YOU SEE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR

 

Monday, February 7, 2022

 

YOU SEE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR

John 9:24-25

24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

 

          This chapter records the healing of the man born blind – on the Sabbath day. This, said the Pharisees, could not possibly happen. Questions shot forth in rapid rhythm as the elite religious leaders tried to prove that Jesus was not a prophet, that he was a sinner because he “worked” this miracle on a day of rest, and that the blind man was an imposter.

 

          The man’s parents were summoned to testify whether this man was truly their son. Yes, they said, he is our son and, yes, he was born totally blind. How he now sees, and why, we do not know. You could sense the frustration in the Pharisees. If they acknowledged Jesus, then they would lose power and retaining power was much more important than recognizing Messiah.

 

          Bigots most always resort to religion when faced with frustrating facts that do not fit their parameters. “Give God the glory!” They shouted and added “we know this man is a sinner.” And, of course, because we know he is a sinner, you should know it too. The sin was healing this man on the Sabbath and their circular thinking made it impossible to acknowledge the work of Jesus as valid.

 

          In all your firm beliefs, always leave room for the unexpected. There is a chance that you may be wrong. The well-worn story of the mustached man who thought the whole world stank because he had limburger cheese on his face is appropriate. Jesus’ parable of the man with a beam in his eye might also prove helpful.

 

          For all their effort, they could not reverse the good work that Jesus had done. They could not make the formerly blind man anyone but who he really was, and they could not make the day anything other than the Sabbath. The calf must, after all, acknowledge that, sure enough, this is a new gate.

 

Lord, let me not miss today’s miracles because they do not fit within my preconceptions. AMEN