Man Born Blind John 9 - John 10:21
I was born blind. I am twenty years old and had taught myself how to play the lute when I was about eight or nine. Ever since then I'd been playing for a living, usually on the street corners and on market days, sometimes in people's homes and at festivals and celebrations
The day I met Jesus I was playing in the street when I heard a large crowd of people passing by. They stopped next to me and I heard a voice asking if my blindness had been caused by my own sins or by the sins of my parents. I thought I might have recognised the voice but I wasnt sure so I stopped playing so that I could hear the reply. The man who answered the question was someone Id definitely not heard before. He had a Nazareth accent. He said that I was born blind not because of anyones sins but so that the goodness and kindness of God could be revelaed. I didnt understand what he meant but the next thing I knew I felt a hand on my shoulder and the same voice asking me to stand up.
I stood, carefully holding onto my lute. whilst the man kept talking. He was saying something about being light in the world and that he had work to do before the night came. It was only about ten in the morning so I wasnt sure why he was talking about nightfall - the day was yet young.
The next thing I knew I felt something warm on my eyes. I asked what was going on and put my hands up to my face to feel what it was that had been smeared on me. I felt scared and incredibly vulnerable. I had no idea what was going on and Id had my fare share of people abusing me, robbing me and bullying me whilst I was playing on the streets. I could tell this was a big group of people and I knew I would stand no chance if they decided to turn on me.
As I was thinking all of this the voice spoke to me. It was kind and calm and told me not to worry. I was to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. This day was getting more weird by the moment. Someone took me by the arm and said ' Come on then, lets go to Siloam' and off we went. It wasnt far and my guide led me to the steps where I was able to carefully lean down and scoop up water in my hands. As I washed my eyes I suddenly realised that I could see! I nearly fell into the pool with shock. The person who was with me had to ask several times if I was sure I could see - but of course I was sure! I could see people and shapes and the water and the buildings. I was dazzled and amazed and shocked and delighted and every other emotion under the sun. I told the guy who had helped me to the pool that I wanted to go back and find the man who had done this for me. He told me the man's name was Jesus.
We made our way back to the corner where I had sat most days for years. As we walked down the street I could hear people saying ' Hey, isnt that blind John? How come his eyes are open? It looks as though he can see now, how can that be? No, that's not John, its just someone who looks like him. Are you sure? ' I grinned at them and turned to say ' Yes, it IS blind John and Im not blind any more!' People started to gather round and ask questions and touch me and look closely at my face. I told them what had happened and asked if anyone had seen where Jesus went. Nobody seemed to know, but someone said I ought to go to the synagogue and present myself there as the law of Moses commands when healing has taken place. So I went, mostly because I wanted to say prayers of thanks for my miracle, and also because I longed to see what the synagogue actually looked like. I suspected it would be beautiful and I was not disappointed. It was glorious.
The elders were not so glorious. They wanted to know how I had received my sight and when I told them an argument broke out amongst them about how Jesus was able to perform such a miracle. Half of them seemed to think he had a God-given gift, the others said it was the work of the devil. Then someone said that I was probably lying or exaggerating and that I had not been blind at all! They asked me if I could prove that I had been blind from birth - and the only thing I could think of was to get my parents to verify that I had been born with no eyes in my eye sockets. So someone went out to find my parents and half an hour later they were standing in front of me , both weeping for joy as they saw that I was complete, whole, healed and could see. After an emotional twenty minutes when I looked at both my parents, who I knew so well but had never seen before, and we cried and we fell on each other and hugged and kissed, the Pharisees started the interrogation.
They asked my parents if I was their son, if I had been born blind and how it was that I was now able to see. My parents answered saying I was indeed their son, I had never been able to see anything at all and that they had no idea how it was that I was no longer blind. I knew my parents were wary of saying anything which might get them thrown out of the synagogue. But the truth was they really didnt know what had happened to me. So the questions turned back to me and I was told that Jesus was a sinner and only God who is perfect could do miracles.
I told them that I didnt know anything about theology, all I knew was that in the morning I was blind and by lunchtime I could see. They asked me again how it had happened and I told them again about Jesus putting something on my eyes and then getting me to wash it off in Siloam. And then I was a bit cheeky and I asked if the reason they were so interested was that they wanted to become followers of Jesus themselves. That really got them mad! They all started shouting that they were followers of Moses, not of this ridiculous prophet. They rebuked me and threw me and my parents out of the synagogue. I was sad for my mother and father because they had always been very devout and I had never wanted to cause them embarassment or bring them shame. As for me, I really wasnt bothered, I could see and that was the most amazing and important thing. I was sure that God had done it through the hands of the prophet and I didnt need a synagogue to rejoice and celebrate that.
A bit later on I was sitting outside my house just watching the people going by and marvelling at the blueness of the sky and the green of trees and the colours of birds when a man approached me. As soon as he spoke I recognised the voice as being that of Jesus. He said to me ' John, do you believe in the Son of God?'
I said ' I dont know the Son of God so how can I believe in him?'
Jesus said ' You're looking at him' and smiled.
I said ' Well in that case I most certainly do believe Lord' and I took hold of his hand and kissed it.
As this conversation was happening a few of the Pharisees and some of Jesus's disciples had appeared. Jesus embraced me as I thanked him over and over again for the gift of my sight. Then he turned to the gathering crowd and started telling them that he had come so that the blind might see and that those who could see might be blinded. That didnt make much sense to me. Why would he want to make sighted people blind?? One of the Pharisees said to him ' So are we blind then?'
