Reflection for Lent IV: “When the Blind See”
Reflection for Lent IV: “When the Blind See”
Churchill Gilford United Churches
Krista Moore, M.Div.
March 19, 2023
Intro to John 9:1-41 – Jesus Heals the Blind Man
Jesus has just had many encounters, with Nicodemus (the religious elder we met a couple of weeks ago), the woman at the well, and now the man born blind. All are there so Jesus can reveal his power, and God’s love – but there are challenges along the way.
Nicodemus struggled to believe what Jesus was saying, he couldn’t understand his spiritual teachings. Yet he yearned for truth. The woman at the well was so disappointed by life. She didn’t expect the savior of the world to show up to her, and yet he did. She went to find physical water, and he gave her so much more, he saw her value, and made her the first apostle to the world.
And now the man born blind receives his sight, revealing Jesus is the Messiah. Yet no one believes him!
Many believed in Jesus, but many others were leery, angry, or fearful, and some, the religious authorities, wanted to kill him.
This is the road to Jerusalem. There are many dangers ahead. The world Jesus enters is blind and full of darkness – political divisions, religious divisions. People are afraid to speak the truth, to question those in authority.
Let’s pay attention to where we are in the story – the man who was born blind but now sees; or the witnesses to the miracle who believe; or those who are fearful and don’t want to see the truth in front of them.
1. Challenges in the Bible
The Pharisees taught that the poor, sick, lame, lepers, deaf or blind were that way because they did something wrong, or their ancestors. People would turn away and ignore them.
When Jesus encounters the blind man, he challenges that way of thinking. He says no, he did not cause this, nor did his parents. It was for God to reveal a work in him.
Jesus upturns the social order and offers what no one else can.
He brings him hope and healing. He spits on the ground and makes mud to anoint his eyes, tells him to go be cleansed in the pool of Siloam, like a baptism. He gives him his sight and a new life. And he uses it as an opportunity to teach those who are blind from a spiritual perspective.
So, this man is no longer the beggar he once was. He can see, he stands up and must explain himself to his family, neighbours, and the religious elders – but no one will believe him! – even his parents are afraid to testify that he is their son, the one who was born blind.
The religious leaders are more worried about the implications of upsetting the social order, than they are about a man being healed of blindness, or Jesus really being the Messiah they’ve been waiting for.
2. Challenges in Our World
This world is still full of spiritual darkness – poverty, inequity, oppression, hunger, injustice – even in a place I once thought was perfect, Canada.
When I first heard the news about the unmarked graves of indigenous children at residential schools, I was horrified.
Hundreds of children were taken by religious and governmental agencies who thought they knew better. They took them from their homes, against their parents’ will, and put into residential schools where they were denied their language, culture, and customs. They were abused, treated as forced labour, left hungry, sick, and dying, many never to see their parents again.
Those who survived passed on their traumas to their children who have lost connection to their heritage and history for so long, they do not know where they come from. Many are lost on the streets, suffering from addictions like drugs and alcoholism, only to be judged by others.
How could this be? It seemed like Canada was a peaceful place, where everyone was treated fairly. But that is not an accurate or complete history. Terrible things have happened here too, and literally covered up by the government and religious leaders, the Pharisees of our time.
How could they have enacted such violence, such hatred upon innocent lives? How could they be so blind to their suffering, or deny the inherent value of innocent children?
The indigenous people knew all along their children were missing. But the truth lay hidden for decades. Some people argued: what’s past is past, it’s time to move on. Some denied it entirely.
Suddenly in the summer of 2021, at Kamloops, the world saw this new reality – it wasn’t really new, but it was like God shone a light on it –we could now see the truth of what had happened. Thousands of children’s shoes lined memorials across the country – symbols of the missing children or those who lost their lives.
Many, including myself, found it hard to process. Some believed what had happened, while others still doubted the truth. The authorities of the time, like the Pharisees, turned a blind eye to these atrocities, or pretended they didn’t happen at all. They were not concerned for their welfare, only their own power.
The same spiritual blindness occurs today when people think those who have addictions or are homeless must have done it to themselves. The truth is, we don’t know. We can’t see what has happened to them. Just like the man born blind at the side of the road.
Jesus challenges those in authority who persecute others. He challenges those who witness his miracles but refuse to see. And he challenges us to follow him and shine the light in this world. This is the challenge of Lent.
The difficult road to Jerusalem.
3. Good News in the Bible
The good news is God promises to restore all things. To offer us waters of refreshment and healing, like the woman at the well, like the blind man at the pool of Siloam.
Jesus comes to give sight to the man born blind and show those who think they know that they are the blind ones.
Jesus says in John, “I am the light of the world…”
He came to uplift the poor and oppressed, like the man born blind. Jesus sees the man and acknowledges his value.
Now that the blind man can see, he challenges the Pharisees with the simple truth “I was born blind but now I see!” And Jesus is the one who did this to me.
The point of this story is not so much the miracle of a man born blind who can now see – it is really to show that Jesus sees those who are outcasts, whom the world deems unworthy – like the woman at the well, and the man born blind. He then offers them something unbelievable – a new life, healing, hope. Then the man born blind challenges those with spiritual blindness who refuse to see or hear the good news.
4. Good News in Our World
Jesus also gives hope to those on the margins today.
Jesus says those who believe will be given the light and will see the truth and be set free. Those who choose to remain in darkness will not see the truth and will remain spiritually blind. It is a choice.
We witnessed it last year when many in the church moved forward by uplifting indigenous peoples and holding vigils and building memorials to the lost children.
Some who were blind now see.
After years of unawareness, many have stepped forward to acknowledge the truth, and to listen and witness the testimonies of indigenous peoples.
Like the blind man who can now see, indigenous people are going through a healing process where their value is being acknowledged, their stories are being lifted up, their testimonies finally heard.
There are still many areas in our world that are in spiritual darkness. But Jesus offers us hope that despite the naysayers, despite those who doubt or even oppress others, the light has come. The truth will be revealed.
The blind will see.
And Jesus really is the light of the world.
Closing
The road to Jerusalem is difficult. There are many truths and dangers we face in these gospel narratives.
It is uncomfortable. It is not easy.
But if we walk with Jesus, witness to the truth, we can be bearers of that light.
Although Jesus will leave the world on the cross on Good Friday, his light continues in us. He calls us to be the ones who see, who shine a light on the truth and sometimes to acknowledge that truth to ourselves.
How can we make a positive difference, and be faithful witnesses for Christ? to bring light in the darkness?
Krista’s 3 Things
1. Listen to those who are on the margins and ask what can we do?
2. Ask God to reveal the truth to us when we are blind.
3. Pray for healing for our world, that all may see the light. Let us pray….
Amen.