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A narrative or a story is a powerful tool to describe our reality in the most truthful way. That’s why Jesus used stories to teach us truths.
To teach us to love our neighbour, he gave us the story of the Good Samaritan. To teach us not to worry, he gave us a story about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. To teach us about God, who accepts sinners, he gave us the story of a prodigal son.
Stories are powerful. What does today’s story reveal to us?
It is a story of a man who was born blind. He had lived a tragic life. Life was not kind to him. Rather, it was cruel to him.
First, he was born blind. That was not his fault. He was born that way. No one chooses to be born blind.
Second, he had bad parents. They didn’t help him. They threw him out to be beggars on the street. He had to make his own living. As a blind man, what could he do, especially in that time? He had no choice but to beg.
We can see how bad his parents were when the Jews asked them about his son.
This was what they said.
Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself. (John 9:21)
What kind of parents do that to their child? Why did they do that?
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. (John 9:22)
He was born with bad parents. That was not his fault either. You don’t choose your parents. Sorry, Josh and Grace.
He was also an invisible man. No one truly knew him and no one cared about him.
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him. (John 9:8-9)
They must have seen him every day, passing by, but he was invisible to them.
He was an ill-fated man. Fate did not help him. Fate was against him. He didn’t do anything wrong. He was just born in that environment.
But the disciples did not think so.
Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:2)
He did nothing wrong, but they connected his tragic life with his sin. Because in their minds, bad things cannot happen to good people.
Bad things cannot happen to good people? No! Bad things can happen to good people.
Bad things happened to Jesus. Bad things happened to prophets. Bad things happened to Paul and Peter. Bad things happened to innocent people in Cuba.
Who said bad things cannot happen to good people? The disciples were wrong.
Jesus corrected them by saying,
Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. (John 9:3)
Then Jesus healed him.
But still bad things happened to him. After the healing, what happened to him? Yes, he was excommunicated from the community.
You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. (John 9:34)
This time, not because he was born that way but because he chose to speak the truth.
He was bold. He stood tall before the powerful people.
He was able to boldly challenge the authority. The Jews constantly forced him to say what was not true. But he didn’t back down. He had the freedom to think independently.
This is my favourite verse.
I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see. (John 9:25)
He wasn’t just talking about his physical healing.
He used to live in darkness, not just physically but in every way. His environment choked him. He lived a miserable life.
But now he saw God’s grace working in his life. Now he realized that he was not an invisible man. He understood that he was a precious child of God.
He rediscovered himself and his life. That’s why he was bold and courageous.
When you understand the truth of life, you become bold. With that boldness, you become free.
This man was bold and free. He spoke what was true, not what they wanted him to say.
Listen to what he said,
The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:30-33)
He had a sharp understanding of what happened to him.
Because of what he said, he was excommunicated. That was what his parents feared.
By the time John wrote his gospel, that was what happened to many Christians. They were kicked out from the synagogues.
This man was kicked out too but that was all right to him. He was completely free to say what was true.
Bad things may happen in your life. When bad things happen, you may wonder why these things happen to you. What did I do wrong?
That is a wrong question. The right question is: What is God going to do even in this situation?
Do you believe in your fate?
I want you to believe in something more powerful than your fate. Something that changes your fate.
That is God’s grace. God’s grace is much more powerful than your fate, your situations, and your tragedies.
When your eyes are open and see the grace of God working in your lives, you will become bold.
Even though this born-blind man was ultimately kicked out of the community, he was happy. Because he saw what God had done in his life. He knew God had healed him.
Having heard that he had been driven out, Jesus came to him.
And he asked this,
Do you believe in the Son of Man? He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” (John 9:36-38)
You see?
See = Know = Believe
My friends, do you believe in Jesus? Do you believe God works in your life? Do you believe God will open your eyes so that you can see your life clearly?
The power blinds your eyes. But the grace opens your eyes.
When bad things happen, do not be scared. Do not walk into the darkness. Do not fall into self-pity.
Do not worry. God is doing something greater.
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