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Sermon for Sunday, March 2, 2008
Fourth Sunday of Lent
“A Lenten Encounter — A Blind Man
John 9:1-7
Barbara Brown Taylor writes about this passage, “The story of the man born blind is a one act play in six scenes, with a large cast of characters, as biblical stories go; there are at least twelve disciples, a crowd of nosy neighbors, some Pharisee, two parents, the man himself and Jesus. These last two get most of the attention, but it is not the kind either of them wants. The story revolves around them because they are the only so-called sinners in it – the man because he was born blind, which in his day was a sure sign of God’s judgment – and Jesus because he broke one of the Ten Commandments by healing the man on the Sabbath.”
(Pg. 73 Home by Another Way)
I think she is ultimately right – the story does revolve around two people, the blind man and Jesus. It begins with a man who is unable to see, whose infirmity is debated by those who can see and by the end of the story, the blind man is the only one who really sees.
If you and I had lots of time to spend in a conversation about this passage, we would be talking about the question of the reasons he was blind – was it his sin or the sin of his parents? Our conversation would lead to talk about the theological arrogance of the Pharisees. No one wants to think that something might have happened out of the norm. No one wants to admit that some new and uncontained power is at work. I am sure we would have to talk about mystery.
READ John 9:1-7
You would have thought there would have been a party when something this good, this magnificent, this exciting, this life changing had occurred. Somehow, some way, you would have thought there would have been at least one “Praise the Lord” or outbreak of the Hallelujah Chorus. (even though Handel had not been born yet.) You would have thought someone would have been excited enough to go spread the news that a blind man was now able to see.
Haven’t you had people celebrate with you when some good news came your way? graduation? Job promotion? Good report from the doctor? Those are hallelujah moments worth celebrating. Getting light after a lifetime of night is a hallelujah moment. But it didn’t happen that way.
Like a gaggle of reporters surrounding a presidential candidate. The whole potential hallelujah moment was besieged by controversy and dissension: “How were your eyes opened? Where is the man who did all this? How could he do it?” He couldn’t be legit after all he healed on the Sabbath. The religious authorities seem to sense they are in danger of loosing their grip on the movements of God.
According to John, these are the people you better watch out for, because they think they are the only ones that can see. I think John is on to something. One of the things the faith world has to be cautious about is that the way we think is the only right way. In the Christian world, there are plenty of folks who believe that if you don’t believe the way they believe then you must not believe – correctly, anyway.
Well, the seeing blind man didn’t know the “who, what, when where,’ but he did know that he was able to see: “All I know is that once I was blind, but now I can see.” Amid all the controversy and questioning and finger pointing, he gave his testimony, he did not know who did it, but he knew he was able to see. For the first time the rising of the sun, the glow of the moon, stars in the sky and who knows, maybe for the first time, to see the face of his wife and children.
But the Pharisees were not ready to let it go. They go through the same process again and finally get so angered at his response that they kicked him out of church. (v. 34)
He did not pretend to know things he did not yet know, but he likewise did not hesitate to say what happened to him. He does not claim to know everything about Jesus, but he does confess what Jesus did for him.
This once blind man is a model for us, showing us how to tell our faith stories, how to bear witness to our faith. He had an experience – Jesus had changed him and he told his story in the face of questions he could not answer.
In “Stone for a Pillow,” Madeline L’Engle quotes Cardinal Suhard as saying, “to be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda, not even in stirring people up, but in being a living mystery. It means to live in such a way that one’s life would not make sense if God did not exist.” (pg. 139)
The man born blind exemplifies such a witness. He never attempts to say more than he knows. Rather, as he lives with the mystery of what has happened to him in his encounter with Jesus, and shares that mystery with others, the light gradually dawns upon him as to who Jesus is.
Brennan Manning tells the story of a convert to Jesus who was approached by an unbelieving friend:
“So you’ve been converted to Christ?” “Yes.” “Then you must know a great deal about him. Tell me, what country was he born in?” “I don’t know.” What was his age when he died?” “I don’t know.” “How many sermons did he preach?” “I don’t know that either.”
You certainly know very little for a man who claims to be converted to Christ.
“You are right. I am ashamed of how little I know about him. But this much I know: Three years ago I was a drunkard. I was in debt. My family was falling to pieces. They dreaded the sight of me. But now I have given up drinking. We are out of debt. Ours is a happy home. My children wait my coming home. All this Christ has done for me. This much I know of Christ.” (pg. 44, Pulpit Resource)
You and I are called to tell what it is like now that we can see and what we missed when we could not. Now we know that God loves us, forgives us and accepts us.
To bear witness is simply to tell others what we know. We tell our stories, how we have been changed. We don’t even try to answer every question or try to explain the mysteries of God. We just tell our stories.
We say, “There are things I do not know. I am still learning. But there is one thing I do know, Jesus has touched my life and it has never been the same. I was blind but now I can see.” Through this encounter with Jesus, this man’s faith blossoms into a full confession, “Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.” (v. 37)
As we prepare to come to the Table, it is set for you. It is a Table where we confess our faith, “Lord, I believe.” The Lord’s Table has no meaning without faith. It is just a simple swallow of juice and dry bread. But this is a faith Table, prepared by our Lord to remember His Body, His Blood for you and me.
Here we are reminded of what we’re worth to the Father – body, blood, life. Here, you are invited, to bear witness to what Christ has done in your life…maybe you will able to see better than ever before. He’s set a place for you. Won’t you come?
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