Irritation to Illumination

Introduction

Jesus has the innate ability to stand in the gaps for the marginalized. Having a disability is difficult for any family, but when a family is dealing with a disability and does not have the finances or health insurance to deal accordingly with the disability it can be a very tough journey. Often times within the confines of the New Testament we are told about the condition a person has but we are rarely told how the person ended up having said impediment.

There is quite a bit of information in the Old Testament on how people were to deal with blind people. The Old Testament demanded special considerations for the blind. Leviticus 19:14 “You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”

It was a punishable act to mislead a blind person Deuteronomy 27:18 “‘Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’”

Furthermore a blind man was considered unworthy to serve as a priest. Leviticus 21:18 “For any man who has a defect shall not approach: a man blind or lame, who has a marred face or any limb too long,”

It’s such a blessing to see Jesus remove roadblocks. Ways in which we couldn’t serve before Jesus stands in the gap to change people’s lives in effort to serve in a manner that is life changing. Healing the blind was never a rare thing for Jesus to do. Healing was a part of his ministry that was a fulfillment of prophecy. He healed two blind men in Galilee, a mind man from in this text in John 9, and a blind beggar named Bartimaeus in Jericho.

When it comes to healing sometimes Jesus restores instantly, other times like this occasion in John 9, Jesus used tools from the earth and His body to heal people. Even Jesus’ interaction with Paul resulted in blindness and at Paul’s conversion He was able to see again.

Similar to us, sometimes we receive healing instantly, sometimes Jesus shows up instantly and changes the situation instantly. Sometimes Jesus will use tools and even people that lead to our healing, and sometimes the prolonged healing process makes us stronger along the way and teaches us a lesson of faith dependence and obedience so that we find glory and thanksgiving in His healing.

Opposing Perspectives

It’s quite normal in the text that we see differing views with Jesus and the Pharisees that was the out pour of the Pharisees oppressive behavior, but in this instance the difference in view comes from the disciples of Jesus Christ. The beautiful part about this narrative is that Jesus is a teacher, and it should show us that questions are a part of the equation as it pertains to discipleship.

Historically this ideology was not foreign, disability was often equated to the punishment of sin. The friends of Job equated his suffering to sin, even within the writing of the prophet Jeremiah we see the same sentiment. Jeremiah 31:29-30 “In those days they shall say no more: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.”

Brokenness is irritating, disability is irritating. Granted there are things in life that can make things easier and accommodating, nonetheless it is a daily struggle to deal with anything that one might consider the opposite of atypical. The emphasized the physical and supernatural nature of Jesus’ power. What He did for this blind man physically is what He continues to do for us spiritually on a daily basis.

John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””

Jesus Knows

One peculiar thing about our savior is that He knows us, similar to His relationship with this man. We do not know the depth of this relationship but we are made aware of the fact that Jesus is aware of the fact that He’s been blind since birth.

Similar to us, Jesus knows what we struggle with, it’s no secret that there are inhibitors in our life that irritate us and put us in dire need for healing. I’m thankful that when we see others conditions as theological problems God uses Jesus as a solution. This healing is the epitome of what one Rabbi seems to align with the fact that there is no death without sin and there is no suffering without iniquity. This narrative proves the fact that religion evolves and so should we.

The overall theme should prompt us to understand that Jesus is the sole solution to all suffering, including our own suffering.

Truth be told we typically experience four types of suffering.

Suffering that proves or test our faith.

Abraham and Sarah’s patience in childbirth.

Suffering meant for our improvement or edification

They rod and thy staff comfort me, as a shepherd there is comfort and correction in the pasture of Jesus.

Suffering as a punishment for sin

Go and sin no more

Suffering that reemphasizes the glory of God.

Jesus exclaims to the crowd that the raising of Lazarus was for the glorification of God.

It’s no secret that suffering is connected to sin, some of our suffering is due to the fact that we have sinned and sins have consequences. The blessing is even in the suffering that is attached to sin, Jesus still has the healing power to make our mistakes right!

Understand that if our suffering is not a direct punishment for sin, then the suffering is something God is allowing to happen in our lives, sometimes for reasons beyond our mental capacity, even within this framework the beauty is Jesus has the power to attach us to peace even when we don’t understand the why behind our suffering.

The blindness of this man raises questions, it wasn’t a direct connection to sin, it wasn’t punishment but regardless of what it was Jesus has the power to fix it.

John 9:3-5 “Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.””

Irritation to Illumination

God can use the irritants of life to become illuminations to the world that showcase His holy power.

Understand that God does not allow anything to enter our lives that is not able to glorify him. We glorify Him in the midst of suffering when we draw near to Jesus.

The problem is sometimes we allow our irritation and suffering to lead to isolation because we try to find our own way to comfort ourselves and the only place self-comfort without Jesus leads us to is resentment.

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Self-Reliance

Without thinking about it, often our reasoning is this: “I—by my stupidity—got into this mess; therefore I—by my stupidity—will get out of it.

I find comfort in my suffering when I trust God’s goodness and providence to be the solution for every irritant. This is why Paul could write in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Jesus is above our questioning and rationale. Using saliva and clay from the ground might not make sense to you but if it means healing I’m willing to try it.

It’s interesting that we will take trial medications, unaware of the side-effects just for a chance to be healthy but turnaround and question the directions of Jesus.

Sometimes the directives of God will make us angry! Naaman didn’t understand why the prophet told him to dip 7 times in the Jordan, regardless of how you feel about the process of healing you have to ask yourself do you want to made whole?

Healing isn’t always happy and clean, I need us to understand that healing gets raw, nasty and irritating. Often times the wound isn’t the worst part of the injury, it’s the irritation from the scab, it’s the frustration behind putting ointment on it everyday.

We rejoice in the fact that this man is able to see, but understand healing can be challenging because it pushes us to live a completely different life. The people that helped this blind man get around are no longer needed, healing will push you into different circles and albeit thankful for the healing, the adjustment to a new life can be frightening.

Don’t just get cleaned and go on your way, even in your healing come back to Jesus. John 9:7 “And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.”

Sometimes Jesus has to put the dirt in our lives right in front of our eyes so we know exactly what we need to clean up to help us see a better life!

When Jesus heals us of issues and problems come back seeing, come back ready to tell the people who were aware of your old condition that a Man called Jesus healed me!

This man could hear the word but could not see, some of us are not a place of healing because all we are doing is hearing. We come every Sunday and hear, it’s time we allow Jesus to open up our eyes so we can see His goodness, so we can see his power, so we can see His faithfulness, so we can see his mercy, so we can see his majesty, so we can see the obstacles in our way, so we can see the blessing of the Lord.

Just because you were born that way doesn’t mean you have to live that way.