Bible Text: John 9: 1-41 | Preacher: Rev. Berlin Guerrero | Series: 2020 |

1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

This is an early belief among the Jews that physical deformities, sickness and disability are forms of punishment due to sin. This punishment is passed on from parents to their offspring, from one generation to the next. But here Jesus says: 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.

A situation of suffering and misery is an occasion for God’s healing and grace to be revealed. Like what I said last Sunday: I believe God is in this situation. God wants to draw out the best of our humanity that is the key to the defeat of the pandemic and all kinds of diseases that infect humankind which impairs the God-given function the Divine has gifted creation.

4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus the practical worker that he was differentiates between day and night. Day time is the time for working. Night, when it is dark, limits if not prevents people from working. It is also time for the tired physical body to rest. Jesus the Godsend, addresses, not the darkness of the night, but the darkness of the world by saying “I am the Light of the world”.

6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

The Scriptures has recorded many ways by which Jesus cured and healed people of various illnesses and ailments. Some by just a touch, or a word, or a prayer and they are almost instantly healed. But his man had a harder method prescribed for him. To have his face dubbed with clay made from dust and spittle, and then be sent in such a messy way, finding his way through public streets to the pool of Siloam, feeling himself no doubt a ridiculous spectacle: what good can come out of that?

Was Jesus mocking his misery? As Naaman so long before had said of Elisha, that he for one was not going to let himself be fooled and take part in those absurd instructions (2 Kings 5:1- 19)? But for this blind man, there was no outburst. There was obedience. When to obey was not easy, there was faith. Resolutely the man carried through what he had been told to do. In his mind he can see that there‘s nothing wrong in trusting, especially if trusting and believing is the last option. In the end he came back seeing.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”

The use of the word ‘neighbours’ here is perhaps confusing. In a neighbourhood, people are supposed to know more about each other. They are supposed to help each other. However, the

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only thing they know about the blind man was that he is blind and all he does is sit and beg. A change in his circumstances (being able to see) caused a stir in the community as far as his identity is concerned. So, he kept saying, “I am the man.”

10 But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

Here is a case of people with sight but they are the ones who are not able to use their eyes to look for people they want to see. Jesus might have been walking right in front of them but have not noticed. The only answer you’ll get from a man with newly-restored sight when asking the whereabouts of a man called Jesus is of course: “I do not know.”

And they brought the man to the Pharisees. Like his neighbours, the Pharisees suddenly had a keen interest about this man! They asked him about the circumstances of his healing, noting that the healing happened on a Sabbath day. The investigation is turned to the healer, “Is he from God or not? But the more they ask, the more they are lost. The more they are not able to see.

The investigation was long and arduous. The parents were called in to shed light on the biological and historical nature of the man’s blindness. The parents said he was born blind. But they were afraid to be thrown out of their religion if they confirm that Jesus was the healer.

And so, from this man whose sight was restored, came a voice declaring who Jesus was. He said, “He is a prophet.”

“I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

“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?”

“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.”

And he was driven out.

And again, Jesus who looks after the lost children of God had to find this man who was driven out of his community. When he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.

This man might have been driven out of the community that is supposed to care for and love him as he is but was instead driven out further into the margins of society. Yet he is not lost, instead he is found in the community and fellowship Jesus was establishing.

39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.”

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This is an assurance, a reminder and a warning.

For those who admit in humility and weakness that they are blind and seek to find answers to life questions, to find purpose and find God’s place in their lives, are bound to find the answers. Whilst those who profess to know all and whose lives are founded on one’s own fallible strength are bound not to see God.

However, in acknowledging that one is blind and lost, God’s grace is a light that will continue to shine until all are reconciled to God, their sight is restored and welcomed into God’s community.

Collect

Let us pray that our human weakness may be transformed into God’s strength:

Almighty God,
in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature
by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
shine your light on us and
make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.