March 17, 1996
20/20 BLINDNESS
John 9:1-41
Did you ever hear the old saying about college students:
Freshmen know not, and know that they know not;
Sophomores know not, and know not that they know not;
Juniors know, and know not that they know;
Seniors know, and know that they know?
I don't quite know what to say about that, except I'm not sure I ever met a "pure" freshman who knew that he/she didn't know— and I'm not sure which I am more ashamed of— that I still catch myself being like a sophomore, who doesn't know how much I don't know— or even like a senior who is wise beyond all understanding.
The story today is about knowing; about knowing the most important things in the world. It is a story about the healing of physical blindness. Before the story is over we see there are worse things than not having physical sight. At the end of the story one big question is asked: "ARE WE BLIND?" That is a question we all might want to dare to ask Jesus. Because NO ONE IS QUITE AS BLIND AS THOSE WHO ARE SURE THEY CAN SEE CLEARLY.
[ To the story: John 9:1-14 ]
You might not think it would be hard to imagine what it would be like never to have seen— to be blind from birth. You could just shut your eyes, you might think. But of course you know that is not the same.
The man in this story got on in the world as best he could, using his other senses. Blindness was a severe handicap, but he made a living, such as it was. Then one day the blind man met Jesus. He didn't know, really, who Jesus was. We are not told how much he had heard about Jesus. By what he told the authorities after he received his sight, the blind man didn't know very much about Him at all.
We have to wonder what in the world inspired such hope and faith in him that he would even listen to Jesus. Then when Jesus did what he did, and told the blind man to do what he was supposed to do- - this man simply went and did as he was told. [What Jesus did: made mud, sent the blind man off in his darkness to wash in the Pool of Siloam}
I like to think that something warm happened inside the man when Jesus spoke to him. I like to think that grace began to work in him to begin the miracle of faith. That beginning faith might have been as small as simply saying "What do I have to lose!?" Or it may have been inspired by what he had heard of other miracles.
Whatever it was, this man did not deserve to be blind because he had sinned— and he did not deserve to be made well because he was good. We know he was made to see because Jesus took compassion on him; not because he believed in Jesus as Messiah or savior or because he was especially religious or deserving. He simply obeyed, and a miracle took place: He could see!
We have to speculate a bit on what it must have been to experience sight for the first time. To live in a dark world of sounds and smells and jostling, and suddenly to see a donkey for the first time, or a pigeon, or the crowded streets of Jerusalem, or the Temple mount looming above the pool?
Did the blind man have to have help getting home? Did he have to shut his eyes so he could remember where he was?
Finally he got home— and found that he was now quite a celebrity. If he lived now he would certainly make at least the local talk shows on the radio— he might even make Good Morning Israel! on nationwide TV. People began to take notice. It isn't every day a person born blind can see with 20/20 vision by a miracle of God.
So now the people who know everything about everything— who have a faith of rules and regulations that exist to maintain their traditions, rather than traditions that nurture and maintain their faith— these people said, "This is outside OUR control! This is too dangerous!" They moved in.
"Number one— nobody does anything or goes anywhere on the Sabbath unless WE say so." [The healing had taken place on the Sabbath.] Of course there were ways to get around Sabbath rules— but they were sure Jesus hadn't bothered to worry his head about that.
Number two— this Jesus was the object of grave concern because he had been teaching SPIRITUAL worship— that God must be worshiped by placing HIM at the center of life— instead of by just keeping rigid rules and regulations.
Number three— they had to show this man who was really in control of spiritual matters— so they found him and began their interrogation.
This is one of the funniest stories in the Bible, in one way. The interchange between the big shots and the blind man becomes actually almost hilarious.
"Tell us about what happened," they say.
He does.
"Well, this man couldn't be good and do what he did not the Sabbath."
"I think it's pretty good, what he did," says the blind man. " I'm learning to read at 35 years of age!"
"Don't get smart with us," they say. "Maybe you are twin brothers or something." Then, "Let's go and ask his mom and dad."
Mom and Dad don't need trouble with the authorities. They don't want to make any waves.
"No," they say, "we only have the one blind son— he was blind all his life— that's him— he's 35 years old— he can speak for himself." The big shots look the poor man up again.
"Tell us what happened," they say.
"I have already told you about six times," he says. " Are you considering joining the Church of the Nazarene?" Oooh, that one burned!
"Don't be smart with us! We know this man is bad news."
"Bad news, good news—," our friend is getting testy. "All I know is this: I was blind. I can now see 20/20! That is the sum and total of it!"
For his veracity and tenacity the blind man succeeded in getting the high-up people very angry. On the spot they officially excommunicated him. His last hope of heaven, supposedly, was out the window. Their rage must have been a bit sobering even for the ex-blind man, and I'm sure his parents, who didn't want to make trouble, were devastated.
But then comes the best part of the story: Remember, this man had never ever even once seen Jesus. I'm sure Jesus planned it that way. He could have healed him on the spot and when he opened his eyes to see for the first time the first thing he would have seen would have been Jesus instead of that donkey by the pool of Siloam. But Jesus had sent him away to wash.
The blind man didn't know what Jesus looked like— but Jesus looked him up. The disciples said, "Jesus, Master, you know that man you healed last Sabbath day? The authorities have cast him out! His whole neighborhood is buzzing about three visits in one day by the long black robes and all the commotion." So Jesus went looking for him.
And Jesus found him. "Do you believe in Messiah?" Jesus asked.
"Who is Messiah?" answered the man. " I'd like to be able to believe." And then here it came again! Last week to a Samaritan woman, this week to am excommunicated ex-beggar blind man. Jesus reveals to one person the fact that He is the Messiah.
"You're looking at him!" said Jesus.
"Lord, I believe!" said the blind man who now could see in more ways than one. Down on his knees before the Son of God he went.
Then Jesus said one of those enigmatic statements that aren't too difficult to understand if you really want to understand them: "I've come, he said, to help blind people see, and to make those who see become as blind as bats."
Some Pharisees heard him — and they got really upset because they thought they knew what Jesus meant. It was then they asked the question I began this sermon with: "YOU'RE NOT TELLING US THAT WE'RE BLIND, ARE YOU? ARE WE BLIND?"
And Jesus said: "THERE ISN'T ANYONE QUITE AS BLIND AS THE ONE WHO THINKS HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!"
AM I BLIND, JESUS?
If I am a know-it-all, yes!
But if I am in a living connection with Jesus I can say No! I am not blind! The LORD is my Shepherd!
With Jesus as prophet, priest, and king I can see: If my life is centered in Him ('looking unto Jesus'— Hebrews 12:3)
As Prophet he helps me see clearly what is his will,
As Priest he shows me that the cross and the empty tomb are my salvation, and
As King he is the shepherd who leads me even through the (Glen Coe) dark valleys of shadow.
In Chapter 8:12 Jesus said these words: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Prayer & Hymn 424 The Song of the Soul Set Free
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Dr. Russell Metcalfe is Pastor Emeritus of the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene. Permission to reprint or publish this material is GRANTED as long as the reprinting or republishing is not-for-profit.
You can access more of Dr. Metcalfe’s sermons at his scripturally indexed sermon archives web site. Now with MP3 audio sermons and audio bonus material. http://russellmetcalfesermons.nazarene.nl/Sermons/Sermons.htm
