John 9:1-2 (NIV) 1 As he went 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?”

Nobody Left Out

We are in the 6th week of our sermon series “Nobody Left Out.” I trust you are enjoying reading along with us in the 40-day devotional with us.  The name of that devotional is the same name as our sermon series -Nobody Left Out by author Michael Murray.

Available here: https://www.amazon.com/Nobody-Left-Out-Messes-Devotional-ebook/dp/B08MY583G8

Tonight, I want to talk to you about the man blind from birth.

Blind from Birth

This story takes up the entire chapter of John 9. It is a short story of Jesus healing a blind mind… but it becomes a full chapter epic when we include the misunderstandings of people.

Let it be said that the misunderstandings of people make every chapter of our lives tediously longer than they need be.

John 9:1-2 (NIV) 1 As he went 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?”

The disciples of Jesus see a man who was born blind, and they assume that someone must have sinned.

They are asking Jesus, in the presence of the blind man, who sinned? Is this no-good blind man a no-good sinner? The man is blind, but he is not deaf, so he likely hears this interaction and likely it was not the first time he heard himself discussed like this.

At the heart of the disciple’s misinformed question is a useful question that I wish the disciples would have asked instead.

Why is there suffering?

I am certain that we have all asked this question.

Why would a good God allow people to die?
Why do innocent children suffer abuse and sickness?
Why did this hurtful thing happen to me or the ones I love?

But instead of asking Jesus to give them a better understanding of suffering and pain, they ask Jesus “who sinned?” In other words, … “Whose fault, is it? Who is to blame?”

I imagine the blind man who was very capable of hearing was surprised at Jesus’ answer.

*3”Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus,

Jesus does not lay the blame at the man’s feet, nor the feet of the man’s parents. As we will see in this chapter, the disciples where not the only ones to assume the blame must fall on the man or his parents. It was a widely held belief that suffering (especially from birth) was caused by someone’s gross sin.

Now imagine a blind man overhearing Jesus say… “it’s not your fault.”

It’s not your fault

Maybe you need to hear this today. You are going through something difficult. You are experiencing suffering beyond your control…

Maybe your child was born with a condition…
Maybe you were born with a disability…
Maybe you were born into a family that abused you…

I think Jesus would have you know it’s not your fault. Plenty of things in life are our own fault… but not everything. Jesus does not want you to beat yourself up over things that aren’t your fault, and Jesus does not want His own disciples to beat you up either.

Jesus continues…

3”Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

There are some who use this verse to preach a gross message. Some use this verse to say God causes people to be born blind so He can then heal them.

Imagine a person who causes a problem, so they can then fix the problem and receive the credit for being a problem fixer. They are the problem causer, not the problem fixer.

I do not hold to a belief that God afflicts a man with blindness so that God many years later can be adored as a healer.

[IN THE GREEK the words “this happened so” are not present. The literal reading then is an opened ended “but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Which is then followed by Jesus saying (v4-5) “we must do the works of Him/God.” This view makes it an opportunity for the works of God to be seen in healing… not God causing the blindness so that the man can be healed. Of course, Jesus then heals the man, making the most of the opportunity.]

Without getting into a long-drawn-out argument on one verse of scripture, let’s all agree that Jesus is pointing our attention towards the works of God. Jesus walks up to a problem and rather than spend time lecturing us on the problem, he does the work of God.

The Works of God

My Christian brothers and sisters, maybe the world needs to see the works of God instead of receiving our lecture on “who sinned.”

There was an earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and a well-known Christian named Pat Robertson said that the suffering was caused by a pact the nation had made with the devil in the 1800s. This is exactly the issue we are reading in John 9…

The Haitians did not need a lecture on “who sinned” just like the blind man didn’t need a soapbox sermon on who sinned… instead the Earthquake in Haiti, like the blind man, served an opportunity for someone to reveal the works of God.

To the young woman who had an abortion… we don’t condemn you, how can we help you? We want to see the works of God done.

To the refugee from a foreign land… we should not point our finger at you in accusation, we should embrace you. You are an opportunity to see the works of God done.

To the person who is watching online because you have not yet gotten the courage to walk into a Church building due to past mistakes: we want to meet you. Not to wag our finger, nor to call you a sinner, but that we might stand together and see the wonderful works of God in your life.

Someone needs to pray this prayer today – “God help me to do your work.”

Blind from Birth

The man blind from birth was healed by Jesus.  Jesus made mud and placed it on the man’s eyes. Then, Jesus instructs the man to go wash it off in a certain pool. Then boom!  The works of God are done; the man is healed.

8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

Some neighbors they are? They don’t even recognize the neighbor who had been blind from birth.  Maybe the neighbors should get their eyesight’s checked?

They were commanded to love their neighbor, yet they could not even identify their neighbor. Jesus had not changed the way the man looked.  Jesus did not give the man a tan and make him taller. Yet, Jesus changed one thing about the man, and the one thing Jesus changed was the one thing his neighbors identified him by – a label.

What do you call the blind man when he is no longer blind?

These neighbors only identified the blind man by his disability, his weakness, his frailty, his past.

