John 9

Posted on Apr 18, 2017 in Bible (NT) in a Year |

Tuesday

Why is this blind man suffering?

The disciples ask if it is because of his parent’s sins or his own sin. The question they should have asked is how can something good come from such tragedy or calamity as this. Jesus doesn’t answer their theological debate, but rather turns the discussion to how can God be revealed in this situation. Jesus will show us how God can and does work in human experiences. This healing is really a sign of God’s power and all of this as Jesus says, is to bring glory to God. And in the process, God’s grace is revealed.

Think about two people facing the same devastating news… you have terminal cancer. One person who has not faith, no belief in God, takes the news and spirals into despair and wants to blame everyone and everything… the news literally devastates them. The other person, one who has faith takes the same news and finds that it strengthens their beliefs and they are able to demonstrate the love of God to others who are experiencing the same thing.

Jesus spoke to the blind man on two levels. The first is regarding his physical healing, the mystery of being a part of a miracle. The second way that Jesus deals with the blind man is on a spiritual level. Jesus speaks to him about the great significance of knowing who the “healer” is. The miracle is the attention-getter, but the true message points beyond the physical healing to the spiritual truth, it tells us that Jesus is more than just a healer, He is the Messiah. The question for us in this part of the story is how do we respond to Him. Jesus can save us from blindness, but more than physical blindness, He saves us from spiritual blindness, from living lives in darkness. Jesus is the Light, with Jesus there is not darkness.

Jesus uses this healing to also speak to the Pharisees about their “blindness”. They have thrown this man from the Synagogue and because of that this healed man faces humiliation and disgrace. Jesus challenges the rulers. He tells them “I entered this world …to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
 

In other words, the Pharisees who should have known, refused to see and instead were leading the people away from the truth. They were not even trying to understand. Jesus calls them “blind guides” in Matthew 15:14. He tells them they are guilty because they are blind, but they claim to see.

Vs 40, “Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” Aaaa…yes. Pretty sure that’s what Jesus just said to you. And then Jesus goes on to tell them, “..you remain guilty because you claim you can see.” It is one thing for you to deny who Christ is, it is quite another thing to lead people away from Him. I think the Pharisees are being held to a higher accountability, just as the church leaders of today are being held to a higher accountability.But unfortunately for the Pharisees and many people today who are so sure they know the truth, they are fooling not only themselves but others.
 

So are you “spiritually blind”, or are you living by the “Light of World”, Jesus Christ?

Blessings

Pastor Kathy