“Blinded In Spite of the Light”

The ice bucket challenge, in an effort to raise awareness for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, was quite the rage several years ago. The purpose was to create a fun way to raise funds to combat another disease.

A variety of diseases are brought to our attention. Cancer is known for a variety of color of ribbons. Every year, close to Labor Day, there used to be the Jerry Lewis telethon to raise money towards research for muscular dystrophy. A few years back, ebola had come to everyone's notice. 

As terrible as war is, many people do not remember that history tells us that twice as many people died during the Civil War from disease than were actually killed in combat. I have not even mentioned multiple other diseases that cause death.

Sadly, because of the fall, which resulted from the sin of Adam and Eve, sickness and death have been a part of life on this planet. For all of us, as we get older, we are reminded of this on a regular basis. Without the effects of sin, there would not be any pharmacies or funeral homes. Even for those who have been blessed with extremely good health, we will all discover our limitations as we get older. 

Yet, with all the technological and medical advances that we have seen over the years, there has not, nor will there ever be, a means of preventing death. The only one who can reverse death, as it were, is God himself. Even today, if God so chose, he could bring physical healing to individuals. Some of you can even attest to this. However, he is not required to do so, nor does he do so at our command or because we claim it.

As we look throughout the Bible, there are many instances where miraculous healing took place, with some even being restored back to life. The four Gospels record an incredible number of healings done by Jesus. This continued on through the apostolic age in the book of Acts.

It is important for us to understand some things about the physical healings which Jesus provided. These healings were always done by Jesus simply saying a word or providing a touch. In addition, they were instantaneous, thus leaving no doubt that this was indeed supernatural. Each healing was a complete healing. It was not a gradual improvement, but instantaneous, except in the one case in Mark. Even that took place in a relatively short period of time. As we look through the Gospels, it appears that every person who came to Jesus for healing, he provided it.

Something else which I found fascinating is that in the various healings which Jesus provided, it was always something that was quite obvious. It was not something which was hidden within a person such as a headache or a heart problem. One could see crippled individuals walking; one could see blind people being able to see; one could see hands that were obviously withered, restored to normality. Then, one could see the most obvious evidence that should have been clear to everyone; that was when Jesus would raise dead people causing them to be alive once again.

I find it fascinating that the passage we will be dealing with today, involves an individual who was blind from birth. In the earlier messages dealing with the religious leaders, we recognized that they were spiritually blind, even though they thought they could see clearly.

Our purpose in life should be that we would live in such a way that others would see the light of Jesus Christ, so that they would not walk around in spiritual blindness.

Constrained by the Temporal - 9.1-5

As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.  And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”  Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.  While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

In the context of the whole passage, it is helpful to understand that this probably took place in the area of Jerusalem. We can assume this because Jesus told the blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam. It is also quite interesting to see his disciples’ concern and confusion as to why this man was blind.

Interestingly, scholars state that blindness was a very common malady in this time. And if an adult was blind, they would be forced to beg for survival. So we see some sound logic in this fellow being in a very busy, active area in Jerusalem. Here he would have the most people passing by and probably feeling more generous as they are going to the temple to give. This healing that we are going to see, appears to be the only time Jesus healed someone who was born this way. 

It is quite possible, from the context, that Jesus is doing this, so that we might know for certain, that illness, sickness, or disease is not always caused by sin, except for the fact of being a result of Adam's sin. Within the Jewish culture, not unlike today, it was assumed that if a person had such a physical limitation, it was because of sin. It is also easy to understand the philosophical struggle the disciples had. For when we consider that if his blindness was a result of his parents' sin, that would hardly seem fair. Today, we understand that oftentimes children suffer consequences because of the parents' sin. For example, a mother who intakes alcohol or tobacco or other drugs can cause great harm to their child.

However, Jesus countered this thinking with a further explanation. In essence, he let them know that personal sin is not necessarily linked to disease or illness. We would think that this would have been understood from Job’s sufferings.  Interestingly, Jesus explains that this situation is so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  In other words, Jesus took the situation and chose to use it, so that this individual, as well as many for generations to come, would see the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

Then he tells the disciples that we must work the works of him who sent me as long as it is day.  The disciples, like many of us, tend to look at the situation and the circumstances, rather than looking at the big picture. We try to make a judgment call to explain the situation.  We should rather keep our focus on doing kingdom work, instead of trying to explain or understand the problems of this world today. And just by Jesus’ use of the phrase while it is still day, reminds us of how intentional we must be, for there is not much time left. 

Going on, it appears that Jesus is foretelling of his upcoming death. It is at that time, when he will be taken from them. And until the Holy Spirit comes to indwell them permanently, they will not have the proper power to do God’s work.  You and I who are followers of Jesus Christ have that power working within us by the Holy Spirit. We also must have the same sense of urgency about doing kingdom work. Don't waste time on the temporal; focus on the eternal.

