Re-Creating the Blind to See – Lent 4

Re-Creating the Blind to See

Lent 4 T John 9:1-41

INI

The man in the Gospel lesson was born blind. Physically, his eyes hadn’t been given their intended function. His eyes were there – but couldn’t see everyday people, objects, or things. So in order to see– the man must be made new.

Likewise, we’re born blind. Just like the Pharisees and Scribes, there’s a sight that we don’t possess. Due to our sinful nature, we’re blind to a whole spiritual world that sits right in front of us. So – we must be made new too.

Because this is what Jesus does. He gives new eyes to the blind. To restore both a physical, and a spiritual sight.

To show us this great truth, John tells us about a man that Jesus healed. He was born physically blind, which contrasts with the spiritual blindness that happened just before this story.

The Pharisees and Scribes had gotten into a pretty heated debate with Jesus – and it eventually revolved around one question: Who is Jesus? And Jesus told them exactly who He is. He said “I am”. This was the very name God gave Moses at the burning bush – it’s the sacred name, Yahweh. This name is so holy, it was discouraged from even being uttered in Jewish tradition. And here Jesus is, claiming to be Yahweh!

In response to such a heretical statement, they took stones and tried to stone Jesus. Because they didn’t believe Jesus. They were spiritually blind from seeing who He is.

Coming away from that interaction, Jesus and His disciples came across the blind man. And Jesus’ own disciples demonstrated their own spiritual blindness! They asked Jesus – “Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” But such a question presupposes a specific cause for this effect. It’s much like Job’s friends in trying to describe the problem of His suffering. They tell Job – you MUST have done something terribly wrong to receive such a sad state in life!

Sometimes we can think like that too – that any misfortune in our lives is a direct consequence for our sin. In some cases, that may be true – like if you steal, you’re going to go to jail. You own that one. But we shouldn’t suppose God to be a big kid with a magnifying glass, burning all us ants for His enjoyment. This just shows the spiritual blindness even we still have.

But Jesus makes the scales fall from our eyes, and makes Himself known by doing God’s work in us. What work is that? The work of NEW CREATION.

Jesus answers the disciples’ spiritually blind question by saying – ‘This man’s misfortune isn’t because of anyone’s sin – but so that the work of God might be displayed in Him.’ So, Jesus spits in the dirt, makes mud, and smears it over the man’s eyes…. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS JESUS DOING?? …. He’s making Himself, and His work, known to us.

Just as God created Adam in the Garden of Eden with the dirt of the earth, so does Jesus re-create this man with the dirt of the earth. Then, Jesus tells the man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. When the man did that, He miraculously came back with His sight!

But he didn’t just come back with physical sight. God re-created Him. He made Him new. God’s work for ALL HUMANITY was clearly revealed through this healing, but it points to something much deeper than physical sight. This blind man becomes God’s work who sees Jesus for who He truly is. He’s given a faith that sees that Jesus is the Light of the world. His whole trust lays at the feet of this man who healed him.

And so we see, the blind man’s sight was delayed so that he could receive an even greater sight: which is faith. Having received such spiritual sight, the man gave all glory to Jesus. His friends and neighbors asked who healed him. The Scribes and Pharisees asked who healed him, but in an antagonizing way. Each time, his confession clearly witnessed to the Light – which is Jesus.

This spiritual sight is the sight that matters most. Because if you contrast that man with the spiritual sight of the Pharisees, you see who’s really blind. It’s the man born blind who sees. For he’s comes to see Jesus for who He really is. He makes confession, even in the face of opposition from the religious leaders. But the Pharisees? It’s almost like they cover their eyes with their hands, and plug up their ears. They willingly blind themselves to who Jesus is. They should know who He is through God’s Word – this miraculous sign has been prophesied. But they rejected it.

