Pam's Perambulation

In which Jesus heals a man born blind, and the Pharisees try to find out what happened…

The first thing in this encounter is that Jesus states quite clearly that this man is not blind because of something either he or his parents have done.  That was really important to the people of Jesus day.  They lived by the understanding that bad things did not happen to good people.  Bad things happening to you had to equal that you had done something bad.  I think sometimes in our so-called sophisticated society, we still sometimes have a suspicion of that.  We like things neat and tidy.  We like to know who or what to blame.  But from Jesus’ response it seems quite clear that these things sometimes just happen for no reason.

The sad part about the whole episode is that knowing that this mas has been healed and his sight restored, the Pharisees want to use it to make some point about Jesus.  The only thing that seems important to them is that the Sabbath Law has been broken – or at least their interpretation of it!

Having got nowhere with their first argument, they then try a different tack.  Perhaps this is some set up.  This man was never really blind at all – Jesus was just using him to try to make it look like he was a prophet.  They are beginning to get worried that there are those who are thinking that Jesus might be the Messiah.

The leaders want to keep the lid on all this.  But it very soon becomes clear who the blind ones are.

The one who was blind meets Jesus and finds he can see.  The one’s who believe they have the understanding of everything meet Jesus, and it turns out they can see nothing because of their prejudices.  They need to open their eyes – and who knows what they might discover.

If you go on a journey with your eyes closed you will miss a lot.  As we journey through Lent, are we doing it with our eyes closed, or are we open to what we might see?  Are our eyes and minds shut to God and what he can do?  Do we think we’ve got it sorted and have nothing more to see?  Or are we open to new experiences?

Let’s open our eyes to God, and see what he has to show us.  Favourite views that restore us, things we’ve never seen before, new routes there may be to take.

Lets reach out to him and watch him work – in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Lord

may we open our eyes to you.

May we see

the things you have to show us.

May we not be closed-minded

but wanting to discover more of you.

May we never think

we know everything there is to know,

or have you sorted,

but be open to new possibilities.

Surprise us Lord

we pray

~ by pamjw on March 31, 2011.

Posted in Jesus, Lectionary, lent
Tags: blind, Jesus, John 9:1-41, lent