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They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
-John 4:25 -
(Read John 4:1-41)
"The sunset was beautiful!" He heard them say.
He longed to see that sunset, but the man was born blind and lived his entire life in darkness. He could feel the coolness of the evening on his face, but he couldn’t see the blue backdrop of the sky painted in orange, red, and pink.
The man was told the palm trees swayed in the breeze, and he could hear the branches crashing against each other - but he couldn’t see massive green leaves swaying back and forth.
He was told the temple in Jerusalem was splendid in all its glory, and he could feel the smooth walls, but he couldn’t see its grandeur.
Suddenly, the blind man could hear a commotion and the cacophony of voices near him. He hears men close to him asking someone a question, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
He heard a man answer, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Who was this? The blind man must have wondered. He heard someone spit, he had never seen someone spit, but he had heard them before. Suddenly he felt someone touch his eyes with something gooey, although he couldn’t see who it was. The familiar voice who had just been talking about night and light suddenly was so close he could feel his breath. There was no doubt he was talking to him. “Go,” he told him,” wash in the Pool of Siloam.”
That is precisely what he did, he went to the pool, washed, and came home seeing! For the first time in his entire life, he could see! He could see the sunset over the nearby hills, he could see those swaying palms, and oh the temple was bigger than he had ever imagined.
There was lots to do, people to tell, and things to … well…. see! The excitement was quickly interrupted by investigating Pharisees who came with lots of questions and accusations. The man answered honestly and told them what had happened but the interrogators were not happy. They wanted to label the sinner, the formerly blind man, his parents, or Jesus.
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” - John 9:24-25
The man was born blind and lived his entire life in darkness, that is until he met Jesus. The Pharisees threw a fit because Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath; they couldn't see the Savior of the world standing right in front of them.
We are often blind too - blind to who Jesus is, blind to our sin, and blind to others who are loved by God too! We are blind.
But Jesus comes to us and gives us sight to see who He is - the Savior of the world!
Jesus helps us see the salvation we have in him and who we are - loved and redeemed children of God.
Jesus gives us eyes to see others -loved by God and who desperately need to hear the Good News of Great Joy!
That’s not the end of the story! The formerly blind man was then thrown out by the Pharisees! Jesus found him and told him who he was looking at. “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Suddenly, the sunset didn’t matter.
See you Sunday, where we will all see and worship Jesus. I can't wait!
Prayer: Jesus, open our eyes to You, ourselves, and others. Thank you for your loving patience with us and for your undeserving grace. Help us to see You as You are. We love you Jesus, thank you for loving us. AMEN
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