1 Samuel 16:3, 5-13
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-7,13,17-21,24-25,28-31
Is being blind about not having sight? It could be, if we are speaking only in physical terms. The gospel speaks of sin and sight, cause and effect. But does it really? To see is beyond sight physically. To see changes us entirely in our responses to everything we encounter.
In the gospel reading today, I am not sure how many of us might have heard that the man born blind was born this way for the purpose of God. In other words, he was blind because God made him this way or wanted him this way, so God’s works could be revealed in him. You can interpret it this way, as you heard it today in English. However, this is not really the case. At least, this is not fully the case.
The words, “he was born blind” have been added into the English text and are not there in the Greek version. This is an example of someone doing an interpretation and put in words that are not truly in the text but added by someone who believed they should be added to clarify the sentence. Doing so however changes the meaning. If we believe, and I do, that God does not cause people to be born with physical, mental or any type of “disability”, “handicap” or anything that would put someone at a disadvantage then there is a better translation as to what Jesus is telling us.
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned but his birth is so that God’s works might be revealed in him.” Or if we look at what the Message Bible says, “ Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.[1]
It is not a question of physical sight or lack of physical sight. We are all born with sight, the sight to see the light of Christ as children of God. It is the darkness of the world that clouds our sight and sometimes causes us to be blind altogether. God can keep our eyes open or open them again.
God sees not the physical of each of us but looks into our spiritual selves for where our sight is. Samuel was looking at the physical sides of the brothers of David and none of them had the sight that God was looking for. It so happens that David was handsome but it was what God saw inside of David, it was the spiritual side that God wanted of David and of us too. David had his faults as a human being and we have our share too. God used David to accomplish God’s goals on earth but at the same time, God worked in and upon David spiritually. The outward appearance of us is a sign of who we are and can be.
The outward appearance I speak of is also not what you may think of either. It is not the fact that we may be good-looking, tall dark and handsome or have a body that is considered a “perfect measurement, like 36, 26, 36”. The outward appearance comes in how we respond to what God does, what God is, who Christ is and what Christ does and will do for the world and us. In our service to others, we show our spiritual side to others and God.
The sight that God has and the sight we are to have are much deeper than sight upon a physical level. It is not about sight but about seeing like no other. It is about a relationship to God and God’s people, in seeing. In 2009 there was a movie that came out, where the theme song, along with much of the focus of the aliens shown in the movie, that focuses upon seeing beyond the physical bounds.
Avatar Theme Song: I see you
I see you
I see you
Walking through a dream, I see you
My light in darkness, breathing hope of new life
Now I live through you and you through me, enchanting
I pray in my heart that this dream never ends
I see me through your eyes
Breathing new life, flying high
Your love shines the way into paradise
So I offer my life as a sacrifice
I live through your love
You teach me how to see all that’s beautiful
My senses touch a world I never pictured
Now I give my hope to you, I surrender
I pray in my heart that this world never ends
I see me through your eyes
Breathing new life, flying high
Your love shines the way into paradise
So I offer my life, I offer my love, for you
When my heart was never open
(And my spirit never free)
To the world that you have shown me
But my eyes could not envision
All the colors of love and of life evermore
Evermore
(I see me through your eyes)
I see me through your eyes
(Living new life flying high)
Flying high
Your love shines the way into paradise
So I offer my life as a sacrifice
And live through your love
And live through your life
I see you
I see you[2]
When you hear these words can you see or do you only say I see? Why do we do what we do? For who do we do what we do? Is it about us? Is it about appearance? If we do something as a response to our God, because we think we must, because if we don’t we will not go to heaven or have eternal life or whatever, we have left the road of discipleship. We can have all the outward appearance of a disciple, Prayer, Weekly Worship, Bible Reading, Service, Spiritual Friendship and Giving but still do not produce fruits in the labor.
When we intentionally try not to be as God intends for us to be. If it is about doing, not being, being the light of the Lord, living as the children of the light, then we need to look out and heed what Jesus says to the fig tree in Mark 11, Jesus; 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. [3] 20 In the morning as they passed by, they (Jesus and His disciples) saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. [4]
What do you tell a person who says they are trying to be a disciple but you do not see the fruits? I have heard this next statement from a few people and I too have said it. “Fake it until you believe it.” Thus the outside appearance also becomes in the inward spiritual appearance. Is this dangerous? Do we dare tell someone that, encourage that in anyway? Yes, we do! Yes, I will and do encourage it! If someone is willing to do this, then we already can have faith ourselves that there is a spark of faith, even the size of a mustard seed, which God can see, God can use, God can grow until the faith is unshakeable and the appearance for the sake of appearance becomes appearance with fruits of the labor in the name of Christ for the sake of Christ and the world, in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
But…but….but…what about, what if, ahhhhhh. Do not over think about what we do and why we do in response to God. I have a tendency; we as humans have a tendency to over think the simple because simple cannot be simple, right? We are to often being told that nothing in life is free on our part. If it looks to good to be true than it must not be true.
Here is the simple truth, that when we allow our eyes to be opened to, allow the Spirit to work in us, that all will fall into place and we can rest assured in the faith of God in Christ for us. The simple truth that Jesus tells us is, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”[5]
Simple but it is a truth that we can follow. When we fail, as we shall, we also can take to heart that we are forgiven in and because of the faithfulness of God in Christ, Jesus. Today we even confessed our sins to God in the name of Jesus and are told that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Yes, even for those with the faith, the size of a mustard seed. To see changes us entirely in our responses to everything we encounter. What can you see?
[1] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Jn 9:3–5.
[2] Songwriters FRANGLEN, SIMON / HARRELL, THADDIS / HORNER, JAMES, (Published by
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, FOX MUSIC, INC.),
[3] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mk 11:13–14.
[4] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mk 11:20.
[5] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 22:37–41.