17th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 59

Prayer to start

May the words of my lips and the thought of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ
AMEN

Introduction

Blindness is something we all hope we never have to experience – to a person with sight – it conjures up images of helplessness – dependence – frustration – of living in a world of perpetual darkness –

Yet -In our NT lesson Jesus shows us that there is a far greater tragedy that can inflict us – that of spiritual blindness – when we close our eyes to God –

In our reading John tells what happens when Jesus meets and heals a man who has been blind from birth – as the story unfolds we learn that its not only the man’s sight that is transformed –

To help us see what its all about – we are going to look at what happened through the eyes of the those involved –

Point 1  The blind man – who sees

First there’s the blind man – a well known figure – in the street – more than likely – standing – in the same place – every day – begging for food and help – to survive

the disciples probably knew him or knew of him – and when they approached him – on the Sabbath – they took the opportunity to ask Jesus – that inevitable theological question –

“Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Who sinned, – this man or his parents?”

Jewish teaching connected suffering with sin – they believed that the sin of the fathers can be passed on to their children – and even argued that a child could commit a sin while still in its mother’s womb

The disciples were playing the “Blame game” – it must be somebody’s fault – otherwise he wouldn’t be like he is – they were clearly blind to the man’s feelings and pain –

But Jesus made no attempt to justify the man’s condition – as far as He was concerned they were asking the wrong question – so – instead He points them towards the man’s potential – under the power of God –

“This man was born blind so that God’s power might be displayed in curing him”

God takes full responsibility for the way He has made each one of us – there are no mistakes – we are all perfect in His eyes – and no matter what our circumstances – every persons life is an opportunity to show God’s power at work

Jesus mixes some dirt with His own saliva and rubbed it on the man’s eyes –

“Go and wash in the pool of Siloam” – He said –

and when the man did this – he was able to see –

Jesus can heal impossible situations – but He always calls for obedience and an active response of faith

For the first time is his life – the man was in the light – in front of him – were – colours – shapes – people – it must have felt like the best day of his life – like a new birth –

When his neighbours realised he could see – they asked him what had happened – and who had cured him – eventually they rushed him off to the Pharisees – to get an explanation –

From here on things started to down hill –
instead of being pleased for him and enthusiastic about his new found sight – they did not believe him – and were full of condemnation for his healer

“This man cannot be from God – He does not keep the Sabbath”

The Pharisees were clearly not interested in whether the man could see or not – only in discrediting the one who cured him –

“Speak the truth before God, we know this man is a sinner”

But he stuck to his story –

You did not listen he says – “Why do you want to hear it again? – Do you also want to become His disciple?”

The man’s witness had become more convincing more appealing each time he was challenged – he boldly shares everything he knew – no more no less – regardless of the audience – and with his new found freedom – he spelt out clearly to them what they’d tried to get Him to deny

The man’s undeniable honesty is a model for all of us who attempt to say that Jesus has just opened our eyes –

But – As the man born blind moves into the light – the Pharisees progress deeper and deeper into darkness

 

Point 2  The Pharisees who didn’t see

 

As far as the Pharisees were concerned – they’d seen all they wanted to see –
to them Jesus was a blind spot – no matter how hard they looked and considered the evidence – they couldn’t see Him for who He really is – they couldn’t see what God was doing – right in front of their eyes –

No doubt you’ve all heard the joke about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson on a camping trip –

after a good meal and a bottle of wine – the two men lay down for the night and went to sleep – Some hours later – Holmes woke up – and nudged his faithful friend – “Watson” – he said – “look up and tell me what you see” –
“I see millions and millions of stars” – said Watson – “and what does that tell you” said Holmes –
Watson pondered a moment – and said –
Astronomically – t tells me there are millions of Galaxies and potentially billions of planets –
Astrologically – Saturn is in Leo – and I deduce that the time is a quarter past three –
Theologically – I can see that God is all powerful and we are but small and insignificant –
Meter–ol-ogically – it looks like we will have a beautiful day tomorrow –

Why what does it tell you?

Holmes replied – “You idiot Watson – some one has stolen our tent!”

Sometimes like the Pharisees we are blind to what is going on right in front of our noses – we get so wrapped up in the everyday business of living – that we don’t see what God is doing so well for us – and what we are doing so badly for Him –

The Pharisees went to great lengths not to see –

They questioned the man – repeatedly – trying to make him deny that he was blind in the first place – when that didn’t work they put pressure on his parents – to deny that any miracle had occurred – and when that didn’t work – back to the man again – to give him another grilling – after all they were in too deep to let it go now –

I can certainly understand how the man might have felt – I remember in my early 20’s – being pinned to the wall – by three men who I worked with – questioning me about my faith – when I told them about my belief in Jesus Christ – they turned away retorting – “what does he know – he’s only a lad!” – the Pharisees couldn’t use that excuse –

When the man was clearly was no longer in their power ––all they could do was resort to abuse – and turn him out –

Young Christians can sometimes help to open our eyes – if we will only let them

 

 
Point 3  seeing Jesus

So now the man is out in the street – again alienated from society – but this time he has a new Hope –

there in front of him is Jesus –

As Chrysostom puts it

“ the one to whom the Jew had cast out of the temple – the Lord of the temple had found”

since his first meeting with Jesus the man’s revelation of Him had changed – He first aw Him as a man – then as a prophet – then someone with disciples – someone from God – and now finally as the Son of Man – and he fell down and worshipped Him –

Receiving Jesus Christ is like receiving your sight all over again – through the eyes of Jesus everything has a new beginning –
This lonely healed man so bold in his witness – stubbornly telling his story – and sticking to it – was transformed by Him – he became a follower of Jesus – and a model for the early church – and for generations to come –

Jesus showed us the Father’s love through service and obedience and by dying for us one the cross –
As His followers we must show Jesus to the world – by the way we live – and respond to Him –

We are all blind from birth – and its only when we come to know Jesus – that are eyes are truly opened

 

Conclusion

So we’ve looked at what happened to the blind man – and to the Pharisees – what about our vision?

How would we have seen things in this situation?

Jesus wants to turn our blindness into a ministry of hope – to open our eyes – so that we can be an effective witness – to God’s power and grace – like the man – He wants us to tell our Jesus story –

to lose our eye sight would condemn us to a life in the shadows – but to receive spiritual sight from Jesus will rekindle our future with a brightness that will never be extinguishe

 

 
Prayer to finish

In the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit

AMEN