http://livingthelectionary.blogspot.com
The Certainty of Faith
From John 9: 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." 16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. 17 So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet." 18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." 24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner."25 He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" 28 Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." 30 The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.
Nothing causes an uproar among people than to give God credit for something they don't believe. Even in church. Such was the case with this miracle. "Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind," found in verse 32 states this case very well; this was incredible, unexplainable, and beyond the grasp of the everyday person. Many believe and accept that the way they're born is the way they'll always be. Not so with those who trust in God and the power of Jesus' Holy Spirit to be at work in their lives. Our birth is simply a starting point for a good work for God. It doesn't matter if you were born with money or no money; status or no status; much family or no family; you're simply at the starting gate. Run with Jesus and you'll run far, fast, and go and see places you never dreamed. Even if you can't walk nor see.
The situation got worse as the word spread among the people that Jesus had healed this man by giving him sight. We can't even say his sight was restored because he never had sight. This was a true miracle; from blindness to sight. The other important religious matter was that this miracle, considered work, was done on a Sabbath. The Pharisees receive the man, and don't you know this is what a blind man longed to see, angry, bearded old men? "How did you receive your sight?!" The man says, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and now I see." The old, bearded, robed men continue, "This man can't be from God because He's not religious and doesn't observe the sacredness of the Sabbath!" Notice the Pharisees were divided, because some asked, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" They knew the power of sin to keep us from doing Godly things, and one without sin must surely be able to perform even the unexplainable. Call his parents, ask them. Yes, that's our son, and yes, he was born blind. How is it that he can now see? We don't know. Ask him; he's old enough to answer for himself. Poor parents, afraid of the Jews. Yes, God's people. The ones delivered by God out of slavery and bondage. The ones led through the wilderness for forty years into the promised land. The ones who enjoyed a great history of great kings, a kingdom at one time above all kingdoms; the title of God's chosen people. Those Jews. The unbelievers. The ones who said, God's about finished with us.
They ask the man to give glory to God. They had to; they weren't doing it. Say that He is a sinner. The man, in the most classic of responses says, "I do not know whether He is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." Sounds like a hymn written by one whose eyes about the slave trade, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see." Sweet sound of grace that still moves among the lost and the blind. Finding their way and having their eyes open to the power of love; God is still at work in the world today, even in some churches.
The Pharisees were asked in a clever way by this man who once was blind, "Do you also want to become His disciples?" This in a charge that he was a disciple of Jesus. While he may not have been at the time, you know that he became one. The Pharisees can only think to say that they are followers of Moses. The man concludes this part of their session with this statement, "It this man were not from God, He could do nothing." Jesus continues to do much, if invited. Jesus continues to work the unworkable and do the un-doable. Jesus can restore sight, show us the way, and bring wholeness to the brokenness in our lives. And the greatest thing Jesus does is to take away our sin and give us His love. All we have to do is ask.
PRAYER: Awesome God, praise be Yours through our prayer. We thank You for Jesus and for what Jesus is, has, and will do in our lives. May we have our sight restored and may we follow Your way. Help us to reach those who are lost, those who feel the least among all, and help those who feel they are last and matter to no one. This we pray in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
