Have you ever heard someone say – if I ever entered into a church the walls would come crashing down? Or perhaps, I must have done something really bad for God to punish me this way. It’s often how people assess tragedies that somehow God is punishing us in this life ahead of the coming judgment. Is that how you understand suffering? It’s partly why natural disasters were often called “acts of God”. This is similar to the thinking of today’s encounter. Jesus and His disciples come across a man who has been blind from birth. The disciples, full of curiosity and perhaps misunderstanding, ask Jesus who sinned—this man or his parents—that he was born blind.
This question reflects the common belief of that time: suffering was often attributed to sin in the Old Testament. In times of drought, times of exile, times of defeat by their enemies – the Israelites would cry out to the Lord in repentance of their sin and God would deliver them.. What other explanation could there be if we truly have a loving and righteous God.
However, Jesus redirects their thinking, stating very clearly, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). Here we see the first crucial lesson: not all suffering is a direct result of sin. Sometimes it is – but not sent by God. Sometimes our suffering is a consequence of our actions or someone else’s actions but not God sending the suffering to teach us a lesson.
Sometimes, our struggles serve a greater purpose and that was part of the mystery we heard last week where Paul rejoiced in his sufferings which produced perseverance, character and hope. God works through our afflictions, and even in our darkest moments, God can use our suffering for His glory to be revealed. Just think of the suffering of Joseph in the Old Testament – sold by his brothers in to slavery – sentenced to prison because of the lies of Potipher’s wife – forgotten by the cup bearer who promised to tell Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams. And yet Joseph, rather than taking revenge on his brothers says – what you intended for evil God used for good – for his purpose.
This blind man’s encounter with Jesus would also become an opportunity for God’s hidden power to be revealed. Just think for a moment about what Samuel is facing. Samuel has been asked to anoint the new King of Israel after God had rejected Saul. All he knows is that it will be one of the sons of Jesse. He goes to Jesse’s home and his sons are paraded before him.
He only needs to see the first of Jesse’s son – the first born – Eliab – to realise in this encounter – here is God’s power for Israel. But then God reveals how his hidden power in life works: Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as human see. Isn’t that how we determine power? Measured by success and blessing. A good job – a good home – a good retirement plan – things we can see. But weren’t they all the things that Abraham was asked to leave behind so God could reveal his purpose to him?
God chooses the most unlikely of all Jesse’s sons to become King. In fact he was not even presented at first. Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And Jesse said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here. And that is whom God chose to reveal his hidden power. The most unlikely encounter.
In our Gospel reading, Jesus demonstrates His authority and compassion by spitting on the ground, making mud, and applying it to the blind man’s eyes. He instructs him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. The act of healing is interesting —Jesus uses something as simple as dirt to restore sight. The same dirt from which Adam was formed. Namaan the leper in the Old Testament almost didn’t get healed because Elisha did something similar where Namaan was expecting a much more spectacular show by Elisha’s encounter with royalty. But unlike Namaan’s initial refusal to wash in the Jordan, the blind man’s obedience leads to his healing. Upon washing, he is transformed from blindness to sight. Like Abraham, trusting Christ leads to restoration. Not always physical healing but more importantly spiritual healing where we see God’s love for us hidden in our suffering through compassion and empathy.
As the man rejoices in his newfound sight, his neighbors and those who had known him as a blind beggar are confused. Surely this can’t be the same man. No one has ever heard of a man born blind regaining his sight. The man’s confession stands firm: “I am the man!” Unfortunately the same compassion isn’t shown by the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. They question God’s presence in the miracle and Jesus’ authority asking how He could heal on the Sabbath. This understanding reveals a different kind of blindness: The danger of spiritual blindness that can come where compassion and love for others is missing. The Pharisees were so consumed by their own interpretations and laws that they missed out on the reality of God’s work when they encounter Jesus – God’s own Son.
Are there ways we are closing our eyes to God’s encounter in our lives because of preconceived notions or rigid beliefs? Are we spiritually blind ourselves but don’t realise it? The healed man now has understanding of who Jesus is.
Initially, he refers to Jesus as “the man called Jesus.” He then acknowledges Jesus as a prophet. Finally, when Jesus reveals Himself to the healed ma n, he responds with reverence: “Lord, I believe!” In a powerful twist, the very man who physically could not see was now the one with profound spiritual insight. However, the ones who proclaimed superior spiritual sight had been blinded by the light of Christ. This emphasizes an essential lesson for us: spiritual sight often comes through the journey of faith.
It’s not the ability to see with our physical eyes; it is the ability to perceive truth and beauty through spiritual understanding. As we reflect on this powerful encounter, we are reminded that Jesus is indeed the Light of the World. As John says in Chapter one of his Gospel – He comes to dispel the darkness. Jesus came to open the eyes of the spiritually blind, and to lead us into fullness of life. And so we must continually examine our lives: “What areas of our lives are we blind to?”
Are we missing the truth of God’s work around us. Just like the man who was healed, let us boldly proclaim our faith as the light of Christ to those who continue to walk in darkness.
Let us carry the light of Christ, guiding them towards His love and healing. Let us pray for spiritual sight—both for ourselves and for those in our community who are still searching for the truth. And like the man born blind, not only receive healing for our spiritual blindness but also become witnesses to the light of Christ.
