"I Was Blind But Now I See"

                                  “I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE”

Have you ever had the experience of being in the presence of something you were looking for but couldn’t see it.  How did you feel after you realized it was right there in front of you? 

March 15, 2015 Readings Ephesians 5: 8-14, Psalm 23 John 9: 1-41

Since the beginning of time, humans have been trying to blame or qualify the presence of evil in our world with someone’s sin, be it past or the present.  In Genesis 3 of the bible, we have heard it said that sin entered the world through temptation, was it the snake, or was it act of participating by Eve or both.  Then of course there’s Adam, how does Adam fit into the scenario.  Shouldn’t he too take some responsibility for evil entering into the world?  In some religious circles today I might be considered balmiest for suggesting that God might have even set the these unsuspecting humans up for their fall.   Now think about this for a moment folks.   It wasn’t until God said “YOU MUST NOT” eat of the tree in the middle of the garden, could it be this moment, when all the trouble actually began.  Now I ask you, what generally happens if you tell one of your children, “YOU MUST NOT” do something.  I’m almost sure he or she will attempt to find a way they can.  Even if it gets them into trouble, right!   It seems strange that God would all of sudden bring to their attention a tree in the middle of the garden.   Surely Adam and Eve must have walked by this tree hundreds of time before and apparently without any special interest in it.   In fact the fruit on that tree apparently wasn’t even attractive, until God said “YOU MUST NOT”.  Do you see what I am trying to illustrate here.  I am trying to illustrate that out attempts to assign blame or responsibility for sin in our world whether it be the original or a present sin becomes difficult if not impossible, especially if I am trying to assign sin or blame to anyone other myself.   Let us remember that the Lenten season is a time for us to look inward to discover the truth about ourselves, it’s not about your neighbor folks.  In our reading “the man born blind” from John’s Gospel this morning the disciples ask Jesus this question, “Rabbi who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind”.   In other words his disciples believed that this man blindness was punishment for a committed sin, it could have been the sin of an ancestor, a parent or some sin he possibly committed himself.  Jesus’ answer must have shocked them and challenged this belief and the religious teaching of the time, because sin was at the core of their teaching from Genesis 3, how sin entered into our lives.  Many people today still believe that people who do bad things are punished and get what they deserve because they are connected to some sin in the past.   

What is Jesus’ reply,   “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him”?   Was it not the apostle Paul telling us that it was in his weakness that God power would be manifested?

In other words if you become preoccupied trying to figure out your circumstances, why me Lord.   If you  become preoccupied looking for someone to blame for where, who or what is happing in your life, you will never clearly see the Works of God  which are not confined by sin or circumstances, because this is the place where God’s works are revealed.   This very moment Jesus is offering to heal the brokenness of your world and your life, to heal our losses, or help us transcend our personal circumstances.   I believe Jesus was trying to show his disciples and us that this kind of preoccupation with others and their sins can delay or stunt, yes, even prevent his works from being revealed in me so I will begin to recognize who Jesus really is.    John goes on in the story to show us how this preoccupation with sin,  religion, religious doctrine, ritual , personal predigest, self preservation and fear can impair people, no matter how educated they may be, from seeing or even wanting to see the truth about the world around them and THE TRUTH ABOUT ONESELF.   Here in lies the first lesson in today’s story.   Now, want to hear the rest of the story.

The community fails to recognize blind man.  This is a small community and this man was blind from birth, lets face it folks, everyone would know him.   Why would they say we think he is the man unless they were afraid?  The blind mans religion and the religious authorities who would be responsible for his training failed him, instead of rejoicing in celebration of his healing they accused him of lying, lying about what, lying that he cannot see, lying that a man somehow gave him his sight back, and then to top it off they accuse him of becoming a disciple of this despised prophet the one they call Jesus.   Even the blind mans parents out of the fear of being banned from the synagogue failed him, saying “don’t ask us, ask him he is of age, he can speak for himself”.   The only trust worthy

figures in this story are the blind man and Jesus.   The man insists on telling the whole truth about himself, even in the face of threats, abandonment and expulsion from his religion and the synagogue, he sticks to the truth.    “I was blind but now I see.”  Again and Again and again he witnesses to that truth and the healing powers of the man he thinks is a prophet sent by God.    Jesus transforms this young blind man, to reveal the works of God in him for all who have the eyes to see, yet none of them see.   Now I ask you, who is really blind here?  They are blind!!  They are blind to the truth.   The question that comes to mind for us here today is this.  How much truth are we willing to share with God about ourselves in order to receive our sight and healing.   

I don’t know if you noticed or not but no one except the blind man and Jesus are experiencing the great joy of truth and sight.  And because he never gave in the young man finally realizes who Jesus is in verses 35 to 38 when he accepts Jesus and begins to worship him.  Here in lies the second and final lesson of the story.  Who is Jesus for you?    Let us pray.