John 9: The Sixth Sign

John 9

A disturbing question. v2. Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?

This Jerusalem resident is one of my favourites. He is the complete opposite in many ways of the disabled guy at the pool of Bethesda. He's strong, independent, feisty, and courageous, as we shall learn. Sitting at his usual corner, listening intently to the voices that passed by, he probably heard the question – some guys asking their Rabbi who sinned, him of his parents.

That may seem odd to us – but it was part of the world-view of Jesus' time. Disease, particularly something like a child being born blind, was seen a s a punishment for sin. So the disciples' quesiton was “did his parents sin, or maybe he sinned in the womb?” That may seem strange to us – but that's what people of Jesus' day believed. The same idea is still around today. The Hindu doctrine of karma: punishment for sin in a past life. And I have heard people say, " I wonder what I have done to deserve this?"

We understand the idea of mistakes and consequences: stress, diet and substance abuse can all affect our health; and our exploitation greed and aggression can affect other people. We live in a fallen, broken world, where suffering is all around us. But the idea that disease is a direct punishment from God, is one we must consign to the dustbin of history. The point of the book of Job is that God throws out such a shallow and simplistic theology of suffering. And Jesus dismisses it too. It's a horrible idea.

A disturbing answer? v3. Neither, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

But... if Jesus is suggesting that God just randomly sends disease for his own glory, well, that's even worse! (“Even more worser” as my youngest once said.) But that's what some of us believe. We allow ourselves to live in a boxed in world, where everything happens in a predetermined way for a purpose. The inevitable result of that thinking, is that if God has sent along our illness, it must be for the purpose – so who are we are we to argue with that by asking God to heal us?

But that is not what Jesus says and it is not where Jesus' thinking leads. Look carefully at the words the disciples used and Jesus uses. "Who sinned that this man was born blind..." (v. 2) "… that God's works might be displayed." There is the same word, the same sentence structure, in both the question and the answer. Neither is talking about purpose but about consequence. The disciples aren't suggesting the parents sinned deliberately to cause their child to be born blind. Rather, that his blindness was a consequence of their sin. And Jesus isn't suggesting that God send the disease in order to bring about his glory, but rather that the consequence of the disease could be his glory.

We live in a fallen world where suffering in general is the consequence of the fall. Where bad stuff happens. Bruce Milne says “there is a dimension in suffering which defies 'explanation'...” The nearest we come to understanding the mystery of suffering is at the cross – and even there, even Jesus asks the question “Why?” (Mt 27.46)" No wonder – with ideas like “somehow we deserved this” or “God sent it for a purpose” – we have problems with the healing ministry.

See God work

“The Message” helpfully translates v3 – “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. Look instead for what God can do.” Jesus isn't interested here in the question “Why?” he is interested in demonstrating the works of God. The positive consequence of the man's blindness is that god's works may be brought into the light, plainly seen, And that is what Jesus is all about: verse four says “We must be working the works of him who sent me, as long as there is daylight to work by!” For Jesus, the right question isn’t “Why did this happen?” but “How can the works of a loving Father be worked in this situation? So Jesus spits on the ground and makes a wee paste of mud, puts it on the man's eyes sends him off to wash in the pool of Siloam and he comes back his eyes open seeing! The outcome of all that can be that God's glory is seen.

The story tells us about healing; Bruce Milne says “the existence of human suffering and blindness is a call to work.” We are called upon to engage in a broken, darkened, struggling world. We are called to do the Father's works – to make them visible – with Jesus, in the power of the Spirit.

Now I see

At first, as the man walks around town, people are nudging each other and saying things like “What happened to him – I'm sure that's the blind beggar guy, and it looks like he can see as well as I can” and “Nah – it's just a look-alike.” Being the kind of outgoing guy he was, when he heard that sort of thing, he was straight in there: “No, really it's me; I'm the same guy! The guy they call Jesus did it, with a bit of mud; sent me to wash my face in the pool of Siloam, and it worked!”

In an effort to understand what is happening, some of them go to the rabbis and law teachers, and eventually take the man who had been blind along. What's the official line on all this? Well, the Pharisees give the man a grilling – loads of questions: who did this? How did it happen. He must be lying, bring in his parents: they will soon discredit this rubbish... Well, the parents confirmed his story – although they seem a bit scared of the authorities and they would rather let their son speak for himself. He's well able to do that.

The whole story and many of the details shout – repeat like a football chant – the glory of God, revealed in Jesus, and who Jesus is.

• Siloam means “Sent” – and John sees the co-incidence: Jesus is the one the Father sent into the world.
• He cheekily breaks the Sabbath by making some ointment. What he uses – dust – reflects the creation of the world and suggests a new creation.
• One of the marks of the coming kingdom is the receiving of sight by the blind (Isaiah 29. 18 , 55. Five)
• In the background, the feast of feast of Tabernacles (full of lights) is being played out.
• Jesus says he is the light of the world (v5). Those who trust him do not walk in darkness.

You can hear it coming across in every action: Jesus! Messiah! Jesus! Creator! Jesus! Light of the world! Jesus! Son of God! The works of the father are being seen; the son is being identified for who he is. The one who restores physical sight can open our eyes to spiritual truth as well.

Are we blind?

The Pharisees can only see the world through their own narrow lens: their eyes are already blinded to the realities of who Jesus is. Jesus has broken the law (healed on the Sabbath) so he can't be an good. But the man replies “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (I love him!) When they keep asking him questions he comes back at them with “Why the questions: do you want to become his followers too?” (v 27) Eventually they get so angry they throw him out of the synagogue and cut him off from the worshipping community.

When Jesus hears about this he goes looking for the man, introduces himself to him, and invites him to take a step of faith. It's simple. The blind man can now see, spiritually as well as physically.

Jesus says, “For judgement I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.” The Pharisees – religious, intellectual, respectable people – are shown to be blind – and not only blind, but guilty, because they don’t admit they are in need.

So there two ways to respond to Jesus, the light of the world. You can put your faith in him – which begins be admitting you are blind, don't see, don't understand. Or you can remain blinded by your own presuppositions, and turn away form the light.

© Gilmour Lilly February 2016