Scripture: John
9:1-7, 13-17, 34-39
As we work through the Lenten season’s Gospel readings we
move closer to the cross, and the readings display Jesus in conflict with the
authorities; particularly the Pharisees. In this passage he heals a man who was
born blind, which was one of the miracles that should have identified him as
the Messiah. He uses the man’s physical blindness to display the spiritual
blindness of those who refused to believe him. Jesus also identifies himself as
the light of the world. The reading challenges our perceptions of why bad
things happen to people and reminds us that God uses hard and sad situations to
display his glory, mercy, and grace.
Teaching
It was commonly held at Jesus’ time, as it is by some today,
that when something bad happened to a person it was because that person had
sinned. It was somewhat similar to the Hindu concept of karma: if you do evil,
evil will happen to you, and vis-a-versa. Jesus looks at these situations
differently. He shows that the bad situations of life are places where people
can meet him and experience his loving forgiveness and mercy. We see this in
the man who not only received his sight, but also received faith in Jesus.
If you were to read the rest of John 9, you would find that
even before the investigation of this healing took place the Jews (by which
John means the religious leaders of the Jews) had determined that if anyone
believed Jesus was the promised Christ they would be kicked out of the
fellowship of the synagogue. Often we find people who have already determined
for a variety of reasons that they will not believe in Jesus. Jesus says such
people are blind, and that, because they claim to see and understand the world
and to know the truth of the matter contradicting him, they are guilty and that
their guilt remains.
Life
Jesus states that while it is still day we should work the
works of he who sent him. This is a good way to look at our lives; a day in
which we do God’s work with Jesus. As he has rescued us from our sins, he
includes us in his mission to bring forgiveness to others. He uses us to open
the eyes of those who are spiritually blind as we speak of Jesus, the Light of
the World, and testify to his salvation. We can consider each day as a day that
Jesus brings us to work with him and experience his gracious work in our lives,
and through our lives for others.
Pause and consider, where might God be using you to shine
his light? Your family? Your neighbor? A co-worker? To whom might you have the
privilege of sharing the good news of the Son of Man? And while you think of
those things, how might you be reminded that you yourself received sight from
God through faith in Jesus.
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