People33

Jn 9:1-3 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

I have commented before that I felt the woman caught in adultery was one of my favourite stories, but now I have to add that this one comes joint first, and certainly first of all the healing accounts. There are so many aspects of this story that are worth noting.

It starts with a bunch of totally insensitive disciples. We're like this sometimes! As they are walking along they come across this man who is blind who, they are told, has been like this from birth. Now they are just like Job's comforters who worked on the basis that if you had anything wrong with you, you had obviously sinned. So the disciples, wanting to look like learners, ask of Jesus why this man would be like this. Was it because of his own sin or because of the sin of his parents? The former option is pretty stupid really, because he had been born like it, so how could his sin have caused it? Anyway, Jesus won't have this.

It's nothing to do with sin; it's all about glorifying the Father. What? Yes, stop your insensitive questions (what must the man have been feeling while they voiced their questions infront of him?); let's just take the opportunity to heal him! There's the challenge! Let's stop criticising and blaming people; let's just bring God's love to them, bless them and save them!

Now the way of healing here is unique to the Gospel healing accounts: “he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” (v.6,7) So why did Jesus do this? Did he want to give the man some privacy in his healing and so did something that made him go elsewhere to receive the healing? Did he do it because he knew the man needed that extra faith-motivation? We don't know – but the man was healed!

The incredible nature of what happened is revealed in what follows: “His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man." "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded. 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." "Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.” (v.8-12). They couldn't believe what had happened. Obviously Jesus wasn't performing great miracles at this stage of his ministry in Jerusalem , because the enquirers haven't got a clue about him yet.

Now their response shows how unpleasant and short-sighted people can be: “They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 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." 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 do such miraculous signs?" So they were divided.” (v.13-16) The neighbours take him to the guardians of the Law, the Pharisees. Why? Were they trying to stir things up? Instead of rejoicing over the wonder of what had happened they look to cause trouble. The Pharisees pick on the fact that it was the Sabbath and in their eyes healing was work. How petty! This story reveals the worst of people and the wonder of Jesus. But the best is yet to come”

Let's jump a little bit: “A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. "Give glory to God," they said. "We know this man is a sinner." 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!” (v.24,25) That's the bit that always makes me laugh. The Pharisees want to denounce Jesus and try to get the man to do it for them, but all he can do is declare his testimony which is as simple as you can get: “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

You may think you don't know what to say to people about the Christian life, but you have a testimony and no one can take that from you. For me it was, “Once I was lost, purposeless, lonely, and drifting into alcoholism, but then I met Jesus and he gave me purpose, security, healing, friends, a wonderful wife and a wonderful family.

You can criticise it but I know the truth of it – and so do millions and millions of other people who have met Jesus. Rather than be mean minded and criticise people who say they have found a new purpose in life that is filled with love, joy and peace, why not look for it yourself if you've never yet found it? God is in the business of transforming lives, not condemning them, and it's there for whoever will come to Him, surrender to Him and put their life in His hands. Once I was blind, but now I can see! And you?