03252020 – John 9. 1-41
Do you remember that “catchy little song” that started out like this:
“I can see clearly now the rain is gone I can see all obstacles in my way…Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind It’s gonna be a bright (bright) sun shiny day…”
It was actually written by JOHNNY NASH!
That song sure does fit-in well with tonight’s gospel text!
Jesus is asked (by his disciples) whose SIN – CAUSED the blindness, of the man born blind, HIM or his PARENTS?
We come to understand that the blindness WAS NOT the result of ANY ONES sins…
You know HATERS are always going to HATE and point THEIR fingers…at someone or something, because IT IS WHAT they do!
SO, Jesus does “this healing”… THING…and I say, LOOK OUT because IT IS another Sabbath Day healing! Tsk…Tsk…Tsk.
HOW Jesus performs the healing is quite a MENTAL picture.
He SPITS on some CLAY, MIXES IT and PLACES IT on the blind man’s eyes.
Then, he instructs the guy to go down to the POOL and WASH.
That’s it!
What do you SEE as being the KEY element in this healing?
Can we say OBEDIENCE? Or Trust? Or blind faithfulness?
We don’t want to read anything into this but even IF he did what he was told with “an attitude” of: “might as well, it won’t hurt to try…I mean what can I lose?”
Many folks have prayed “a prayer of salvation” with similar thoughts…of hedging their bets…
I like the one where it is thought IF THERE REALLY IS HEAVEN AND HELL, you know, I have to COVER ALL BASES and play it safe…just because…
But, I get it, EVERYONE has got to start somewhere…even if it is hedging your bets!
SO, Jesus healed the blind man here with simple clay mud. The stuff of the ground and a little spittle for good measure.
Others no doubt had tried before with things like “the laying on of hands” or “simply speaking a healing word” or “attempting prayers for the afflicted” but those attempts ALL failed…
Jesus did not follow “ANY prescribed regimen” or “a ritual” in his ministry. Everything…every time was individually SUITED to the person standing directly IN FRONT of him.
His ministry was led by the Spirit of the living God.
In SOME of his teachings and ministerings to others ONLY ONE THING was required – OBEDIENCE!
Don’ let that NOTION get away from you.
THEN, enter the Pharisees. RUN. They come around and everything automatically heats UP! They did not want to HEAR the truth, or to KNOW the truth. They KNEW what they KNEW. They were intelligent, learned’, the cream of the crop! They knew their stuff.
Their investigations included everyone including his kindergarten teacher.
Finding nothing to disprove a divine healing, they CONDEMNED the act as sinful because it was done on the Sabbath. Naysayers always got to NAY!
Finding no other cause to DISCREDIT, they EXCOMMUNICATED him.
They even declared, “To G*D be the GLORY” but this MAN (Jesus) is a “sinner.” Obviously, because he was NOT one of US!
None of this deterred Jesus. He heard about this man being made an outcast and went to him. Jesus introduced Himself as the Son of God.
Ultimately, Jesus asked the man: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Lord, I believe!” and HE worshiped HIM.
We get to the end of the reading JUST as Jesus addressed some of the Pharisees. They ask Him, “Are we blind ALSO?”
He says, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, “We see”. Therefore, your sin remains.
These Pharisees claim to SEE but continue in DARKNESS. The healing of “SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS” comes only with the knowledge or admission that ONE IS BLIND.
“I ONCE WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE!”
“Spiritually blind people” are all around us and some of US may even be included in that number.
Do you see clearly now? Is it gonna be a bright shiny day?
What things HOLD you back? What things do you fail to SEE or to UNDERSTAND? How and in what ways are you BLIND? And doesn’t this REALLY apply to all of us, in some regard or another?
Pray to SEE things God’s WAY!
Amen.
“I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
I think I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but blue skies
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Oh what a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day”