Today, Jesus heals a man who was born blind.
Today, we get to see Jesus in action. As Jesus walks along, he comes across a man who was born blind. His disciples ask him if was it his sins or his parents’ sins that caused him to be blind. Jesus has a lightning fast response here. Neither. It was no one’s fault. This man was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.
Let’s ponder that a moment. How often do we allow our own sicknesses and hardship be used to glorify God? How often to we think outside our own darkness to consider that our suffering may be used in some way to glorify God? This is a difficult concept for me and for most people, I suspect, but it’s worth thinking about.
Giving sight to blind people was part of Messianic prophesy found in the Book of Isaiah. Jesus was also fulfilling prophesy here. He spits in the mud and puts it on the blind man’s eyes and tells him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man does exactly as Jesus tells him. (Remember how important that is when walking with Jesus?) He comes out of the pool with sight. He is healed. (Just like we are when we listen to Jesus)
The man’s friends are skeptical at first. They can’t believe he’s the same guy, but he is. They take him to the Pharisees to show them because it was on the Sabbath. And herein lies the rub. We love to think of Jesus as this peace-loving guy who walked around spreading love and making peace signs. While Jesus did love everyone, he was an instigator when he saw injustice.
Jesus could have healed this man any day of the week, but nope, he chose the Sabbath. There’s no way this was coincidental. Jesus wanted to show the people and the Pharisees that they were wrong. Mercy and caring don’t take the day off. God is at work loving us everyday and so was Jesus, here.
This act divides the Pharisees which may have been what Jesus wanted. Faith is individual. If he could make them think as individuals instead of in the wrong-headed group, then they might be able to see the truth.
The Pharisees call in the man’s parents to make them testify that he was their son and was healed. They balk and take the easy way out. They admit he is their son, but will make him tell how he was healed. They were afraid of the establishment. Before we judge them too harshly, how often do we keep quiet when we should take a stand for Jesus? I think most of us have been guilty of that. I know I have. Fear of ridicule or judgement from people in charge, can be powerful.
The man tells them how Jesus healed him and he believes Jesus is a prophet. They call him in a second time for questioning and in exasperation he says, “I don’t know whether he is a sinner, but I know this, I was blind and now I see!” Let’s think about this guy for a minute. He’s been in total darkness his entire life. Jesus gives him sight. The Pharisees keep questioning him about the who and why. He doesn’t care about that. He can see! The Pharisees promptly kick him out of the temple.
What happens next is at the core of who Jesus is. He hears that the man was kicked out of the temple. Jesus seeks him out. Jesus seeks us out in the same way, when we are alone and scorned. Jesus asks him if he believes. The man says yes and worships him. His life is forever changed.
Then, Jesus goes in for the zinger. He tells the Pharisees that if they were blind they wouldn’t be guilty, but they are guilty because they think they can see. Ouch! How often do we “think” we are right when we may not be? Here’s where we end it for today.
What do you think about today’s reading? I’d love to hear from you.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