You see, Christians are not always that different from the world. Too often, it is easy to be sidetracked by the pursuit of this world's pleasures or supposed requirements. It is no wonder that others are unable to see the light of Christ in us.  Our purpose in life should be that we would live in such a way that others would see the light of Jesus Christ, so that they would not walk around in spiritual blindness.

Cooperation for the Eternal - 9.6-7

When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.

The Jewish religious leaders thought they were enlightened and fully aware of who God truly was. However, they were actually walking around in a worse darkness then this man who had been born blind. Jesus had been more than willing to help the religious leaders experience him as the light of the world, but they chose to live in darkness. This young man, through no choice of his own, had been forced to live in physical darkness. He was about to experience the opportunity to not only discover physical light, but later to experience spiritual light.

The Bible does not explain to us why Jesus spit on the ground and made clay from the dirt and spit. Neither are we told why Jesus applied the clay to the blind man's eyes. Jesus can do whatever he wants in whatever manner he chooses. He is God.

However, we do see that when Jesus gave instructions to wash in the pool of Siloam, the blind man went away and washed in obedience. Remember, this man is still blind as he is walking to the pool of Siloam. He is obedient even when he is still unable to see. He is obedient before he experiences the incredible physical blessing of sight.  To us, this should be extremely humbling. For we have all of the Bible at our disposal; we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us, guiding and directing and teaching and counseling us; yet so often we choose to do things our way instead of God’s way. After all, our way makes more sense to us. Yet, the reality is that a person who chooses to believe in Jesus will be obedient.

By the way, for those of you who are curious about the day this took place, if you sneak a peek to verse 14, you’ll see that this miraculous healing also took place on the Sabbath.

A very simple, practical reminder, is that when you and I present Jesus Christ by how we live and what we say, we dare not make it a form of easy-believism. We need to make it clear that there is a cost and a price to pay. It is not a walk down "Easystreet."  To present Christ in a way that does not require us to repent of and forsake our sins is a false presentation of Jesus. The light then becomes clouded and confusing. If a person is to truly believe in Jesus Christ, there is a call for discipleship; a call to pick up our cross and follow after him.  Our purpose in life should be that we would live in such a way that others would see the light of Jesus Christ, so that they would not walk around in spiritual blindness.

Confusion about the Supernatural - 9.8-12

Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?”  Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.”  So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?”  He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”  They said to him, “Where is He?” He said, “I do not know.”

As a result of the young man who had been blind from birth, now being able to see, you can imagine the chatter this must have stirred amongst all those who knew him. The amazing thing is that he would have been well known in that community. Sadly, there were those that were so amazed and confused and disbelieving that they responded accordingly. Some even preferred to believe that it was someone else. How like today when so many would rather believe in coincidence or karma or good luck; anything other than a miracle from God. 

However, this young man would no longer allow them to continue speculating. He repeatedly stated that he was the one and the same. Still in disbelief, the people wanted answers. They could not believe that this was the same person that they had known to be blind his entire life. Yet notice that he did not explain how he was given sight. He merely explained Who gave him sight. He explained the specific details, but they in no way described the miraculous transformation.

When pressed as to where this individual was who performed such a miracle, the man simply stated that he did not know. The reason was that Jesus was no longer at the scene. It was now up to this man to proclaim what Jesus has done for him. But we will get more information on that in the near future.

Many of us have heard comments trying to disprove the supernatural conversion that comes to a person through Jesus Christ. But do not let that discourage you from doing what the Bible calls us to do.  Our purpose in life should be that we would live in such a way that others would see the light of Jesus Christ, so that they would not walk around in spiritual blindness.

Reflections

As we have gone through this incredible miracle, I am certain that most of you can see the wonderful parallel to the salvation experience that you may have had.

Every single person who has been born on this planet, with the exception of Jesus, was born with a sin nature. Sin had blinded our eyes in such a way, that the Bible describes it as having a veil over our eyes or simply that we were not even looking for God. We grew accustomed to that way of life. Left to ourselves, we would not even seek out God. We had no desire. Even though we may have felt something wasn't right or that we needed something else, we would pursue everything else but God.

But thanks be to God that he pursued us. Were it not for the Holy Spirit convicting us of our sin and pointing us to Jesus Christ for salvation, we would be forever spiritually blinded. And just as In this narrative, genuine belief in Jesus requires that we humble ourselves and believe in him and do as he tells us to do.

Do not let others be blinded by our lives because we are not living according to the Bible. Do not let others be blinded because of things that we say and do, which do not show the light of Jesus Christ. If anyone with whom you come in contact is blinded, let it be that they are blinded by Satan, in spite of the light of Jesus Christ shining through you. 

Our purpose in life should be that we would live in such a way that others would see the light of Jesus Christ, so that they would not walk around in spiritual blindness.