Blind Works
My team at work is in the midst of a 2-day retreat. Today (day 1) we began our time together with a devotion of Mark Batterson’s, that told the story of Jesus healing a man who had been blind since birth (John 9:1-41). As we watched the video devotion, had some time of reflection and conversation, the Lord stirred my spirit and I was so inspired. I’ve read this story so many times – and heard it preached even more. Today, I saw something brand new – something dark in me was enlightened. In the bible times, blindness was completely debilitating. There were no modern or technological advancements such as braille, things that talk and help guide you, walking sticks, etc. As I was reading about some of the modern day inventions for the visually impaired – I was actually shocked. There are items that assist the blind to cook – things that vibrate to tell you when water is boiling, talking ovens and measuring cup…the possibilities that once were only dreamed of – are now reality. In the bible days days, if you were blind, you were at the complete mercy of others in every aspect of life. This impairment often rendered persons to becoming beggars. I can only imagine how demeaning, devaluing and belittling this status had to be. The man in this story however, was born blind – he knew no other life. Functioning with minimal functionality. Little to no independence. Destitution had become his norm. What we scoff at, was his way of surviving. What we turn a voluntary blind eye to, was how he lived to see another day. What we turn our noses up at, was how he made it until, Christ showed up and upgraded his life.
On a random, sacred, Sabbath Day, Jesus and his crew were walking around the temple in Jerusalem. They came across this blind beggar. This man, who had been doing the same thing, day in and day out – nothing ever changing, nothing ever growing – just marking time (because that’s all he had the capacity to do – that’s all he was ever taught to do). I’m sure not many people stopped to criticize or help this man. He had become like a pair of bent blinds, or a messy stack of books that we walk past so much that we don’t even notice anymore. The only thing worse than being criticized, is not being noticed. Well, this day, this man garnered the attention of Jesus and his disciples. The disciples asked Jesus (in an assuming way), which of this man’s parents sinned? After all…this impairment had a to be a result of some type of wrongdoing, right? I find it so beautifully ironic that as Jesus answered his disciples, he also sparked something new in the blind man’s heart & mind. Jesus’ response was that this man’s blindness, this man’s impairment, this man’s lifetime flaw – was for the sake of displaying the glory of God. In that moment, this blind man was ear hustling…he was an innocent bystander and overheard Jesus and the disciple’s conversation. I can only imagine that in that moment he began to see himself differently. He began to question – could I, this desolate, dependent, devalued man, really be used of God? I believe that in that moment, Jesus was talking to the disciples but addressing and restoring the blind man’s identity. See, your struggle, the thing that has plagued you for years, that propensity that has seemed to constantly trip you up – is not for naught – it is indeed for the glory of God. People may turn a blind eye, but Jesus is watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to invade and transform your life.
What happened next struck me. After addressing the disciples, Jesus said nothing more, He immediately sprung into action – he spit in the dirt, and spread the mud on the blind man’s eyes. He then simply told the man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. I found this interesting because in many instances when Jesus healed people, he told them that they would be healed, or their sins were forgiven, or for them to go in peace and sin no more. In this particular circumstance, there were no addendums…no specific declarations…just GO & wash. The blind man, not really aware of who Jesus was, took a chance and did what he was told – obedience saved his life. This simple act of blind obedience was the catalyst to his healing and the restoration to his identity. The bible does not say how far this man had to walk and how long it took him (although we know it happened in the span of one day), but in the midst of a crowded city, with an impairment, on the word of a man he was unfamiliar with, with hope & faith in his heart, probably with the stares and criticism of his peers….this man proceeded and prevailed. Christ was the catalyst that gave him the confidence to claim his new life. I can see the man wandering through the crowds, wondering if he will make it, wondering if it will make a difference? I can see the crowds, peering in criticism, wondering why this wandering man with a mess on his face (the primary place of first impression) was even trying to do anything different. Surely this man looked silly & messy, irrational & ridiculous, lost & confused. This wondrous wandering journey freed this man. Free of from the reliance of others. Free of the opinions, skepticism, pity and dismissal of others. Free from the invisible bars that he bore as a result of blindness. Free from the silent burdens that no one cared to help him carry. Free from wandering.
Old things can become new. Jesus is the difference maker. In his presence, even if just a bystander, lives can be forever changed. The blind man may not have lived a sophisticated life. He may not have been the most affluent, or intelligible person, but after a lifetime of being blind, he was gifted with vision.
Even though you may feel like an extra in the story of life, a bystander – Jesus sees, knows and advocates for even you. Trust him, even if you’re not intimately familiar with him. Follow the promptings and adventures he has purposed and is sending you on. He may not have specifically said how his word will turn out, but according to his promise, all things work for good (to those that love him and who are called according to his purpose – can’t forget that part J). Be obedient and GO. I believe that this year, Jesus is giving us newness that we thought only existed for other people. This year is for people who have been surviving, stagnant, marking time and just waiting…maybe not sure what you’re waiting for, but waiting. If you read through the end of the story, you will see that the blind man (once he could see) was noticed by some people, but others had a fundamental belief that there was an impossibility for him to be so drastically different – so much so that he was taken to the Pharisees to be questioned. The Pharisees were offended by this man’s truth – the absolute truth. At this point, Jesus came and found the previously blind man! In this season of newness – Jesus REFUSES to allow the skepticism of others to sabotage what He has established. Your blessing is secure – may your newness, become your new normal. May your seeds of brokenness bloom into exponential blessings. May your “blindness” - make sense.
GO, grow & be healed!
Be encouraged friends. Stay tuned...Tootles!
