darkness.  This world is full of darkness, and it is very easy to continue in it.  But now you are light in the Lord!  Don’t practice the things of darkness, but expose them.  Our new nature as light (if we will walk in it) will naturally do that as we light up the world around us with His light.  Some people will hate you for that, for darkness naturally hates the light. But others will see the light of the Lord emanating from you and move toward it.

You are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light!

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin