Loving God, although you do make your presence and power known in our world, there are so many times when we refuse to see.  Grant us new and clearer vision this day, that we might know the truth and so be made free; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    This week, our gospel begins with yet another question for Jesus.  This time, the question comes from some of Jesus’ disciples, who see a blind man begging at the side of the road.  The man has been blind since birth, and so of course the disciples want to know why he was born this way.  Why would God allow such a thing, right?  However, the way in which the disciples ask the question implies that they already believe they know why.

    Somebody sinned, right?  This must be God’s punishment for somebody’s sin - and so the question they ask is not “why?”, but “who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (Jn. 9:2).  And so, how does Jesus answer?  Who sinned? (Nobody) This wasn’t a punishment for somebody’s sin.  Instead, “he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him” (Jn. 9:3).

    What an interesting answer!  Of course, in the context of this story it makes sense, for the man would never have been healed by Jesus if he hadn’t been blind in the first place.  But what about all of those other people who suffer in some way - those who are born with or contract various diseases - those who are abused or who lack the basic necessities of life - those who are in pain or suffer loss?  Do these things also happen so that “God’s works might be revealed” in them?

    In one sense, this might be true, for those who have suffered have a far greater sense of how great their need for God really is.  I can’t help but think of the apostle Paul as he writes about the things he has suffered and also about his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7).  In Paul’s estimation, all of the things that showed his own weakness also showed him how great the power of God was and how God’s power could work through him especially at those times when he was weak (2 Cor. 12:10).  For Paul, his suffering taught him to rely on God’s power and not on his own strength.

    Ultimately, it is in Jesus that we really see God’s response to human suffering.  In Jesus, God touches many people in order to bring healing and relief, and ultimately, Jesus does not get rid of human suffering, but enters into it, sharing our deepest pain and sorrow and even agony.  Jesus does not change the human condition, but does transform it, giving us hope in the midst of suffering and a constant presence in the midst of pain.  We are not promised that we will be free from all suffering.  However, we are promised that when we are in the midst of it, Jesus is there with us, sharing our pain, touching our deepest hurts, and transforming the darkness in our lives into light.

    Now, while this tells us a little bit about God’s response to suffering, perhaps it still doesn’t get at why suffering is part of life in the first place.  Have any of you ever come up with answers to this “why” question - as in, why is there suffering at all?  Anybody willing to share?

    Two things would be part of my own personal response.  First off, the fact that we were created to be able to feel positive things like joy and pleasure means that we can also feel the opposite things - like sorrow and pain.  No feelings at all (like Data on Star Trek) would be the only other option.  Secondly, I believe that a lot of suffering comes from the presence of sin in the world.  Ever since our first parents chose to put themselves in charge rather than God, the whole creation has been groaning under the burden.  Human beings certainly cause suffering for themselves and others, and in other instances the suffering comes from a world that is permeated with sin and influenced by the evil one.

    Rather than putting an end to all suffering - which would also mean ending life as we know it - God has chosen instead to enter into our suffering through Jesus and continues to give us the freedom to choose life and salvation or to choose self-centredness and destruction.  God does not force anybody to be saved, just as Jesus does not force anybody to be healed.  We are free to say yes or no.

    To return to today’s gospel for a moment, did you notice that it was kind of like a broken record?  Over and over again, the same questions from the Pharisees.  Over and over again, the refusal to believe that the power of God is at work through Jesus.  It’s amazing how tunnel vision works, isn’t it?  It can prevent us from seeing what’s right there in front of us.

    With the Pharisees, it was kind of like a repeating loop: “broke sabbath rules - can’t be from God - must be a sinner - so how does a blind man see?” (Repeat) Not even logic seems to be able to break the loop.  Yet, at the same time, the eyes of the blind man are very gradually opened to Jesus.  First he refers to him as “the man called Jesus” (Jn. 9:11).  Soon afterwards he refers to Jesus as a prophet (Jn. 9:17).  In the next conversation Jesus is a man from God (Jn. 9:33), and then finally Jesus is Son of Man, Son of God and worthy of worship (Jn. 9:35-38).

    The blind man is open to receiving his sight and open to receiving new information.  This leads to faith in Jesus.  Others, however are stuck - unable to break out of their well-worn patterns of thinking.  It is a condition that still afflicts us today!

    There is good reason that Paul admonishes “be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).  It is so easy for us to get stuck – and usually when we are stuck, we are stuck in a negative loop, just like the Pharisees.

    The thing is that Jesus is able to breathe new life into us.  Jesus is able to renew our vision and heal us.  Jesus is able to help us break out of destructive patterns.  Jesus is able to give sight to those who know that they are blind.  But Jesus can only do these things when we open ourselves to his presence and his power.  Jesus never heals us against our will.  Jesus never heals us when we still think that we can do it all on our own.  Jesus never heals us unless we ask, coming in good faith and ready to allow God to be the one in charge of our lives.

    We may not be spared all suffering, and we will likely not have all the answers.  However, we do have the Saviour of the world, who wants to heal us, who loves us with an everlasting love, and who promises to be with us always - even in the midst of suffering. May we, like the man who was born blind, be bold to speak what we know: “I do not know whether he is a sinner.  One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (Jn. 9:25).  Amen.

Lent 4(A)                                    John 9:1-41
April 3, 2011
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2011 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved