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Once Blind - Now Seeing . . .
Can you imagine? Born blind. Learning to live with the rest of your senses hyper perceptive and alert in amazing ways, but without the ability to see. And then, suddenly, a whole new world of perception opens as sight is restored, and for the first time - he is able to see! How amazing is that?
But what is also noteworthy about this story, is not only how the man who was blind was able to see, but also how many who were able to see, seemed to be blind in ways that were perhaps more profound and limiting than the physical blindness from which the man was healed. This kind of blindness is reflected in the question the disciples asked "Who sinned, this man or his parents?" It is seen in the reaction of people around him, and in the response of the Pharisees to his healing.
However, it is also a story in which blindness is healed. Not only the in terms of the physical blindness the man in the story experienced, but also in the light that shines from the picture of God that we get when we look with open, healed vision at what took place here.
Jesus reminds us that when we encounter the impact of sin in the world, the real issue is not assigning who is to blame, or protecting our own religious agendas at the expense of those in need of blessing and encouragement, but rather asking how we can bring healing. .
This is the story that Pastor Jon explores with us. If you would like to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library by clicking here.
John 9:1-12 (TNIV)
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.”
18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God and tell the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.
34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Reflecting on the Story
Take a few moments to thoughtfully read and reflect on the scripture passage. Allow the scene to take shape in your imagination. Notice the looks on the faces of people, the tones in their voices, the attitudes and feelings that stirred them. And then contemplate what Jesus does at each point of the way in the story, and notice the picture of God that emerges here. Among the many places that are worth pausing and reflecting are:
The question of the disciples and the response of Jesus, "Who sinned?" (vs 1-5)
Jesus' encounter with the man, and the way He healed Him (vs 6-7)
The response of the people to his healing (vs 8-12)
The response of the religious leaders to his healing (vs 13-34)
The response of his parents to his healing (vs 18-23)
The consistent testimony of the man himself (vs 9, 12, 15, 17, 25, 27, 30)
The response of Jesus to the man after he was thrown out (vs 35-38)
The response of Jesus to the religious leaders to Jesus' response to the man. (vs 38-41)
What insight into Jesus (the 6th Sign) emerges here for you?
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit.
(Ellen White on Spiritual Formation & Contemplative Spirituality)
Desire of Ages, 83
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