Worship for the week of March 19, 2023
Let us worship!
We come today to worship together,
We come today to hear God’s direction.
We come today to live into our calling.
Let us worship God together.
A prayer to center you
God of miracles and might,
Too often we are blinded to your calling in our life.
Open our eyes that we might see.
Open our hearts that we might feel your warmth.
Open our minds that we may come to see your way
And follow your path.
Amen
Holy Scripture:
(the reflection will be within the text in bold so we can work through the text together this week.)
John
Chapter 9
verses 1 through 41
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, 7saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
There is so much in this just these few verses! Sin is the cause of blindness? Even to imagine that they could have thought that the blindness was caused by the sins of the man who was born blind! What sin could have caused his blindness from birth? Sin causing blindness in general is a crazy thought today. But Jesus answer does not give me much more comfort. God caused the blindness just for this time that Jesus might work a miracle here in this story. That doesn’t sound like a just God either.
I wonder though, if Jesus meant something different than how we often interpret that line. Purhaps the faithfulness of the man born blind is the good work that is being shown through out his life. This man who would have every reason to turn away from God remained faithful and in that faith God’s good works have shown through since the man’s birth. God has stood beside the man even in his blindness. Blindness was a way to see God’s glory, not just in this moment, but always.
Jesus then makes mud on a Sunday and wipes it on the mans eyes. The then sends the man to the pool to wash. Jesus sends him the pool called Sent. The man born blind has faith enough to go.
8The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11He answered, “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.” 12They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
The people don’t believe. Even though they have sight, they refuse to see what is right before them. They doubt the man who was born blind. They doubt his blindness. The doubt. The man who was born blind can now see and the people doubt the reality of what they are seeing. Who is really blind?
13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” 16Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. 17So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
They still don’t believe. Even the man’s parents do not join the man in celebration. Even they get lost in the drama of the events. “We don’t know what happened, asked him, he is of age!!” Not exactly a strong statement of support. Everyone, including his own parents, are too worried about what and when that they cannot see, they cannot believe!
26They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
Those who are suppose to be leaders cannot see the fullfillment of the law because of the law. The leaders, the authorities, let the letter of the law interfere with the heart of the law. They move the focus to the work on the Sabbath instead of looking at and celebrating the miracle that has occured in front of them.
Throughout this story only one person’s attention is in the right place, the man who was born blind.
Time after time he has been questioned about his healing. Time after time he states what occured; that he was blind, but now he can see. How wonderful. but all those around him cannot focus on the great works of Christ, they simple refocus their attention to smaller details, how did happen, who did, when, how?
Blinded by the letter of the law.
35Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” 37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” 38He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.
39Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.
Blindness: who is really blind in this story?
I would say those who see but do not see
Those who know but do not know
When do we see God at work in our lives and turn a blind eye. When are our own eyes shut to God’s miracles right before us. When do we close our eyes the works that God is calling us to.
When are we blind?
Let us open our eyes and believe!
The Word in Action…
What have you been blinded too?
Looking through the eyes of God, how would you see that situation differently?
What do you think of when you hear the familiar words from the hymn Amazing Grace, I once “was blind, but now I see”?
How does faith help you see differently?
Open your eyes that you may see this week.
Look at the world through the lens of God’s eyes.
Where are the people you can help?
What can you do to make the world a little better?
Go and do!
Prayer of sending
Oh, God of all,
you created us each in your own image
but too often we close our eyes to the Godliness of those around us
and to our own God likeness.
We get lost in ego and pride,
blinded by hurt and pain
closed off and shut down
Open our eyes
to others
to the needs of our world
to the needs of our brothers and sisters
help us to celebrate at the miracles that are before us
and help us to live into your glory.
Amen
Going out.
Be faithful in a little, that you may also be found faithful in much.
Be faithful in much, that you may be entrusted with the true riches that come from above.
Go to be faithful children of light,
And come to know the deep grace, hope and peace of the one who is truly faithful at all times.
Let all God’s people say: AMEN
