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I Believe
Psalm 23; John 9:1-41

Picture
       This is the longest Scripture lesson we have in our three-year cycle through the Bible.  It’s also the most detailed account of a miracle found in any of the four gospels.  Another interesting highlight is that the book of John features several people having one-on-one encounters with Jesus. We’ve already heard about Nicodemus coming at night to see Jesus, and the Samaritan woman at a well. Jesus chose that scorned outsider, a woman, to be the first person to whom he revealed himself as the Messiah.  It symbolized why Jesus came and with whom he wanted to share the Good News. 
     In today’s passage, Jesus’ disciples notice a blind beggar and ask: who sinned, him or his parents?  The assumption at the time was that if people suffered, they must’ve done something bad or sinful to deserve it.  Jesus sharply disagreed, choosing not to dwell on “why” such things happen but what we can do about it.   Notice how Jesus didn’t say, “I must do God’s work” (helping those who suffer); instead, he said, “we must do God’s work” – helping those who suffer.  Now, while it’s still possible, “in the daylight,” we must help hurting people.  
    Jesus got right to it.  He spit on the ground, made a bit of mud, then smeared it across the blind man’s closed eyes.  Telling him to then go wash it off in the Pool of Siloam seems strange to us, but it was familiar at the time.  Jewish rabbis on occasion would fast, anoint someone with their spittle and mud, and pray for healing or a blessing.  So, when Jesus did this, it caught people’s attention, reinforcing his spiritual authority.    
     I love that the ways Jesus healed people varied.  Some he healed with a spoken command, others with his touch.  He might pray out loud ahead of time, or not at all.  Some people were healed at a distance… others stood close to him.  He healed in public and in private.  Those who were healed by Jesus then, and to this very day, cannot be numbered, but we praise God who alleviates suffering.
      The man healed of blindness went immediately to his old neighborhood, to see his parents.  What an exciting walk that must have been – seeing the color of the sun and sky, the green in garden plots, and people’s faces!  The old had interesting wrinkles, men had beards, children looked carefree, and he may have seen a woman rounded with new life.
      He was discovering his world for the first time because of Jesus, who made his darkness become light.  I’ve wondered whether he was close enough to Jesus to have heard him say, “I am the light of the world.”   After saying that, he turned to the blind man – who became that day’s object lesson, evidence of the light Jesus brings.        
     You’d think this man’s neighbors and family, after taking in the shocking news of his 20/20 eyesight, would have wanted to celebrate.  Can’t you imagine a joyful party, with feasting lasting long into the night?  Unfortunately, his neighbors were the first to spot him, and they began arguing about the man’s identity.  He was right in front of them saying, “It’s me, all right.  I am the one born blind!”  Being skeptical they said, “How it is that now you’re able to see?”  “It’s the man they call Jesus,” he replied.  Can you hear his lack of connection with his healer?  “The man they call Jesus, I did as he said and then I was able to see.”  Keep in mind that he never saw what Jesus looked like: he was at the ceremonial pool (mikvah) used for ceremonial cleansing; his vision returned there.   
     Saying the name of Jesus changed everything.  The man’s neighbors took hold of him and brought him to the Pharisees: those authorized as religious judges over the Jews.  The blind man offered the same truthful testimony… he didn’t know who this Jesus was or why he’d healed him.  That didn’t satisfy the leaders. They debated among themselves. Some thought he wasn’t a holy man because he’d broken the Sabbath laws, which prohibited, among other things, healing or helping hurting people (or animals).   Some believed Jesus was a holy man; the miracle was proof.  Getting nowhere, they asked their witness; the man said, “He is a prophet,” which is probably the highest holy office he could come up with, but it wasn’t what the Pharisees wanted to hear.
      When the man’s parents were questioned, they carefully explained that it was their son and he’d been born blind.  They were legitimately afraid to say anything else to the powerful leaders.  They knew, as did everyone else, that anyone claiming Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, would be permanently excommunicated.  They would be banned from worship, prayers, or study at  synagogue.