After the blind man sees Jesus for who He is, he bows down to worship Him. And Jesus explains – “for judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind (v.39).” When this is said, the Pharisees were within earshot. They knew Jesus was talking about them. But like a closed-minded grumpy, prideful person, they continually self-justify their actions, their unbelief. They refused to let their same old eyes be made new from the dirt. Which demonstrates how spiritually blind they really were and how they will eventually completely reject the Light that has come into this world by hanging him on a cross.

Spiritual blindness is deadly. Eternally so.

In what ways are we spiritually blind? Do we do the same thing the disciples did when we encounter suffering? Do we judge by appearances, allowing our present sufferings distract from faith?

When the money gets tight and the bills pile up, do we begin to wonder if God is punishing us? When a doctor gives a bleak diagnosis to us or to someone we love, do we start to think God has turned against us? And when death takes someone dear to us—a spouse, a parent, a grandparent—does the grief make it feel as if God is either striking us for our sins or simply picking on us?

            Or do we do the same thing the Pharisees did—trying to justify ourselves when the Word of God confronts us?

We excuse our sinful behaviors all the time. Gossip. Letting our minds wander to every distraction during church – through phones, and conversations – all the while the Creator of Universe stoops down from heaven to talk to us. Holding onto grudges and refusing to forgive. Nursing lust in our hearts.

And when God’s Word exposes these things, what do we do? We either minimize the sin—telling ourselves it’s no big deal, that people do far worse. Or we justify it. We tell ourselves we had the “right reasons.”

“I only talked about that person because I’m concerned about them.” But we know how it goes. No effort is made to restore them. No loving conversation ever happens. The sin is simply baptized with a good excuse.

            We’re sinners. In one way or another, we turn a blind eye to sin in our lives. When we do that, the sin grows and festers – eventually growing so big that it can without detection choke out faith. That’s what’s meant by a little leaven leavens the whole lump – it starts small, but grows and festers, infecting other areas of your life too.

So, if we confess that we’re sinners – and I think you do, seeing as we just confessed our sins at the beginning of the service – then we also must acknowledge we’re spiritually blind.

            But the only way to see is to have the Light of the World, that is, Christ Himself, to come and shine a light on the sins we’ve tucked away in the corner of our hearts. We need to hear what God’s Word has to say about the vices of our lives, and what those sins will inherit. That’s why it’s important to read God’s Word DAILY – because we need to hear about our spiritual blindness DAILY. Lest we be like the Pharisees, tune out God’s Word and instruction for our lives in willful ignorance.

            That’s why Jesus came into the world – to root out our hearts of pride, sin, and willful ignorance – so that we may be able to see. And what we see is this – the Father has created you. His hands formed you in your mother’s womb. You’re His masterpiece. But due to original sin, and our own willingness to sin, we blind ourselves. So, here comes Jesus in the Divine Service. To re-create you by His Word and Spirit. To give you new eyes – that you might be able to have a true, lively faith in Him. A faith that looks beyond this world, and its present sufferings, to the hope of the world to come.

            So repent, and do as Jesus tells you, ‘go wash in the pool of Siloam’. Siloam means “sent” – and the one who was sent to you is Jesus. He was sent by the heavenly Father to reconcile you to your Creator. He was sent to reconcile you at the cross. In other words, Jesus tells us to be washed in the saving flood that flowed from His side on the cross. Be washed in His blood. In repentance, return to your baptism, and live as the new creation He’s made you to be.

            So that seeing – you may believe in Jesus – not as one who baptizes your sins, but who baptizes you – to be different, to renew your heart and mind, to receive a whole new set of eyes to see the world. And with these new eyes that can see miraculous works of God among us, we see that physical blindness isn’t the greatest evil. Neither is any kind of physical suffering we endure. For this world will pass away. But we have the hope and assurance of a resurrected life – a life free from sin, a life that testifies to your Creator, who is also your Re-Creator. And like the man from the Gospel, we tell everyone of the great miraculous works Christ has done in us.

            So look beyond your present suffering, and see the eternal healing that lays just behind it. That’s what your Lord has given you. With the eyes of faith -you see Him as your ultimate good.

INI

Pastor Joshua Ralston