Sermon Recap: Once I Was Blind But Now I See

 At Heritage United Methodist Church in Clearwater, we believe in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. This past Sunday, those words came to life as Pastor Matt Horan led us through a powerful message based on John 9:1–25, the story of a man born blind whose life was transformed by an encounter with Jesus.

But what really made this Sunday unforgettable was hearing the testimony of our worship director, Jason Langdon, a man who has twice experienced literal blindness—and healing. His story was more than a testimony; it was a modern echo of the ancient miracle in John 9, grounding the Scripture in today’s reality.

Digging into History—and Heart

Pastor Matt began by flexing his Bible nerdiness and taking us deep into the story of Jerusalem’s history, describing how the Gihon Spring and Hezekiah’s Tunnel led to the creation of the Pool of Siloam—the very place where Jesus sent the blind man to wash. We explored how the physical layout of Jerusalem helped shape the spiritual journey in John 9.

The message was clear: the miracle wasn’t about healing a man’s eyes. It was about challenging religious gatekeeping. The Pool of Siloam was the final step before entering the Temple—the symbolic presence of God. Jesus didn’t just heal the man; he sent him to a place that represented inclusion, belonging, and divine access.

And the Pharisees? They couldn’t handle it.

They refused to believe that someone born blind could be accepted, seen, and made whole. Pastor Matt reminded us that when we let religious pride determine who belongs and who doesn’t, we stop seeing with the eyes of Jesus.

Testimony that Brought John 9 to Life

Then came Jason’s testimony. Jason shared his personal experience of being blind and regaining sight.  I think it’s safe to say, I wasn’t the only one with tears.

At a young age, Jason experienced detached retinas, leaving him completely blind. He recalls, "It's one thing to be born blind and it's another when you actually could see and then you lose your vision." Jason spoke of feeling  a sense of peace wash over him despite being afraid when receiving the news. Like the blind man in the story, he kept all of his faith in God.  He did not let blindness keep him from where he knew God wanted him to be.  Just like the blind man went to the Pool of Siloam, Jason continued to lead worship, guided to the stage by others, declaring, "There's nothing else that I could do and there's nothing else I'd rather do than to worship Him."    

After surgery and a faster than expected healing process, Jason's sight was restored. Years later, he faced another challenge with cataracts causing blindness, leading to another surgery. This time, he was awake during the procedure, describing the experience as looking through a kaleidoscope as the doctor inserted the lenses. When the doctor finished, Jason sat up to find his vision not just restored, but better than ever before. He marveled at the details he could now see – the vibrant colors of grass, the intricate designs in nature that he had never noticed before.

Jason’s story reminded me that miracles are still happening.  They aren’t just for biblical times. It’s happening here, among us, in Clearwater, in real lives.  And we want to be part of those miracles.   We are not here to be exclusionary.  We are here to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  

Making Room in the Temple

This message challenges all of us: Are we Pharisees, clinging to control and excluding others? Or are we followers of Christ, making room at the table, at the Pool, at the Temple, for people who are finding their way to God?

At Heritage United Methodist Church, we choose the latter. We’re creating space for the overlooked, for the hurting, for those who “once were blind but now see.” We are a church where everyone is sent to the Pool of Siloam—to be healed, welcomed, and sent into the presence of God.