       In frustration the Pharisees re-interrogated the once-blind man, who wasn’t fearful in the least.  They instructed him to swear an oath, to promise before God that his testimony was true.  We do that today’s courtrooms, raising our right arm and saying, “I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”  But before the healed man could say a thing, one of the Pharisees fed him the testimony they expected to hear, saying, “We know Jesus is a sinner.”  They’d reached a conclusion, expected him to get on board, but he answered with unshakable simplicity: “I KNOW one thing – I was blind but now I see.”  They badgered him again, asking why and how Jesus made a blind man see. 
      He knew they were digging for evidence, not interested in the truth.  In his frustration, he crossed the line into sarcasm saying, “I’ve already told you what happened, didn’t you listen?  Do I have to repeat himself?  Are you interested in becoming Jesus’ followers?”
     It got loud and ugly then; the Pharisees hurled insults at him, but their witness had more to say.  Although he was likely an uneducated man, he used flawless logic as he explained how God doesn’t listen to sinners, but He does listen to the godly – therefore if Jesus was not from God, he could do nothing.  It was a zinger of an answer. He was shining the radiant light of truth into the darkness of their schemes. 
     They couldn’t debate him because they knew he was right, so they insulted him.  Then for good measure they pulled rank: “We can lecture you, but how dare you do that to us?”  That day before the Pharisees, when he spoke truth to power, surely resulted in permanent excommunication from the synagogue.  
      I am so glad this is not the end of the story.  Jesus, knowing this man had had the best day of his life, but also his worst, went and found him.  Finally, the man saw what his healer, who was surely a prophet, looked like.  Jesus then revealed to him that he was the Messiah.  It was a stunning moment similar to his conversation with the Samaritan woman at a well.  Each one responded, “I believe.”
       There are great life-application lessons for us in today’s story.  First, don’t believe that sin somehow brings about human suffering.  God’s nature is good and compassionate.  When we’re hurting in body, mind, or soul, God sees us and wants our healing.  There are lots of people in life who think God’s snoozing, not aware of our problems.  We need to tell them otherwise!  God is love.
     Second, the terrible hardships and heartache we experience in life – think about some of yours – can be used by God to bring us into a relationship with Him or strengthen our faith.  Many people who’ve come to the end of their rope because of physical pain, mental anguish, or seeing no good future for themselves can be open to the hope, love, goodness, and grace of Jesus Christ.  They can be ready to say: “I believe.” 
      If the blind man had been an average person in the crowd, and healthy, would he have met Jesus? Or gained him as his Savior?  I doubt it.  For the rest of his life this was his powerful testimony:  Jesus healed me.  His neighbors doubted him, and the Pharisees harassed him, no one celebrated his 20/20 vision with a party. But he could see; he loved his new life and following Jesus.  Hurting people need Jesus, who brings us out of all manner of darkness into the light.  People need Jesus.   
     Last but not least, God is counting on us to notice people on life’s sidelines.  Some may be outcasts, or simply invisible to most of us. As Christ’s followers we’re called to be alert, just as Jesus was every day and everywhere he went.  He helped alleviate people’s burdens, and we’re called to do the same.  One way some churches in Saratoga County and across the nation are doing so is through a fairly new program created by the organization Justice for Orphans called “CarePortal”.  Local caseworkers screen families and look for a church family to help them meet their various needs.  They may need practical things like clothes or household items.  They might need transportation to see their doctor or a counselor.  If sports equipment was provided, perhaps their kids could have the option to play soccer, basketball, football, or little league baseball.  Relational support also makes a huge difference.  Families can be invited to attend church and take part in its activities.  Being part of a caring community greatly improves the wellness of families. 
      Our Church Council is considering getting involved, supporting one local family; you can watch a video below from Justice for Orphans to learn more.  This is a way we could be hands-on in alleviating our neighbors’ burdens.   
     Come to church next week – if you liked hearing about Jesus restoring sight to a blind man, you’re going to love his next remarkable one-on-one encounter.  You don’t want to miss it!  Thanks be to God, amen. 

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