10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So, I went and washed, and then I could see.”

12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.

It seems like the neighbors did not know Jesus either. They are asking a guy who has been able to see for 5 minutes if he can direct them to Jesus.

These neighbors don’t recognize their formerly blind neighbor… and they don’t know Jesus… but they do know pharisees.

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.

Everyone probably knows a pharisee. If you don’t know a pharisee… well, you might be a pharisee. Pharisees are always closer than you think, and these neighbors feel like they need to get the bottom of this miracle. Instead of wondering, “Why is there suffering?” they are pondering, “Why is this obvious sinner not suffering anymore?”

Thus, the neighbors call the Theology Police.

Theology Police

Have you ever had a run in with the theology police?
When you tell your testimony to others they usually rejoice, but the theology police skeptically pull your testimony apart and find something incorrect.

These pharisees started to investigate the miracle. They wanted to disprove the miracle, and even more so, they wanted to disprove the miracle-giver Jesus Christ.

They quickly discover that the miracle took place on the Sabbath, the day of rest.

14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

Instead of the Theology Police being amazed and giving glory to God that this man was healed in an amazing way, they declared a law had been broken. The sabbath day was to be a day of rest. No work was to be done on the sabbath, and they could quote chapter and verse of the rules and regulations of Moses. So, they heard that on the sabbath someone had put mud on the eyes of a blind man. The Theology Police decided this act had surely been work performed on the sabbath day, a clear violation of the law.

16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

Jesus divides. Still today the subject of Jesus is divisive. To invoke His name and to declare His teachings in the public square will divide people.

The pharisees are divided which leads then to try a different tactic.

18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind.

They tried to disprove that the man born blind was ever ‘really’ blind. Perhaps he was just pretending from birth to be blind. So, they asked his parents silly questions like “Is this your son and was he really blind?”  The parents continue…

21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

The parents are reluctant to answer all the questions. Anyone who acknowledged Jesus as messiah would be put out of the synagogue. The theology police would disfellowship this family from the community and so the parents were careful not to say how their son was healed.

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

Ever see the crime investigation movies where they interrogate the suspect under the bright hot lights? “Awfully hot in here. Would be nice to have something to drink… how about answering a few of our questions and we will get you a cool drink?” This is what the theology police were doing.

The neighbors did not know the man nor Jesus.
The theology police did not know the man, nor did they know Jesus.

The pharisees only knew they wanted to disprove Jesus, so they asked the same questions over and over. “Who and how?” Hoping to get a different response.

A pharisee will walk up to a miracle and ask…
Is it really God…?
How did it happen…?
And most certainly the pharisee will never praise God.

It is ok to ask questions. It is ok to wonder who, how, why.

It is not ok to strip the faith of others.
It is not ok to conclude that God is not praiseworthy.

Even when our theology is not 100% biblically correct… God is still praiseworthy.
Even when our faith is wobbly… God is still praiseworthy.
Even when we don’t get the answers we want… God is still praiseworthy.

Any theology, doctrine, or belief that does not bring you to a greater understanding of God’s worth, is false.

This is the ultimate test of what is true and false. The unsurpassable greatness of God is gradually revealed to us as we learn what is true.

27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

So now everyone loses their patience. The formerly blind man has had enough of these silly questions. If the pharisees refuse to believe he was ever blind, then what good is talking to them at all. So, the blind man lets them have it with a sideways comment… “Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”  Are you guys thinking of converting?

The formerly blind man asks ONE QUESTION and the pharisees lose it. They become so angry and hurl insults and accusations. They reveal their heart motives to be biased.

*34 …“You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

They too blamed his suffering on his sin from birth. They too still identified the man by his past. “Who are you to lecture us… sinner?”  I would like to ask, “Who is the pharisee to lecture the healed man?”

“And they threw him out…” It could be that they threw him out of their presence, but it is more likely that they threw him out of the synagogue. This was a very serious matter that shattered what little community this man may have had.

Ever been treated so badly in church that you were thrown out? I actually have! And it is even less fun than it sounds.

Why is there suffering?

Remember where we started? We started with the question, “Why is there suffering?”

The blind man was suffering, but Jesus found him and healed him.

But you need to hear this next lesson.

Never quite free from suffering in this life

Although he was healed, now he is judged, thrown out, and still suffering… but Jesus still seeks him and finds him.

I don’t like suffering, but I am so glad that Jesus finds us in our suffering.

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

The Joy of being pursued by Jesus

musician

Jesus is not the theology police. He does not invite you to his theology school to teach you a lesson and then grade you accordingly.

Jesus invites you to KNOW Him

The blind men didn’t know much… He did not have an answer to most of the questions posed to him in this chapter… but he did know Jesus.

Jesus opens the blind man’s eyes twice in this chapter. Jesus heals physical blindness. Jesus heals spiritual blindness, and the story ends with the formerly blind man worshiping Jesus.

Uncertainty is not the issue… Suffering is not really the issue…

Seeing Jesus, knowing Jesus, this is the real issue.

Those that are blind from birth are welcome… nobody left out.