Jesus was walking out of the temple when he came across a man who was born with a disability. He sees a man who has been blind from birth. John 9:1 "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth." That is in itself, remarkable. Jesus saw a man. I was just visiting with a friend whose son is paralyzed with cerebral palsy who was discussing the joy it gives him when someone sees his son and engages him instead of looking away or looking through him. Jesus saw this man. He saw him as a man.
The disciples didn't so much see a man, they saw an opportunity for a theological discussion. They didn't necessarily even care who it hurt. John 9:2 "And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"" That's what the good ol' revival preachers used to call stinkin' thinkin'. They assumed his disability, his blindness, must be a result of his or his parents sin. Jesus gives a quick refuting of this thought process which still wields a great deal of destruction for many in the church today, and shows why this suffering had come into this mans life. John "9:3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." Wow, this man's suffering is a unique opportunity for God to display his glory! It has been a hard privilege.
In fact Jesus does a Christ exalting miracle in this mans life. He gives him eyes that can see. Then he gives him spiritual eyes that begin to see more and more. By the end of the story this man is worshiping Jesus. John 9:38 "He said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him." Even as this miracle was in the works we see the influence of the stinkin' thinkin' that has marred this mans psyche. He has the same understanding of God as the disciples when he responds to the Pharisees back in John 9:31 "We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." The implication of that statement is blind worshipers get to see while blind sinners stay blind. If you are blind or suffering then you must be a sinner. You or your parents?
My hope is that Jesus rescued him from those scars. I hope he was given eyes to see the glorious Jesus who came and died for us while we were yet sinners. I hope his eyes were opened to see not his own approach to righteousness but the miracle of Jesus declaring him righteous. My hope and prayer is that you, reader, might come to see and worship Jesus this way too.
The disciples didn't so much see a man, they saw an opportunity for a theological discussion. They didn't necessarily even care who it hurt. John 9:2 "And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"" That's what the good ol' revival preachers used to call stinkin' thinkin'. They assumed his disability, his blindness, must be a result of his or his parents sin. Jesus gives a quick refuting of this thought process which still wields a great deal of destruction for many in the church today, and shows why this suffering had come into this mans life. John "9:3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." Wow, this man's suffering is a unique opportunity for God to display his glory! It has been a hard privilege.
In fact Jesus does a Christ exalting miracle in this mans life. He gives him eyes that can see. Then he gives him spiritual eyes that begin to see more and more. By the end of the story this man is worshiping Jesus. John 9:38 "He said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him." Even as this miracle was in the works we see the influence of the stinkin' thinkin' that has marred this mans psyche. He has the same understanding of God as the disciples when he responds to the Pharisees back in John 9:31 "We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." The implication of that statement is blind worshipers get to see while blind sinners stay blind. If you are blind or suffering then you must be a sinner. You or your parents?
My hope is that Jesus rescued him from those scars. I hope he was given eyes to see the glorious Jesus who came and died for us while we were yet sinners. I hope his eyes were opened to see not his own approach to righteousness but the miracle of Jesus declaring him righteous. My hope and prayer is that you, reader, might come to see and worship Jesus this way too.
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