One Thing I Know

This is the second time the man born blind has been questioned in the same room. His questioners open by demanding the truth from him and announcing their verdict in the same breath: "Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner." Those first words were a solemn charge to tell the truth, the kind of thing Joshua said to Achan when he wanted a confession: "give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him." They meant: tell us the truth, and here is the truth we expect.

The man gives them the shortest answer he can: "Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see." He hands back the question he has no training for and keeps the one thing that is his. Watch how his answer grew. First, to his neighbours, he said, "A man that is called Jesus made clay." When the Pharisees pressed him, he said, "He is a prophet." When they pressed again, he argued back: "If this man were not of God, he could do nothing." The rest came after they threw him out. Jesus went and found him, and the man said, "Lord, I believe."

His cost was settled ahead of time. The leaders "had agreed already" that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ "should be put out of the synagogue." That took his place of worship, his community and his standing all at once. Even his own parents stepped back and left him to it: "He is of age; ask him." For most of us, speaking up costs far less, and it is no insult to say so.

So your question is smaller than his, but it is still real. What is the one thing you know about Jesus, the way this man knew his? When did you last say it out loud, without padding it with the things you do not know? Jesus went looking for the man they threw out, and He still finds the people who tell the truth about what He has done for them.

Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year one reading for day 216 is Filled with Goodness (Psalm 107:9).

All 365 readings in Daily Manna, Year Two