I was excited with the news of the coming baby: I promised my parents that I would always love and help care for my sibling. Little did I know what this would involve.

Baby Elias arrived and we were all thrilled, yet that initial excitement turned to grief on realising that he was blind. My parents did not blame God; they loved and tried to honour Him.

Elias and I grew very close.

Growing into adulthood, he begged for money from passers-by, a demeaning but necessary way of contributing to the family. I often sat with him to keep him company, sharing local news. I'd been recounting some recent strange events.

A teacher was nearby, amazing everyone with his wisdom and spiritual teaching. He had supernatural powers also – calming violent storms just with a command, walking on water, miraculously feeding thousands of hungry people – and he could heal people from illness, disability, even death!

So many quite incredible stories. Elias was fascinated. I think he actually began to hope ….

One day, nearby crowds were increasing. Then I saw him, this man with supernatural powers! Excitedly, I whispered to Elias, just as the man stopped nearby. The jealous religious leaders were annoyed and trying to trap him. I was shocked at the question, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Why would they blame my family?

His answer? No-one had done anything sinful to cause this disability, but it was an opportunity for God to display His work in Elias's life! What! Elias was stunned. So was I!

The man turned to Elias, then did and said something strange. Elias obeyed and when he came back from washing his eyes, he could see!

He saw me for the first time! We laughed, danced, and praised God! But the religious leaders were quite upset. Everyone was asking questions, checking his identity … Elias kept insisting that he was indeed the man who had been blind.

I raced home to get Mum and Dad.

When we got back, the man had gone, but the religious leaders were still there, harassing Elias. They turned to Mum and Dad, who confirmed everything. Yes, he was their son; yes, he had been born blind; no, they didn't know what had happened. "Ask him, he's an adult – he'll tell you his story!" they finally said. The religious leaders threatened to kick them out of the synagogue!

Quite extraordinary really. Our Elias re-told his story, and with new confidence challenged the spiteful assumptions of the religious leaders about himself and the miracle-worker. He assured them the man was from God.  "One thing I DO know – I used to be blind, but now I can see!"

Enraged, they threw Elias out. The man with supernatural powers sought him out again, spoke to him, and revealed his identity. None other than God's Son.

Elias, eyes now filled with tears, acknowledged and worshipped him, saying "Lord, I believe!"

We all did.