Let the Blind Receive Their Sight
Sermon text for March 2, 2008:
John 9:1-41
“If you want to see the Kingdom of God” Jesus said to Dr. Nicodemus, “you must be born again”.
The blind beggar in Jerusalem couldn’t see anything, his whole world was darkness. It wasn’t just that his eyes were sightless, his soul was filled with darkness that comes with constant oppression. Everyday when he begged for alms, he heard people talking about him. “This is the man who was born blind. His parents must have been terrible sinners.” Or, “I wonder what this man did so that he was born blind? His sin must have been very grave indeed.”
Even the religious authorities joined in speculation about whose sin had caused his blindness. They believed that grave sin was attached to him, so he was excluded from participating in the community of faith. People with physical disabilities were believed to be worse sinners than the able bodied, and because of their sin they were outcasts. The man in the gospel lesson’s whole life was darkness, there was little chance he would ever see anything let alone the Kingdom of God.
Jesus saw the blind man as he and his disciples were walking near the Temple. Like the others, the disciples speculated about the man’s sin. “Rabbi, who sinned? This man or his parents, so that he was born blind?” The disciples had no idea that their question demonstrated their own lack of vision. In their own way, they, too, were blind.
“If you want to see the Kingdom of God” Jesus said to Dr. Nicodemus, “you must be born again.”
The blind man didn’t know it, but he was about to be born again. His whole being was about to be bathed with light. Jesus knelt down, spit on the ground, made mud and anointed the man’s eyes. “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam,” he said. And the man did as he was told. As the water washed away the mud, light entered the blind man’s eyes for the first time in his life.
But his healing was not complete. Like the rest of us, his new birth would be a process. He could see with his eyes, but his soul was still locked in darkness.
The man’s friends and neighbors were confused. Some of them could not believe that the man who stood before them was the same beggar whom they had seen begging everyday. “How did this happen?” they asked him. And the man told them what Jesus did. “Where is he?”, they wanted to know. But he could only answer, “I do not know”.
The excited neighbors took the man to see the Pharisees. But rather than praising God for this miraculous healing, the Pharisees were concerned because the healing took place on the Sabbath. They insisted that the man tell and then retell the story of his healing. And when he was finished they wanted to know, “What do you say about this man who healed you?” And the man answered, “He is a prophet.”
This is the first indication of spiritual healing. When first questioned about Jesus he said simply, “I do not know.” But now under pressure he realizes, “He is a prophet.” It is not complete information, but the man is beginning to see with his heart as well as his eyes. The man who healed him is holy.
The Pharisees want him to denounce Jesus. They insist “this man is a sinner.” And with each protestation, their hearts move one more step into blindness. Their minds are closed to the possibility of God doing a new thing. Meanwhile the former blind man discovers new insights, as God continues to re-create him. He challenged the Pharisees saying, “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” And with that, the enraged authorities excommunicated him. Just when he became eligible to participate fully in community life, he gets excommunicated.
When Jesus heard about the blind man’s excommunication he found him and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe?” Jesus said, “You have seen him. It is I who is speaking with you.” And the man answered, “I believe.” At this moment, new life and light is bursting forth in the man born into darkness. Now he sees with his eyes and with his heart. “I believe,” he said. And in that moment, the Kingdom of God was at hand.
New birth comes to us in many different ways. Sometimes Jesus helps us come to grips with the difficult parts of our own life, as he did with the Samaritan woman. Sometimes he offers physical healings which have the double purpose of restoring the person to the community.
The religious leaders were so mired in their traditions that they were not able to see what new things God was doing in Christ Jesus. So while the blind man was being born again, they began to shrivel into irrelevancy.
As we move through this Lenten Season, let us ponder how our own attitudes and beliefs, may keep us from seeing and participating in the work of God. Let us ponder those parts of ourselves that are shriveled and crying out for redemption. And let us trust that Jesus is still in the business of redemption so that like the man born blind, we will one day see the Kingdom of Heaven.
