“Leave. The. Boy. Alone!”
The voice rattled every bone in John’s body.
It wasn’t scary sounding, but it was the most powerful voice John had ever heard.
There was a long pause between each of the four words.
After Leave, the dragons rose into the sky and flew away.
After The, all the slippery earth crawlers slid far away from John.
Boy pushed back all the hooded soldiers of darkness.
And Alone was what the fake angel of light became. At the sound of that powerful voice, all the dark things, big and small, vanished.
And in a flash of light, John was back with Jesus and the disciples!
Jesus was staring at John! “Child, I want to explain why I wanted you to be here when I calmed the storm. It’s all about having faith that I am bigger than all of your problems. When your dad says you’re not important—that’s the storm—remember that I calm you and make everything all right.”
John was catching on. “Like when you got in the boat, the storm died down and the water got calm.”
Jesus said, “Yes, child.”
A man nearby interrupted and asked Jesus a question.
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
John looked around and saw that they weren’t on water, but back near the temple courts of Jerusalem again. There was a fragile-looking man sitting on the ground in front of them. John tried to recall the Bible story.
Jesus answered the man. “Neither this man nor his parents sinned.”
The man who couldn’t see held his hands up toward Jesus.
You need to mind your own business.
His dad’s voice again.
That’s what kids like you should do. Mind your own business.
John tried hard not to think about his dad, but the hurtful words wouldn’t leave. They seemed to bring on the dragon earlier, so he kept thinking about being here with Jesus.
“This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
The disciples looked at each other like their Teacher was speaking nonsense. Peter called out, “Surely someone did something wrong to cause this man to lose his sight.”
“As long as it is day,” Jesus continued, “we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Son, this whole thing is some sick joke. Just a dream, John. Just a dream. Come on and wake up. The quicker you stop believing in these fairy tales, the sooner you’ll grow up and maybe even become a real man. Someone who’s worth something.
“Jesus! Help me. Please.”
“What is it, child?”
“My dad. I can’t stop hearing his ugly words.”
“Don’t be afraid, John. In Me, you are strong!”
Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
To the blind man, He said, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.”
“John. Child, are you all right?”
John turned around and saw that Peter was the one who asked the question.
“Not really. I don’t understand why my dad still gets to me. Even out here with you guys.”
“Maybe this can help you understand. That pool called Siloam means sent. Watch what happens.”
The blind man went into the water and washed the mud away.
Immediately he shouted.
“I can see! I can see! Thank You, Jesus! I can see!”
John’s arms were covered in goose bumps. He had just witnessed another miracle! Reading about them in his Bible was one thing, but seeing them happen was something else.
“John?” It was Jesus.
“Yes.”
“Are you familiar with how this story ends?”
John thought for a minute. “Yes. The Pharisees question the man and his parents. They don’t like what he has to say about You, so they throw him out.”
“Yes, and then the man that I gave sight to comes back to Me. He believes in Me as his Savior and worships Me.”
John considered all the things that Jesus was telling him.
“I believe in You, Jesus.”
“I know, My child. I know. But you don’t understand what strong trust is. Yes, you go to church and sing songs. You pray, and I hear every word you speak. I love you, John. Please, hear Me on that.”
John was overwhelmed. He remembered another thing his grandmother used to always say. “The book of Isaiah—sixty-first chapter, third verse—says that God will give you a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. John, trust God completely that He will always give you His best instead of worrying about things you can’t change.”
Jesus smiled. “That’s right, John. I love your grandmother. She’s My precious child, just as you are.”
John stared into his Lord’s eyes.
“John, every time the clouds move, I move them. When your dad says something to you, I know. I’m there with you. Just like we are right here together. But instead of being afraid and thinking that you don’t matter to your dad, I want you to think about how much you matter to Me. Okay?”
John nodded. “Okay, Jesus. Please help me do that.”
“I am, and I will.”