Sermon Tone Analysis
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Jesus Makes the blind to see, he brings new out of the old
This week’s reading was about the people putting Jesus on trial - Jesus putting them on trial
Jesus would reverse their inquiry and put them on trial
A picture of Jesus bringing light into the world...
John 1:4-5
But, also a picture of darkness fleeing from the light
Light and dark are being separated...
Control over disease AND sin...
This man, nor his parents sinned
A reversal of Wisdom Literature (Proverbs, some Psalms, ) that says if you do goo, good will come to you, and if you do bad, you will receive bad.
Yet, disease and decay DID enter the world because of sin - not because of individual sin, but because sin was allowed to enter our system and it desires to kill, steal, and destroy all that is good.
So, Jesus, in order to bring the NEW CREATION must deal with the decay of the old creation.
Images of New Creation
Making mud
A reminder of God creating humanity out of dust and clay
Jesus using clay to heal the man is pointing to the New Creation that he is a part of, just as he was a part of making the old creation
Sabbath
This miracle was performed on the Sabbath.
I believe there is a theological point to be made
We often view sabbath as the pause at the end of the work and toil from a hard week.
Yes, that is true, but sabbath also LOOKS FORWARD to what lies ahead.
Sabbath then could be the PAUSE as we wait for the New to come.
Jesus healing on the sabbath then points to the New that God will do in the Great New Week of New Creation.
This is spelled out more fully later in the text as John (and the other Gospels too) write of Jesus’ resurrection on the 1st day of the week.
But, John adds a detail that Mary has a conversation with a gardener, who is later revealed to be Jesus.
Jesus is a New Gardener sent to CULTIVATE the NEW CREATION that will come after the Sabbath pause!
I like the example in Paul of the New Adam (recognizing that Adam was placed in the garden to cultivate it)
The healed man is unrecognizable
Being part of New Creation should CHANGE US
It might not change us physically - although it could
But, it should change us to where people say, “Is that John?
I don’t know.
It sure looks like him, but nothing in that man is acting like John would act.
And, if it is John, he’s quite different!”
When Jesus opens our eyes, we should be totally different that we are unrecognizable
His family left him out to dry
They were afraid of being put out of the synogogue (explain the community implications - like the woman who was estranged from her community who came to the well at noon)
At times, being a part of the New Creation drives a wedge between us and others.
Family, friends, co-workers, business contracts separate from us.
This is NOT because we want it to.
It is the result of darkness trying to flea from the light of Christ within us.
It is a result of the separating done by light and dark.
We need to keep coming to Jesus to have our eyes adjusted...
The man has another encounter with Jesus.
Jesus asked the man...
The Son of Man is a character in Daniel.
He is one who is given authority by God to judge the world and bring true justice in setting the world straight - to bring God’s New Work into play.
Jesus declares that he IS that man!
Jesus also declares that HE IS setting things straight!
It is in this second encounter that the man believes!
We need to keep returning to Jesus to have our eyes, and our understanding adjusted.
Yes, we need eyes to be opened, but then we need a continual encounter with Jesus to know how to CONTINUE (from John’s purpose of the Gospel) to believe who Jesus is.
And to continually be transformed as to what that belief means.
A separation of light and dark, blind eyes and eyes that see.
The pharisees thought they could see clearly, but, at the end of the encounter they are determined to be blind while the man born blind can see clearly.
What is the difference?
Their response to Jesus in the midst!
We hold tightly to things that keep us from seeing Jesus and the New He is bringing in our midst!
Not just sin
Rules, traditions, the Manual, certain paradigms and boundaries
And we are BLINDED to see Jesus, and the NEW in our midst!
Open our Eyes Lord!
May our eyes be opened to see Jesus in our midst!
May our understanding grow with our new vision of Light and Life.
May we not only confess Jesus, but may that confession change us - even if it drives a wedge between us and the world
And, may our eyes continue to be opened as we encounter Jesus more and more.
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