Church Requel
What happens when we tell other people about our life with Jesus? What should be our expectations? Today we see the gospel writer John devote an entire chapter to one single event - the healing of the man born blind. This miracle would be enough by itself to tell a great story. But in this case, it’s what happened next that becomes the real lesson to us.
Opened Eyes and Closed Hearts - John 9:24-34
What happens when we tell other people about our life with Jesus? What should be our expectations? Today we see the gospel writer John devote an entire chapter to one single event - the healing of the man born blind. This miracle would be enough by itself to tell a great story. But in this case, it’s what happened next that becomes the real lesson to us.
#1 - God works even in the ADVERSITIES of life.
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:3
Imagine for a moment that you have always been blind. You don’t know what it’s like to see the faces of your mom or dad, brothers or sisters. You’ve always been disadvantaged for your lack of sight. In fact, the society that you live in allows you only one way to make a living - to sit on the side of the road and beg.
Then along comes a man claiming to be the “Son of Man” and the “Son of God.” You’re told he is also a great healer and miracle worker. And a debate arises about whether or not the reason for your blindness is because you sinned or because your parents sinned? Your first thought might be very similar to mine: where do you guys get off debating my malady? How insensitive can you be? How could I be blind because I was a sinner when I was born this way!
Here’s the thing. The blind man never had time to be incensed. He never had time to be defensive. There wasn’t a debate going on - unless it was between the students of Jesus, because Jesus himself was moving and talking and teaching and spitting on the ground almost simultaneously.
1) This man wasn’t blind because he sinned.
2) This man wasn’t blind because his parents sinned.
3) If there has to be a reason, it would be to display the works of God.
4) By the way, maybe instead of having a theological debate, we should be doing the work God gave us to do.
5) Also by the way, you won’t always be able to do these works God gave you to do, so you better be getting to it while you can.
6) And let’s never forget that I am the light of the word - let me show you how!
That all happened in about 30 seconds. Then Jesus was spitting on the ground, making mud, and rubbing it into the eyes of the blind man and telling him where to go wash the mud from his eyes. Then Jesus was gone. Busy day. Onto other lessons. Onto other healings.
But for the blind man, it was a life changing encounter. He WAS blind but NOW he could see. Not something you could fake even if you wanted to. And everyone wanted to know how it happened. And if it was really him. Because they couldn’t really believe their own eyes. IRONIC! Maybe it was someone who looked liked the blind man. Can you imagine trying to prove your own identity? No! It’s really me. Just a seeing me! Can you see me? The seeing me?
The next time you’re going through a really tough time, remember that God works even in the adversities of life. You might just come out the other end even better than you could possibly imagine. Maybe your adversity could be so great and your outcome so outrageously good, that people might have a hard time believing that you really went through a tough time. But you can tell them it wasn’t you. It was Jesus. But how do you tell people? What do you say?
#2 - We tell what we KNOW. We don’t worry about what we DON’T KNOW.
If there is one thing that we can learn from this story, it’s that the man cured of his blindness had NO theological training. Nor had he ever been through a teaching on how to share his faith. And one thing we know for sure… he never READ the Bible. He could NOT quote chapter and verse. So what did he do? He told what he knew. He didn’t worry about what he didn’t know.
“Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.” John 9:12
The details of this story are so obvious that we risk missing the point.
“I don’t know where the man is… since I couldn’t see at that moment. Here’s what I know. He made some mud. He put the mud on my eyes. He told where to go and wash. I went there. I washed. Then I could see.”
The whole thing didn’t make any sense, of course, but it IS what happened. So that’s what he said. He didn’t know why or how. He just knew the what. The other stuff… “I don’t know.” Later he was on trial before the Pharisees for being guilty - he was guilty of being a blind man who could now see because of Jesus. As for Jesus being a sinner?…
“Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25
When you are telling your story, what is it that you are sure of? Focus your story there.
I used to be addicted to pornography, but because of Jesus, I’m not.
I used to be unable to manage my anger, but because I Jesus I can.
I used to be wanting everyone to like me, but because I know Jesus loves me, I don’t worry about it anymore.
I used to not know where my next two cents was coming from, but because of Jesus I’ve got a steady job and steady pay.
I used to worried about being sick but because of Jesus I know I’m going to spend eternity with Him so I don’t worry anymore.
What is your story about Jesus? Tell that story!
When you tell others your story, what do you expect to happen?
