Can You See?

Introduction

Traditions can be blinding. Many of us fail to see the will of God or the purpose that God has in our life because traditions have gotten in the way. Some of us fail to change because we are so shackled by tradition. We see people a certain way, judge people for things God doesn’t hold them accountable for and force explanations that were never supposed to be given.

Traditions are often an attempt to either protect us from something that can harm us or keep us in the place where we are most likely to do well. Not all traditions are so characterized, and some are nothing more than outmoded responses to situations that no longer exist. Nevertheless, this old saying remains true: “Never tear down a fence until you find out why it was built.

In the 9th chapter of John we are introduced to a blind man that had been blind since birth. Anyone that needs accommodations because of a physical disability knows that it impacts every part of your life. A very good friend of mine is blind and I remember the first time that he stayed at my house I thought I would have to make all of these accommodations for him. When he arrived at my house all the things I had done to make him comfortable were worthless because the things I had in place he had no need for. Once I told him where things were, you would have thought the house belonged to him. People may not need physical or mental assistance and a lot of time we overcompensate because of fear.

We are introduced to a miracle that Jesus had done a few times before. Healing the blind was something we see in the synoptic gospels quite a few times. We are also provided with a front row view to how the poor understanding of the sabbath paralyzed the Pharisees. Often times we fail to grow due to the fact that poor theology and tradition get in the way of progress. Let’s define the Sabbath, and in defining it let us remember who has authority over rest. Rest is not something we seek on our own. Rest is truly given to us by Jesus.

Matthew 11:28–30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

A Teachable Moment

The bible expresses that Jesus is passing by and encounters a man that has been blind since birth. Considering this was an issue he was born with, one can assume that this had become a part of his life. The beauty of this interaction is it shows us that even lifestyles and issues from birth are not outside of the scope of healing from Jesus.

When Jesus decides to heal someone, when someone is triumphant is not our concern. We should just rejoice at the fact that Jesus decided to heal someone! The Pharisees are not alone in their misunderstanding. Even his disciples ask the question, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind”. This ideological framework was not foreign to Judaism. The explanation of illness or disability as retribution for sin is common for Judaism, we even see this within the narrative of Job that his automatically assume that he had sinned or did something wrong to go through such tragedy.

It’s similar to our thought today, how many times have you assumed that someone is going through something because of their mistakes. Let me let you in on a little secret, sometimes we just go through trials, sometimes tragedy just strikes. You don’t have to do anything wrong to go through anything challenging.

Healing Requires Obedience

As we progress through this chapter we see in verse six the outcome of Jesus’ mindset considering the fact that when an opportunity presents itself to us to help someone we should.

Understand that healing gets ugly, there are a lot of purposeful tragedy that leads to healing if we are obedient. Understand that healing has generational implications. Obedience may not have been the solution of choice but regardless of what previous generations did to attribute to your trauma, making the decision to obedient does nothing but help our healing out even more.

John 9:6–7 “When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 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.”

It’s safe to say that Jesus is calculated, He heals in a calculated manner, exalts in a calculated manner. The pool of Siloam got it’s water from the Spring Gihon which is the only natural natural source of water in Jerusalem. This body of water built initially as a defense mechanism has now become the point of healing for a blind man. Sure Jesus held the power to help this man see, but it was obedience that solidified his healing. If you are looking for healing today, obedience has to be a part of that equation.

Some People Can’t See Past your Past

John 9:8–10 “Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?” Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “I am he.” Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?””

Even beyond your healing, people will still see you for your past. Neighbors see the miracle but can’t see past the fact that he use to sit and beg. When we become so caught up in who people used to be we miss the blessing of the current healing they are experiencing. One thing that consistent about a haters is that they will always bring up who you used to be before they ask about who you have become.

Traditions get in the way of understanding who truly has authority. Haters will blame and ostracize you for your own healing. It’s a shame when we thing we control ministry and worship and even more disappointing when we believe we are in control of who receives healing and blessings and who doesn’t.

“Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This Man is not of God because He does not keep the Sabbath”

Some people will question your healing and if you belong to God because of poor interpretation. We have to quit worrying about how people got to their place of healing and be more concerned with the fact we should be thankful when people get to a place of healing and praise God about that. Understand friends and family that everyone is not going to clap for you. Some people would rather help you beg than see you thrive.

We have to understand that people who cannot appreciate the healer that Jesus is in our life, they might be spiritually blind. The pharisees were so consumed with trying to uncover sin, they didn’t see the sin in themselves. They called this man’s parents, they interrogated this man, you would have thought he had applied for a job with the FBI. This is the challenge we run into, some people who fail to understand what has happened to us, automatically condemn it. We have to be careful that we do not do the same thing.

Healing

Blind since birth, meaning he had to depend on someone since birth. Furthermore, disability was an automatic thrust into poverty.

What happens with healing is not only does it mean living a new way, it’s also learning that you don’t have to depend on people like you used to. Some people are only around because they are addicted to being depended on.

The issue wasn’t the fact that Jesus healed a blind man it was the poor understanding of who held the authority over the sabbath. This is why God is powerful, He has ability to provide rest in the midst of discomfort. Rest isn’t just about doing nothing,

Rest is defined as the ability to cause someone to physically refreshed as a the result of resting from work. This man is at rest now because he no longer has to partake in the work it took being blind. He can see now, financial opportunity changes, living arrangement changes, see the problem was the Pharisees had a poor definition of rest.

Mark 2:27–28“And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.””

The pharisees were so caught up in the fact of it being a sin or sign they missed the solution. Jesus is the solution because Jesus controls the outcome.

John 9:31 “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.”

Conclusion

Healing is going to be irritating at first but Jesus has a remedy to clean us up. Life has the keen ability to smear all types of mud on our face but Jesus has a pool of cleansing that can rid us of anything that stifled our past.

Understand today, if you come to Christ, everyone is not going to understand or accept your healing process. You might be exiled, neglected, and dismissed but as long as Jesus accepts me I don’t care what the world thinks.

Don’t worry if the Pharisees don’t accept you, Jesus will.