How Well Do You See?
This is the question that arose from reading the story of Jesus healing the man born blind in John 9. As the story goes, a man that was born blind is healed by Jesus on Shabbat (Sabbath). The leading Pharisees in the synagogue were amazed not that a miracle took place—but that “work” was done on Shabbat. Now, in on a normal Shabbat, the Pharisees do have good reason to protect Shabbat and be upset about work being done.
God punished Israel & Judah for failing to keep Shabbat among other festivals of YHWH called the moadim. There were eight festivals of YHWH which the Jews celebrated. Seven of the eight were annual while Shabbat was observed every single week. During the days leading up to the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles, the kings failed over Israel and Judah failed to keep the moadim—especially Shabbat. So, when the people returned from exile, they made it a point to never stray from the decrees of YHWH. They made additional laws as figurative “safety nets” to keep them from breaking Shabbat among other things.
When Jesus comes on to the scene, He understands these man-made laws in place. But Jesus wants to remind the people why Shabbat (and other laws) was given in addition to revealing His glory. Jesus shows that Shabbat is not for the cease of work at the expense of another’s pain. It is an invitation for all people—the poor, the lame, the blind, the oppressed, the rich, the elite—to enter God’s rest. When Jesus heals this man on Shabbat, He shows just that. Shabbat was made for man, not man for Shabbat.
Instead of seeing what God was doing and who Jesus was demonstrating to be, the Pharisees looked at Jesus with disgust because He did not live up to how they dictated Jewish life should be lived. Their hardness of heart was the beginning of their downfall. Had they taken a moment to consider the magnitude of what just happened—a man healed after being born blind—maybe they would have been able to see Jesus for who He was and is. Their obsession with their-life-lived-their-way blinded their eyes to the glory of God on display.
Some people say, “If Jesus were here, today, doing miracles, then I would believe in Him.” Or, “I wish God would speak or show up powerfully in my life, so I know He is real.” As great as these moments would be (I would love Jesus to be here, today, doing miracles), I believe that it would not change the hearts of many people. The Pharisees anticipated the day of the Messiah and knew the Messianic prophecies to identify Him when He came, but they rejected Jesus even though they saw Him and walked the earth when He walked the earth.
You see, it is not just physical evidence that causes you to believe. Physical evidence is good; but if your spiritual eyes are not open, Jesus could do and say anything, and it would not change your mind.
Jesus closes His conversation with the former blind man this way, “’For judgment I came into this world, so that those who don’t see may see, and the ones who do see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard Him say this and asked, ‘We’re not blind too, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, “We see.” So your sin remains.’”
Jesus brings hope to the sinners, those who already know they are evil, wicked, and sinful. Jesus brings strength to the weak. Jesus lifts the head of the discouraged. Jesus helps those who know they are blind, see. But He does not just stop there.
Jesus exposes our blind spots. He shows us how sinful and corrupt we really are. He shows us how much we really do not know about life. He shows us how weak we are. Jesus helps those who think they see, understand their utter blindness.
Back to the opening question: “How well do you really see?” Are their places in your life that you have allowed pride to close your mind to what God is doing around you? Have you been resistant to the voice of God? Have you been waiting for God to do something amazing (similar to the Pharisees expecting the Messiah) but wanted Him to do it by your rules and standards? Is God calling out different sins in your life, but pride is keeping you from yielding to the Spirit? Are you set in your ways and unwilling to be reshaped and remolded by the Father?
I believe God is doing something here and now. I believe that we can experience and partner with God in what He wants to do, but it starts with having open eyes and open hearts. It starts with humility and allowing God to remove the false ideas we have of who we think He is and how He must move. It starts with repentance and receiving Jesus for who He is.
