Our Sermons

Bible Passage: John 9:1-7, 13-17, 34-39
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  March 19, 2023

In the last words that Jesus spoke to the woman at Jacob’s well, Jesus declared himself to be God. “I, the one speaking to you, am he.” This prompted that Samaritan woman to leave her jar, rush back into town and tell everyone she had found the Messiah, the Christ. John tells us that many, many Samaritans came to believe in him. Today, we find Jesus in the temple courts. In the verses just before our reading, Jesus speaks the same words to a group of Jews. He says, “Before Abraham was born, I am.” Did the same words prompt the same reaction? Hardly! The Jews picked up stones to try and kill Jesus, but John says Jesus was hidden and left the temple area. On his way out of the temple courts John tells us: “As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth.” 

Back in that day, blindness, especially blindness from birth was a sentence to a lifetime of poverty and begging. Jerusalem didn’t have ADA laws, there were no social security benefits. The state of Judea didn’t have a school for the blind. Braille–not invented for centuries yet. A blind child’s parents often couldn’t support their child through adulthood, so those blind people would be lead to a high-traffic area to plead for handouts. Not an easy life. There were so many people who were crippled or blind that the competition for handouts was fierce. Almost every corner had someone with a tragic life story–crippled, orphaned, run-away slaves. And the sheer number of them made most people callous. They just kept their eyes straight and walked quickly. But perhaps what was the hardest thing for these people was not the lack of shekels tossed in the hat–it was the loneliness. Imagine being born blind. Imagine never seeing your mother’s face, whose voice was so loving and warm. Imagine never knowing  what your friends or relatives looked like. Imagine not knowing the hand of your father who led you and guided you and protected you. But maybe there was a small amount of grace in blindness, at least in this instance. If you were blind, you couldn’t see as others averted their eyes, looking past you as if you were just a pile of trash on the street. It’s not hard to understand how someone in that situation might think that God was punishing them.

Because, that’s what most people thought. Even Jesus’ disciples. Did you hear what they said,  “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” That mindset was nothing new. Remember when Job was having so many problems because God allowed Satan to test Job’s faith by taking away practically everything Job held near and dear? Job’s three “friends”–Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar–had the same attitude. “Job, you must have really sinned big for God to punish you this way. You are hiding something. Out with it. Confess.” People viewed men like this man born blind in the same way. They not only pitied them, but they viewed them as steeped in sin, really guilty for God to send them this kind of punishment. Is it any wonder that they might not think that themselves?

Are we tempted to do the same? Look into your own hearts. Are we better than some people because we don’t suffer as they do? When suffering comes, does that man that God has pulled down the shade on his grace and left us in the darkness of judgment? That’s the way the disciples thought. Surely, that’s what this blind man’s parents thought. Even the man himself. Yet the Scriptures are clear: “All have sinned…in Adam all die.” There’s no difference. There’s no such thing as a worse sinner when it comes to judgment. So why such trouble, pain, disability or illness or tragedy for some?

In the case of this particular blind man, we know exactly why! “Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that God’s works might be revealed in connection with him.”  In this once overlooked man’s life, God was going to display his work. Jesus said: “I must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.” After saying this, Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and spread the mud on the man’s eyes. “Go,” Jesus told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”).  Can you imagine this man’s interaction with Jesus? We’re not told what was said between the two of them. Certainly, he had heard the conversation between Jesus and his disciples. He heard Jesus say he was the Light of the world. Surely he wanted to see that light. He felt the mud on his eyes. He knew Jesus cared just by the fact that he stopped and talked with him. He stopped and touched him. Why wouldn’t he go and wash? What did he have to lose? Jesus promised something would happen and something happened alright! “So he went and washed, and came back seeing.” Can you imagine what that must have been like! Water dripping from the eyes and then suddenly he sees light bouncing off the water. He can see light. He can see people. He can see the street, the sky. Jesus had opened his eyes. God had displayed his power in his life. What else could it be but God’s power?

The man rushes home to tell his parents. But amazingly, not everyone rejoices with him. Amazingly, some denied that this was the same blind man. We’re amazed, and yet maybe we shouldn’t be. Sometimes, we too are blinded to the power found in Jesus’ promises, in his Word. We may not be blinded by physical limitations, but we all have hurts. We all have loneliness at times. One time or another, we’ve all been blinded. Blinded perhaps by rage. Blinded by the dazzling neon lights of the world’s greedy temptations. Blinded by the folly of wealth as if you can purchase peace for the heart. Blinded by worldly wisdom and logic. Blinded perhaps by the guilt that leaves you sitting dazed and doubting. Blinded to the hurts of a troubled soul down the street. Blinded to the opportunities all around us to share the good news. Blinded…but blind no more. Jesus has come to heal and hold. Jesus has washed you, not with the tepid waters of Siloam, but with living waters! Through the living waters of his Word, you see Jesus, the Light of the world. Jesus placed on you, not the mud from a dusty street, but his very own blood from the cross. You see what the skeptics cannot see. You see heaven secure, future glory. You see death conquered and God, your loving Father, with his arms wide open ready to embrace you. Jesus has opened your eyes through the promises of Scripture. The miracle beat goes on and on.

But Jesus didn’t just open this blind man’s eyes, he also opened his heart. Three times this man was called on the carpet to explain what happened. The first time was with his neighbors. Some of them doubted whether he was really the same man. They not only challenged his story, but his identity! The second time was before the Pharisees.    “They brought this man who had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man told them. “I washed, and now I see.” Then some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath.” Others were saying, “How can a sinful man work such miraculous signs?” There was division among them, so they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”” Not to be deterred, the Pharisees even called in this guy’s parents and asked them. Afraid of what the Pharisees might do, they said he’s of age, ask him yourself. So back to the Pharisees he was called where he gave a wonderful confession of faith. “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”” This got him thrown out of the synagogue. 

Just imagine the roller coaster this man has been on. Blind no more, he can’t fathom why people are questioning this miracle when he can see it so clearly. And then Jesus steps back into the picture. “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out. When he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” “Who is he, sir,” the man replied, “that I may believe in him?” Jesus answered, “You have seen him, and he is the very one who is speaking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” and he knelt down and worshipped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, in order that those who do not see will see, and those who do see will become blind.”” 

God had promised that his Messiah would come and “open eyes that are blind, free captives from prison, release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Jesus won the battle versus blindness by not only giving this man physical sight, but by opening this man’s heart and giving him the gift of faith. My dear friends, Jesus has done the same for you! He’s opened your heart and changed the way you think about yourself. Jesus says you’re a child of God! Your heart says, “Amen!” Jesus says you are an heir of heaven! Your heart is opened to say, “Thank you!” Jesus says you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Your heart is opened to say, “Yes Lord, with your help!” Jesus says you are forgiven. Your heart is opened to say, “I believe it’s true.

You see, Jesus has worked miracles in your life that are just as great as what he did for this blind man. You were blind by nature, but because of Jesus you can look upon the Savior who opens eyes and opens hearts, for you are blind no more! Amen.