by Rev. Dr John Evans
John 9:1-41
Today our Gospel reading continues in our recent pattern of hearing about significant encounters involving Jesus. We have heard about a leader of the Jews, Nicodemus who was challenged to be born again, or born from above; we have seen Jesus meet a woman in the despised territory of Samaria, a woman whom he offered not just any old water – but living water. Today we continue our socio economic decline from the dizzy heights of Nicodemus, to a blind beggar who Jesus heals by spitting on the ground, making some mud and then telling this poor bloke to go and wash his eyes in a nearby pool. Jesus indicates this time he is “the light of the world”. In each of these encounters we want to ask this question – how do they help us understand that Jesus is the Christ, and that through believing in him, we may have the fullness of life – eternal life?
This ninth chapter of John, is a hoot. . . even Monty Python I don’t think could have created a more hilarious scene – but at the same time it is cutting and deadly serious.
The story opens seriously enough, with the disciples and Jesus coming across this blind beggar, who in John sadly does not have a name. He had been blind from birth. With him sitting there, begging, they ask a significant theological question about innocent suffering – did this bloke sin or was it his parents? Jesus was not really interested in such a theoretical issue – in the face of this man’s suffering. It would have been obscene to discuss such in front of him – so, he heals him as described.
Then the fun begins. At every level no one believes, or wants to believe, that this chap, who from birth had been blind, was now no longer blind but could see.
First there were his friends and neighbours – was this actually the blind beggar they knew. Some said yes, others said, no – it is someone like him. Imagine how you would react if you were the beggar. ‘What - come on; it’s me.’ As the Bible says, this chap - most probably jumping up and down on the spot waving his arms around like John Cleese – protests, I am the man. They then ask, well how did it happen? Now for the first time he tells his little story – a straightforward story, no embellishments.
A man called Jesus made mud, spread it my eyes and said “Go to the Pool of Siloam and wash.” I did that and now I see.
Nothing more, nothing less. No theological interpretation. He told it as it happened. Something amazing had happened to his life. He could now see.
Neighbours could not, would not, believe it. Perhaps we could speculate why – this bloke was once totally non-threatening – bottom of the pile; but wow, now a celebrity.
Anyhow, our chap then gets taken to the very strict, religious fundamentalists of Jesus’ day – the Pharisees. Yes, he has to tell his story again – in fact he says it twice. They just don’t believe it. Again think Monty Python. This, now fully sighted, ex beggar, ex blind chap, is standing there. He can see – that is all he knows – he can see. He has his story. Again he is not believed – not because, they grew up with him and he always had been blind; but the Pharisees do not believe it could have happened for religious reasons. You see it happened on the Sabbath – the holy day. Good Jews are not meant to do such things on the Sabbath. So with impeccable logic: the healer, Jesus, did this on the Sabbath, Jesus is therefore is a sinner; sinners can’t do things that are from God; therefore – wait for it, it did not happen. That’s right – it did not happen. (I think we can do the same – we can demonise people of another political party, or football team or race, or religion – and fail to see that they are jolly good human beings – just like us.)
So remember, our guy is standing there hearing all of this theological garbage – no doubt really jumping up and down, but I can see; it did happen. “No – it didn’t, Jesus was a sinner.” At this point our ex-beggar, begins to get a bit of interpretation into his story; he actually calls Jesus a prophet . . . not quite God, but a jolly good chap all the same.
Well, so convinced were these religious types that Jesus did not do it, that they think that is guy had not been born blind. They call this chaps parents. They want to prove there had been a switch here, it was a scam. He was not born blind – he could see all along.
Failure – the plan of the Pharisee’s doesn’t work. The parents say, he is in fact their son. As how it happened – well, perhaps it was out fear of these fundamentalists – they say: ask him what happened.
And so they do again. And guess what? Despite beginning with the delightful leading question – we know this man Jesus is a sinner, therefore he could not have healed you - our long suffering chap, simply says – OK that’s what you say, all I know is I now see. And for good measure when they ask how it happened – he just tells his simple story yet again.
By this stage I think our former beggar is getting a little tired of it. With his tongue firmly planted in his cheek he says to the Pharisees – do you want to become his disciples? They huff and go off at him – completely dismissing Jesus. Our hero, as if he now sees what these religious types are up to, has a go back at them. He says that something profound has happened to his life. He doesn’t quite know what – but is prepared to cut through their outrageous claim that Jesus is sinful, and simply say no! And for his trouble such is the self righteousness of the Pharisees, they just cannot believe anything this man has said – he could not possibly teach them. The Pharisees drive him out.
The story is not over however, before we turn the last scene it is useful to be able to reflect on how this man’s experience helps us understand who Jesus is – or indeed, how God affects us. Something dramatic had happened to this bloke that led him to be swept up in a religious controversy. A controversy about sin; about who Jesus is; and ultimately about how God relates to and guides us. Our former blind beggar however, held on to just this simple fact something had happened. It was amazing. His life had been transformed – it would be forever changed. The niceties of, not political, but religious, correctness did not worry him – his life was different. That was all that mattered.
Such things happen to us too. They may not be as dramatic as being able to see, after being born blind – but really miracles do happen. I have met many people who would be dead, but for amazing surgery, or a medical wake up call, or that they missed the bus, which subsequently crashed or whatever, and their life has been transformed. Their life all of a sudden takes on a new intensity; values change – there is a moment of spiritual insight. Or it might be the death of a friend or family member, it might be the birth of a child, like our two beautiful girls today – or it could just a moment of sheer silence on a mountain, or, in the midst of a crowd. Not really explicable – but a sense there is more to living than just things, or working and working to get more and more stuff or selfish pleasure. Can’t put a name on – it, like our formerly blind friend here. But as sure as eggs it has happened: I was once was blind but now can see.
In the face of such experiences we can be like the neighbours – jealously dismissive; or our world view (like that of the Pharisees) does not allow us to be open to such things happening.
Last week in our story of the woman at the well in Samaria, something similar happened. She called Jesus a prophet because he had this insight about her life – indeed Jesus seemed to know all about her life, like she had had five husbands. This led her to think on deeper things – but really did not fully understand that Jesus was in fact the Christ – and through believing in him she could have life – even eternal life. That didn’t matter – her experience was enough to be convincing for her and for her fellow townspeople. Through this incomplete understanding, she and they came to believe in Jesus.
Here in this encounter, the story with this former blind beggar however, goes further. Jesus catches up with him again. Jesus actually has not been around during all his drama of trying to convince neighbours and then the Pharisees. Indeed the blind man probably had not even seen Jesus – he was blind when he had to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam. It was however, in his personal encounter – when he is asked – “do you believe in the Son of Man?” his real faith comes. Or another way – do you believe that God will address humanity and reveal God’s will for our life? Well, yes he says – having just had this amazing experience of having his sight restored. Jesus then says – well, I am the Son of Man. The dots were connected, he believed, and he worshipped the Christ.
The good news is that Jesus indeed has come so that we might see. He is the light of the world. The good news is that we, like this chap, might begin to understand, that within our lives not only is there a spiritual dimension to how we live – but that with Jesus, there is a way to live that offers a full life. Again it is about being open to the spirit, to God addressing you – and not being blinded by ones own prejudice, or set ways, and own little world – like the Pharisees.
So there is much to learn from this great story – it certainly has been told so that we might believe Jesus is the Christ, and through believing him we might have life, even eternal life.
