Title: New Eyes For Old / Lent Four

Date: 2008-03-02

Reference: John 9: 1-7

In the United States someone goes blind every 20 minutes. Blindness is a real problem in the world today. In developing countries thousands of people including many children lose their sight each year. As Christians we do all we can to help. I saw a video at a Lions Club meeting last week describing how an Illinois club heard about a blind Iraqi girl from a local soldier. The little girl was brought to America and medical science helped restore her sight. Her whole life was changed. In Colorado Lions Clubs shipped 38,505 pairs of used glasses to 18 different ministries.

While physical blindness remains a major problem, spiritual blindness is also a concern. In today’s reading Jesus dealt with both the physically and spiritually blind. As Jesus walked along he noticed a man who had been blind since birth. He had never seen the beauty of God’s creation or the faces of his loved ones. When Jesus passed by everything changed. The greatest miracle that day was not the opening of his eyes but the opening of his heart to the Savior.

This blind man was sitting by the side of the road begging. This was the only way for him to make a living for himself. The disciples asked if this poor man was blind because he or his parents had sinned? “No” said Jesus. “But because of his blindness you will see God work a great miracle for him.” Like every other human being who has ever lived , both parents, and their blind son, had at some time sinned. Jesus was simply saying the blind man was being punished for his sins. Nor was Jesus suggesting that God caused the man’s blindness so Jesus could perform a miracle for him.

Rather Jesus said: “Because he is blind you will see God perform a miracle.”

After the healing the man’s neighbors and people who had seen him begging wondered if he was the same man. Some said he was others said he only resembled the blind man. He himself told them.”I am the Man.” A man named Jesus healed me. Unknowingly he had already identified himself with the name of his healer.the great I Am.

Jesus healed the blind man on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees didn’t even consider praising God or rejoicing with a man who had received his sight. Rather they decided to investigate the situation. This is the age old conflict between law and grace. For the third time since receiving his sight they asked him how it had happened. The man replied: “Jesus made some mud, smeared it on my eyes. After I washed it off I could see.” The only response from the Pharisees was: “Jesus didn’t come from God. If he did he wouldn’t have healed you on the Sabbath. Jesus is a sinner. Jesus is a rule breaker.” Others in the crowed asked: “How could a sinner work such a miracle?”

When the Pharisees asked the man what he thought of Jesus, the man replied: “He is a prophet.” They sent for the man’s parents and asked: “Is this your son? How can he now see?” They replied: “We don’t know. We only know he is our son. We know he was born blind and has never been able to see. Ask him, he’s old enough to speak for himself.” Once again the man was called back and they said to him: “Swear by God to tell the truth. We know Jesus is a sinner.” The man replied: “I don’t know anything about that. I don’t know if he is a sinner or not. All I know, all I can tell you is this.I used to be blind, but now I can see.”

Later Jesus found the man and asked him if he had faith in the Son of Man. “Sir” he said, “if you will tell me who he is I will put my faith in him.” Jesus said: “You have already seen him and you are talking to him.” The man said: “I put my faith in you.” I once was blind, but now I see.

Each of us is born spiritually blind. In Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, there live a 5" fish called blindfish. They have no eyes. Their species has lived so long in the darkness that they have lost the ability to see. This can happen to people as well. Many have lived so long in the darkness that they have lost the ability to see. The rods and cones of the spiritual retina have become desensitized. The optic nerve of the spirit is shrunken. Like the man in the Bible, we are blind.

In today’s account Jesus spots the man as he passes by and he stops. For Jesus no one is ever lost in the crowd. Jesus knows each of us. He knows where we are and what our need is and that is our great hope.

The gift of forgiveness is best appreciated by those who know they need it the most. Rev. John Newton experienced this Grace of God first hand. Newton went to sea at the age of eleven. He eventually became the captain of a slave ship. On March 10, 1748, 260 years ago, almost to the day he was returning to England from Africa when his ship was caught in a terrible storm. It appeared all would be lost. He came to Christ as a result. For the next few years he continued working on slave ships trying hard to justify his work. Eventually he walked away and became a strong ane effective crusader against slavery. Newton studied for the ministry and served as a pastor the rest of his life.



He was often invited to preach and large crowds gathered to hear the “Old converted Sea Captain.” Newton never ceased to marvel at God’s mercy and grace that had changed his life. John Newton’s testimony was: “I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I wish to be. I am not what I hope to be. But by God’s Amazing Grace, I am not what I was.”

When he was way up in his 80's his health and memory were failing, it was suggested that he retire. He responded: “My memory is nearly gone. But I remember two things. I am a great sinner and Jesus Christ is a great savior. I once was blind but now I see. Shall this old Africa Blasphemer stop preaching while he can still speak? Never will I stop telling others what Jesus has done for me.”

Years ago a missionary physician in one of China’s hospitals cured a man of cataracts. Four weeks later 48 blind men stumbled into the mission station.each was holding a rope and all were guided by the man who had been cured. He had led them in this way many miles to the hospital.

Those of us, who by God’s grace, received our sight, must seek to bring others to the light of God’s salvation. In his beloved hymn, John Newton called this experience Amazing Grace. Grace is not simply a supplement to our strength. We have no strength of our own. Grace turns our weakness into power for the Glory of God. Grace and faith go together. The only way to experience grace and salvation is through faith. We are not only saved by Grace but we are called to live by Grace. Grace is the foundation of the Christian life. When we turn away from God’s grace, we must depend on our own power. That leads to failure and disappointment. Grace never fails, but we can fail to depend on God’s grace.

Years ago the newspapers carried the story of an eye surgeon who offered to perform surgery, free of charge, on a blind street person. The doctor often passed this man on his way to the office. One day he invited the sightless man to his office where upon examination the surgeon discovered the man’s blindness could be corrected. The surgeon offered to do the procedure without charge to the man. Incredibly the blind man refused saying it would alter his life to much and he was too old to cope with the change of being sighted.

Many persons over the years have declined God’s offer of Grace for the same reason. It would alter life too radically. Rather we often choose to remain in the darkness living with regrets. Reflecting on a mistake in the past a person was heard to say: “How could I have been so blind?” We’ve all felt that way at some point and asked the same question at some juncture in the journey of life. How could I have not seen that coming? How could I have been so blind to the obvious? The answer of course is that hind sight is a wonderful thing. Hindsight is 20/20. It’s easy to look back and see what should have or could have been done. In those times we accept the grace of God and look ahead and not back. We can’t do anything about the past.

The Bible says: “You used to be like people living in the dark. But now you are people of the light because you belong to the Lord. So act like people of the light and make your light shine.” (Eph. 5:8)

For whatever reason, many religious people, like the Pharisees, know who God is, but have not allowed God to make a difference in life. There are those who choose to walk in the darkness, always choosing to walk away from the light.

This last week for instance, we’ve walked and lived with eyes half open. When we could have seen the whole picture we saw only the part that affected us or that we agreed with. When we could have seen the good in others we saw only the bad and questionable. When we could have seen opportunities for service we saw only personal inconvenience. Today as Jesus passes by we ask him to pardon us for our deliberate blindness and to open our eyes that we may fully see His light.