We still “point fingers.” And we still try to “place blame.”
In that, we are not much different than our predecessors.
Many human beings have similar hidden prejudices – we believe that illness – is a consequence of “sinful behavior.”
Sometimes it is true. Sometimes it is not. Sometimes we are right…and sometimes we are very, very wrong.
It doesn’t seem to matter. We still point fingers…we still place blame. We still make accusations.
An individual dies of liver disease and it “must be” from over drinking. A woman dies of “lung cancer” and it “has to be” because – there was that time – that she smoked.
There are many, many diseases and indeed accidents that happen – that are not the result of “sinful human irresponsibility.” Sometimes illnesses are genetic. And sometimes, accidents just happen and are a part of life.
Finger pointing and the placement of blame are not called for…and still we do it!
In Jesus day and time, “most people” including Jesus’ very own disciples thought the disease of blindness was caused by sin. It was also a punishment for sin. The simple conclusion was that either this man sinned or his parents obviously did.
More finger pointing. More attempting to place blame. More accusations…
Jesus uses this moment – for the “glory of God” and to further discussion both on “physical blindness” and on “spiritual blindness.”
Sometimes a person can look, but not see. Here, the blind man received not only the ability to use his eyes – but also the “gift” to see the truth.
Note – the man does not ask to see. He does ask – to have vision.
The way the gospel text is written – it sounds like Jesus just happened upon the blind man. Therefore, it comes off – like a random act of kindness.
Again for the record…the saliva is an important ingredient. It was believed that there was “healing power” in the saliva of a “holy man.”
So, without being asked, Jesus makes a plaster of mud and saliva and applies it to the man’s eyes – and has him wash it off.
When he does so – the creative nature of God’s work is revealed.
He sees.
Light actually streams in – where previously there was only darkness.
Unfortunately, this miracle, this act of kindness causes all kinds of hardship for the man – who was formerly blind.
It was a Sabbath day. Of course, it was! The day when no healings, and no work of any kind – could take place…
So now, the finger is pointed at Jesus.
What strikes me in this rather extended and elongated text is that the Pharisees are not really sure of Jesus’ guilt.
I wanna scream and shout, he is guilty! He worked on the Sabbath day. He made a poultice. He worked. He broke the third commandment. Get over it and move on!!!!
They really, really want Jesus to be guilty, chapter after chapter they try extremely hard to get him on something.
And here, the man born blind testifies that Jesus did indeed work on the Sabbath day…and they, cannot get past the astounding fact – that he brought light and sight to the man born blind.
They are so conflicted – I think they stopped listening.
In all of this the poor blind man is forced to defend his cure against first his neighbors and ultimately before the Pharisees.
People apparently thought he was a fraud…all those years, begging for money! Again more finger pointing…and accusations.
The point is that miracles happened then. Miracles still happen today.
As a result of all this tom-foolery the man born blind is driven from the synagogue. The Pharisees tried to get a witness to pin it on him, tried to force a confession out of him, attempted to trip him up and in the end – settled for guilt by association. The blind man was guilty for associating with the likes of Jesus.
Allow me to suggest to you, you cannot do much better – than by associating yourself with Jesus…although his friends may be questionable sometimes, he is rock solid!
Don’t point fingers. Don’t accuse. And do not place blame on others…
Here the saying holds true: MYOB.
Amen.