Eyes Wide Open

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?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. (John 9:1-3)

In the Jewish culture it was commonly believed that some great calamity was the result of someone's sin. We also think that way sometimes. We might dismiss someone's misfortune as, 'a just reward', or 'just desserts'. This way of thinking comes close to passing judgement. Our struggles may be a result of poor decisions, or  even things totally out of our control, like the blind man referenced above.

Jesus used this man's predicament, to glorify and point to God. He used the situation to tell the world that God can do anything. We live in a fallen world where good isn't always rewarded and evil isn't always punished. That's just how it is, but God can make good shine through our mistakes. God uses us and our testimony to make a difference in another's life.

This blind man became a believer as a result of his malady. His faith grew and he began to follow The Light of the World. He could see Jesus with his own eyes. Have you eyes been opened lately? Have you encountered the Great Healer and experienced His unconditional love? Have you seen His Glory in the midst of your tragedy? Tell the world, make it your testimony.

John 9:1-7

From tizzy to frenzy to trust

   Then [the Pharisees] hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple!  We are disciples of Moses!  We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.”
   The man answered, “Now that is remarkable!  You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes ...”  John 9:28-30

It’s like clockwork, isn’t it?  Jesus does a miracle and we can pretty much cue the Pharisees.  It’s tizzy-time again!  And if Jesus (gasp) heals on the Sabbath, their tizzy “springs forward” to frenzy. 

That’s what happens when an infinite Jesus refuses the constraints of our finite minds and stubborn wills.  We prefer that he would reconcile himself to our understanding – not vice versa – and it’s darned inconvenient, maddening even, when he doesn’t comply. 

Listen, for instance, as the Pharisees attempt to force Jesus back into their comfort zone: “This man [Jesus] is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath ... We know this man [Jesus] is a sinner ...  as for this fellow [Jesus], we don't even know where he comes from ...”

We laugh at the Pharisees – or scorn them – relieved, ironically, that we’re not as far off the mark as they were.  But we need to be careful that we not also fall into the trap of judging God when his words and his deeds don't comport with what we think they should be. 

How do we avoid it?  And how do we submit our lives and will to God?  I think it starts by knowing him.

The Pharisees knew plenty about Jesus, but the healed man knew him experientially.  The religious leaders judged Jesus by their own notions of propriety, but the man of new sight took him at his word, confessing, “Lord, I believe.”  In the end, it was the Pharisees who remained blinded and in darkness; the man born blind now saw.

It’s not easy to lay aside our judgments and to take God at his word.  It goes against our (sin) nature.  But I do know this: The longer I walk with Jesus, the more he shows himself to be everything his Word says he is.  And the more I know him to be all he says he is, the more I trust his Word for the things I’ve yet to understand.

Knowing Jesus is eternally greater than simply knowing about him.  He is faithful and true, and his ways are good and right.  He loves us and delights in revealing himself to us.

And as we know him better and better, our faith is freed from frenzy, our tizzy turns to trust.

[The daily reading, John 9:24-38, is excerpted from the story of Jesus healing the man born blind.  Click here to read the entire story.]