Copyright © 2008 by Dwight R. Blackstock
John 9:1-41
“If you want to see the Kingdom of God” Jesus said to Dr. Nicodemus, “you must be born again”.
The blind beggar in Jerusalem couldn’t see anything, his whole world was darkness. It wasn’t just that his eyes were sightless, his soul was filled with darkness that comes with constant oppression. Everyday when he begged for alms, he heard people talking about him. “This is the man who was born blind. His parents must have been terrible sinners.” Or, “I wonder what this man did so that he was born blind? His sin must have been very grave indeed.”
Even the religious authorities joined in speculation about whose sin had caused his blindness. They believed that grave sin was attached to him, so he was excluded from participating in the community of faith. People with physical disabilities were believed to be worse sinners than the able bodied, and because of their sin they were outcasts. The man in the gospel lesson’s whole life was darkness, there was little chance he would ever see anything let alone the Kingdom of God.
Jesus saw the blind man as he and his disciples were walking near the Temple. Like the others, the disciples speculated about the man’s sin. “Rabbi, who sinned? This man or his parents, so that he was born blind?” The disciples had no idea that their question demonstrated their own lack of vision. In their own way, they, too, were blind.
“If you want to see the Kingdom of God” Jesus said to Dr. Nicodemus, “you must be born again.”
The blind man didn’t know it, but he was about to be born again. His whole being was about to be bathed with light. Jesus knelt down, spit on the ground, made mud and anointed the man’s eyes. “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam,” he said. And the man did as he was told. As the water washed away the mud, light entered the blind man’s eyes for the first time in his life.
But his healing was not complete. Like the rest of us, his new birth would be a process. He could see with his eyes, but his soul was still locked in darkness.
The man’s friends and neighbors were confused. Some of them could not believe that the man who stood before them was the same beggar whom they had seen begging everyday. “How did this happen?” they asked him. And the man told them what Jesus did. “Where is he?”, they wanted to know. But he could only answer, “I do not know”.
The excited neighbors took the man to see the Pharisees. But rather than praising God for this miraculous healing, the Pharisees were concerned because the healing took place on the Sabbath. They insisted that the man tell and then retell the story of his healing. And when he was finished they wanted to know, “What do you say about this man who healed you?” And the man answered, “He is a prophet.”
This is the first indication of spiritual healing. When first questioned about Jesus he said simply, “I do not know.” But now under pressure he realizes, “He is a prophet.” It is not complete information, but the man is beginning to see with his heart as well as his eyes. The man who healed him is holy.
The Pharisees want him to denounce Jesus. They insist “this man is a sinner.” And with each protestation, their hearts move one more step into blindness. Their minds are closed to the possibility of God doing a new thing. Meanwhile the former blind man discovers new insights, as God continues to re-create him. He challenged the Pharisees saying, “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” And with that, the enraged authorities excommunicated him. Just when he became eligible to participate fully in community life, he gets excommunicated.
When Jesus heard about the blind man’s excommunication he found him and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe?” Jesus said, “You have seen him. It is I who is speaking with you.” And the man answered, “I believe.” At this moment, new life and light is bursting forth in the man born into darkness. Now he sees with his eyes and with his heart. “I believe,” he said. And in that moment, the Kingdom of God was at hand.
New birth comes to us in many different ways. Sometimes Jesus helps us come to grips with the difficult parts of our own life, as he did with the Samaritan woman. Sometimes he offers physical healings which have the double purpose of restoring the person to the community.
The religious leaders were so mired in their traditions that they were not able to see what new things God was doing in Christ Jesus. So while the blind man was being born again, they began to shrivel into irrelevancy.
As we move through this Lenten Season, let us ponder how our own attitudes and beliefs, may keep us from seeing and participating in the work of God. Let us ponder those parts of ourselves that are shriveled and crying out for redemption. And let us trust that Jesus is still in the business of redemption so that like the man born blind, we will one day see the Kingdom of Heaven.
Copyright © 2008 by Dwight R. Blackstock
posted by Dwight Blackstock | 4:10 PM
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