The text today is John 9. It can be found at the end of this post.
“Giftedness is not everything. Humanness is.” Rev Dr Tan Siang-Yang.
Joh 9:1-7;35--41 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 work of God might be displayed in his life. (4) As long as it is day, we must do the work 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. … (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.
Robert Louis Stevenson is a fairly well-know Scottish author, whose work include Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He used to light up street lamps with a torch. One day, his parents heard him exclaiming that a man is punching holes in the darkness. In one sentence, he summarized the ministry of Jesus – he came to shed light.
As the light of the world, Jesus came to enlighten, to shed light of what happens after we die and to bring the light of love and truth into our lives.
Jesus deliberately saw the man. The disciples did not notice him. They were possibly doing what we do today when confronted with a disabled person. This man had been living in darkness since his birth, through no fault of his own.
I. The light that heals (v 1-7)
A man in darkness (v 1- 2)
The disciples generated a theological debate. It’s blame game! In the face of tragedy, we often attempt to find fault.The way God works (v 3-5)
The man’s physical blindness was an opportunity for Jesus to reveal who he was. Our illness and troubles may not be punishments but opportunities for us to see God more clearly. The man experienced God’s love. God often takes our disadvantages / negatives / disabilities into our advantages / positives / opportunities.Sin is not the issue here. The issue here is about humanness and compassion. The issue here is about taking the opportunity to do something before ‘night fall’.
Jesus restored the blind man’s sight (v 6-7)
Jesus applied muds and saliva and asked the man to wash it at the pool of Siloam. Jesus did not wait. Jesus varied his methods when he came to healing. People have a tendency to focus on the methods and therefore miss the message. Jesus seldom heal in the same methods twice.Churches are divided over petty issues. Even in a church, we can be divided over petty issues. Who is blind?
It took only 2 verses for Jesus to completely change the man’s life and to demonstrate his love and power. But it took 39 verses to argue about what happened.
II The Different Responses to the Light (v 8-34)
1. The blind man’s neighbours
The chose to ignore the neighbours. They were in denial. They thought it wasn’t the same man. They are determined to have an explanation instead of rejoicing with their neighbours. They sent him to the experts seeking official approval of people from higher hierarchy. If they had stayed with this man, they would have heard Jesus telling He was the Son of Man. They missed this life-changing opportunities. Let’s open our eyes to see.2. The blind man’s parents (v 18-23)
They acknowledged the man to be their son who was born blind but they did know acknowledge who healed him or how he was healed. They are blinded by their fear. They had the opportunity to stand with their son who saw for the first time he could see in his life. They were possibly afraid of social consequences – being excommunicated from the synagogue. The fear of man has its consequences.Mat 10:32-33 Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (33) But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
Mar 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
3. The Pharisees (v 13-17, 24-34)
They were blinded by pride and arrogance. (Rev Kee thinks those who don’t read Sherlock Holmes are missing something in their lives. I agree. Rev Kee said Sherlock Holmes inspires forensic science.)Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal, they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend. Holmes said: “Watson, look up and tell me what you see”.
Rev Kee shared a story.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. After a good meal, they lay down for the night and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend. Holmes said: “Watson, look up and tell me what you see”.The Pharisees refused to accept this. They tried to find fault with Jesus and accused him of working on a Sabbath (spitting on dirt turning it into mud.) They even ask the formerly blind man what he thought. They would remain in that way (spiritually blind.)
Watson said: “I see a fantastic panorama of countless stars”.
Holmes: “And what does that tell you?”
Watson pondered for a moment: “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.”
“Why? – What does it tell you, Holmes?”
Holmes was silent for a moment then spoke: “Someone has stolen our tent.”
4. The man himself (v 24-34)
He stuck by what he know – he did not deny what happened to him. When we know truth, speak about it without fear. He even replied with a touch of sarcasm (“do you want to be his disciples, too?”).This is a model to bear witness. “A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with only an argument.”
A veteran missionary found the people at a place were experiencing progressive blindness. They performed a surgical procedure and prevented them from getting blind. The people did not thank him because that is beyond their vocabulary – so, instead, they mentioned his name and what he has done.
III. The Light that Seeks (v 35-41)
The man was excommunicated. Jesus looked for him.The miracle of spiritual insight
He has seen the Son of Man, the Messiah. He believed and worshipped Jesus there and then.The Spiritual Insight is a Gradual Process
- A man called Jesus (v 11)
- He is a prophet (v 17)
- A man from God (v 33)
- The Son of God, worthy of worship (v 35-38)
A puzzling truth? (v 39-41)
The Pharisees were upset. Jesus said there is no one as blind as those who thinks they know everything. The Pharisees’ pride kept them from the truth.Aristotle suggested that the heavier the object, the faster it falls. Everyone believed. 2000 years later, Galileo did an experiment in public to prove that objects regardless of their weight fall at the same speed. Yet, many professors still chose to believe Aristotle’s suggested theory.
Conclusion
- What about you? Do you see?
- What are your spiritual blind spots?
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