March 19, 2023

Suggested Readings:

Ephesians 5:8-14

John 9:1-41

Live as children of light —Ephesians 5:8

In the prologue to the gospel John declares: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (1:5).The story of the man born blind in John 9 is a wonderful story of one person’s journey from darkness to light. The journey is both physical and spiritual.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the man was born blind. When the healing was investigated by the Pharisees, they went to the extreme length of interviewing his parents to assure the fact that he was indeed born blind.

When Jesus encountered the man born blind, he first addressed the physical malady of blindness. Jesus rejected the connection the disciples made between sinful actions and illness (v. 2). The man’s blindness is an occasion that will reveal God’s presence in Jesus. And so, the journey of the man’s physical and spiritual healing begins.

In the ancient world saliva was believed to have curative power. Jesus used a familiar technique to begin the process of healing by spitting on the ground, making a mud paste, applying the paste to the man’s eyes, and instructing him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. Having followed Jesus’ instructions his eyes were opened, and he was able to see.

The spiritual journey into the light could now begin. When first questioned as to how he received his sight he answered vaguely, the man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight (9:11).  At that point his understanding of Jesus was limited to the fact that Jesus was a miracle worker who had restored his sight.

The story takes an interesting turn as the religious elite become involved in investigating the healing. As the Pharisees question him the man once again tells the story of the healing. This time when asked what he thinks of the one who healed him he exclaims he is a prophet (9:17). Unwilling to believe the evidence in front of their eyes the Pharisees confront the parents who acknowledge he is their son and yes, he was born blind. They will not discuss his healing for fear of being excommunicated from the synagogue.

When the man was interviewed a second time, he became more aggressive, challenging his interrogators with a well-reasoned argument.

Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. (9:30-33).

In anger his accusers drove him out of the synagogue. Jesus found him and asked him if he believed in the Son of Man. The man questioned who is he sir? Jesus replied, you have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he. Lord, I believe was the man’s simple confession of faith.

The man moved from physical blindness to sight, from spiritual darkness to faith in the light of the world. This is the journey on which we find ourselves through this Lenten season. We are seeking to discover for ourselves the light that shines in the darkness. In verse 5 Jesus declares, I am the light of the world. So, saying, he identifies himself with preexistent light described in the prologue. Sin and darkness cannot overcome the light that is the Savior.

In verse 25 the man made a bold and beautiful statement. He freely admitted his lack of full comprehension as to the nature of the one who healed him. He profoundly declared, one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.

That is our goal moving forward on this Lenten journey and indeed, all of life. We want to see Jesus more clearly each day of our lives.

 Prayer:

Open my eyes Lord. I want to move from the darkness of sin and despair into the light of your unconquerable love. There is a great deal of darkness in my life, the darkness of sin. Please grant me the light of forgiveness. You are the God who spoke light into existence and the Father who sent your Son to show us the way of life. Thank you, God, for your inexpressible gift. Amen.