#3 - We don’t expect everyone to be a CHRIST FOLLOWER.
This might seem surprising, since the BEST thing that has ever happened to you is Jesus. We love to share the best thing with others. We want them to experience Jesus just like us. Sadly, not even family can be counted upon. Sometimes family can even be antagonistic!
“Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.” John 9:21-22
This can really be hurtful. Until we recognize that we have a new family! Our new brother is none other than Jesus himself. And we have a new Heavenly Father! And they are always always always on our side! The man born blind but now seeing could see that in this debate with the religious leaders, he could not count on his parents. He was on his own.
These leaders actually called him back a second time to testify. (That’s how vexed they were!) They demanded the truth. So he told the truth as he had experienced it. Here’s what I know. I was blind. Now I see. It happened after Jesus put mud on my eyes. Never met the man before in my life.
But the sinning part? Well… no one has ever heard of a man born blind being healed before. That has to be a God thing, right? And the last I knew, God only listened to non-sinning, righteous folks. So I’d say this Jesus is someone pretty special? Why? You want to follow him?
“You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. John 9:34
This man born blind, healed by Jesus, now seeing man was thrown out of his society and his family. But in the process he came to clarity of thought…
#4 - We do expect to combine FAITH with MIND.
There are some aspects to our Christian faith that comes only by faith. Indeed, faith often takes the lead. But I would submit to you that Christianity is not blind faith. God does give us eyes to see and minds to think. The result of our faith should be that we can understand things that we might not have been able to understand before.
“Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” John 9:32-33
More profound words have rarely been spoken. Consider that in a single afternoon this man born blind but now can see… this man, whose name is never recorded, under fire from religion and abandoned by family, had the presence of mind to say something that would be quoted and remembered forever - written down in the Word of God! Amazing!
So the next time you don’t understand something about Christianity, that’s ok. Sometimes we accept things by faith alone. But that never means you ever stop thinking. That never means you ever put your mind in neutral. Scholars have been thinking about our Christian faith for 2,000 years. You are most welcome to join in the meditation / thinking / contemplation / understanding. Combine your mind with your faith!
#5 - I do expect to SEE JESUS when I BELIEVE.
There is a delightful little part of this story that is easy to miss…
“When Jesus heard they had thrown him out and when he had found him…” John 9:35
Jesus heard. Jesus found him. What goes in between? Jesus looked for the man! We would have thought it more than enough that Jesus healed him, gave him back his sight, gave him a miraculous gift never before known. But seeing the world for the first time wasn’t enough. There was an even greater gift to give. The gift of sight… of Jesus!
“Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.” John 9:36-38
In some ways this story is unique. How many people have you ever known born blind and then miraculously healed 30 years later and given the gift of eyesight? Me neither. Yet in another way, this is all our story. We all suffer from congenital failures. We are born into sin, born into physical weakness leading to death, born into selfishness, born into spiritual poverty. We all need healed of one thing or another.
While everyone else is debating about the right and wrong of society, Jesus sees us! Jesus comes to us! Jesus heals us!
There is a heart-rending scene in the second season of The Chosen, when Nathaniel is sitting under a lone olive tree in the middle of a field. Nathaniel is alone, crying out to God. He wanted to be an architect and build synagogues for God. But his first plans, carefully crafted and held in his hands, had been an utter failure. The building had collapsed and he was ruined. He lit the blueprints on fire and threw the ashes into the air as the wind carried away his hopes and his dreams. He cried out to God: “Do you see me? Do you see me?”
Later, when he met Jesus for the first time, Jesus said to him: “I saw you under the olive tree!”
What is it that you are struggling with today? What has taken away your hopes and your dreams? Are you struggling to be seen? To be known? Does your circumstances make you wonder if God has seen you?
My message to you today is that Jesus sees you! If you will allow him, Jesus will come to you. Jesus wants to heal you! Maybe in a way completely different than you had ever thought possible. Maybe Jesus has something new in mind for you that you never even considered. Today Jesus is saying to you: “I am here. I am with you. I see you. I am speaking with you. Open your eyes and see me.”
What is required of you for this miraculous privilege? Believe!
For those of us who do believe, who experience the ongoing and every day healing of Jesus, our most natural response (not a have to, but a get to) is to worship Jesus in every way we know how. And along the way, we have the privilege to tell others about this healing Jesus that we have met. And maybe… just maybe… other people will join us in our daily journey with Jesus.