There was clearly something political going on here which I didnt really understand
Jesus said ' If you claimed no capacity for illumination and understanding you would not be guilty, but you claim to have perfect spiritual vision. And yet you can't see what is under your very noses. So unfortunately you remain in sin. You can't see that I am the good shepherd. I look after sheep such as John here and will go to any lengths to protect and save and heal them. I know my sheep. I know my Father and He knows me and we are willing to give everything for our sheep. I am willing to give up my life for them and I shall give them eternal life. But you dont believe it because you are not my sheep'
Half of the crowd was upset by what Jesus was saying and shouted that he was posessed by a demon or was mad. But others pointed at me and said ' But how could a demon open the eyes of a blind man? Look! This man here received his sight today. Surely that must be God's doing'
It all started to get very heated and I was worried that a riot was about to break out - all because I was no longer blind. I wonder why the religious people can't just be glad for me and allow Jesus to do what he has come to do. I certainly believe that God has sent him. Since I met him that day I have heard of lots of people who have been healed by him. And Ive also heard about people who have been changed by his words, his teachings and his lessons on how to live life. You woudl think the Pharisees would be happy that someone was causing people to turn to God and become more devout. But it seems that the more Jesus does and says the less happy they are.
Jesus managed to leave that day just before the crowd turned nasty. I was glad to see him go on his way in safety. I hope he manages to avoid trouble in the future, but somehow I fear he will not. He seems destined to cause joy and upset in equal measure.
The day I met Jesus I was playing in the street when I heard a large crowd of people passing by. They stopped next to me and I heard a voice asking if my blindness had been caused by my own sins or by the sins of my parents. I thought I might have recognised the voice but I wasnt sure so I stopped playing so that I could hear the reply. The man who answered the question was someone Id definitely not heard before. He had a Nazareth accent. He said that I was born blind not because of anyones sins but so that the goodness and kindness of God could be revelaed. I didnt understand what he meant but the next thing I knew I felt a hand on my shoulder and the same voice asking me to stand up.
I stood, carefully holding onto my lute. whilst the man kept talking. He was saying something about being light in the world and that he had work to do before the night came. It was only about ten in the morning so I wasnt sure why he was talking about nightfall - the day was yet young.
The next thing I knew I felt something warm on my eyes. I asked what was going on and put my hands up to my face to feel what it was that had been smeared on me. I felt scared and incredibly vulnerable. I had no idea what was going on and Id had my fare share of people abusing me, robbing me and bullying me whilst I was playing on the streets. I could tell this was a big group of people and I knew I would stand no chance if they decided to turn on me.
As I was thinking all of this the voice spoke to me. It was kind and calm and told me not to worry. I was to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. This day was getting more weird by the moment. Someone took me by the arm and said ' Come on then, lets go to Siloam' and off we went. It wasnt far and my guide led me to the steps where I was able to carefully lean down and scoop up water in my hands. As I washed my eyes I suddenly realised that I could see! I nearly fell into the pool with shock. The person who was with me had to ask several times if I was sure I could see - but of course I was sure! I could see people and shapes and the water and the buildings. I was dazzled and amazed and shocked and delighted and every other emotion under the sun. I told the guy who had helped me to the pool that I wanted to go back and find the man who had done this for me. He told me the man's name was Jesus.
We made our way back to the corner where I had sat most days for years. As we walked down the street I could hear people saying ' Hey, isnt that blind John? How come his eyes are open? It looks as though he can see now, how can that be? No, that's not John, its just someone who looks like him. Are you sure? ' I grinned at them and turned to say ' Yes, it IS blind John and Im not blind any more!' People started to gather round and ask questions and touch me and look closely at my face. I told them what had happened and asked if anyone had seen where Jesus went. Nobody seemed to know, but someone said I ought to go to the synagogue and present myself there as the law of Moses commands when healing has taken place. So I went, mostly because I wanted to say prayers of thanks for my miracle, and also because I longed to see what the synagogue actually looked like. I suspected it would be beautiful and I was not disappointed. It was glorious.
The elders were not so glorious. They wanted to know how I had received my sight and when I told them an argument broke out amongst them about how Jesus was able to perform such a miracle. Half of them seemed to think he had a God-given gift, the others said it was the work of the devil. Then someone said that I was probably lying or exaggerating and that I had not been blind at all! They asked me if I could prove that I had been blind from birth - and the only thing I could think of was to get my parents to verify that I had been born with no eyes in my eye sockets. So someone went out to find my parents and half an hour later they were standing in front of me , both weeping for joy as they saw that I was complete, whole, healed and could see. After an emotional twenty minutes when I looked at both my parents, who I knew so well but had never seen before, and we cried and we fell on each other and hugged and kissed, the Pharisees started the interrogation.
They asked my parents if I was their son, if I had been born blind and how it was that I was now able to see. My parents answered saying I was indeed their son, I had never been able to see anything at all and that they had no idea how it was that I was no longer blind. I knew my parents were wary of saying anything which might get them thrown out of the synagogue. But the truth was they really didnt know what had happened to me. So the questions turned back to me and I was told that Jesus was a sinner and only God who is perfect could do miracles.
I told them that I didnt know anything about theology, all I knew was that in the morning I was blind and by lunchtime I could see. They asked me again how it had happened and I told them again about Jesus putting something on my eyes and then getting me to wash it off in Siloam. And then I was a bit cheeky and I asked if the reason they were so interested was that they wanted to become followers of Jesus themselves. That really got them mad! They all started shouting that they were followers of Moses, not of this ridiculous prophet. They rebuked me and threw me and my parents out of the synagogue. I was sad for my mother and father because they had always been very devout and I had never wanted to cause them embarassment or bring them shame. As for me, I really wasnt bothered, I could see and that was the most amazing and important thing. I was sure that God had done it through the hands of the prophet and I didnt need a synagogue to rejoice and celebrate that.
A bit later on I was sitting outside my house just watching the people going by and marvelling at the blueness of the sky and the green of trees and the colours of birds when a man approached me. As soon as he spoke I recognised the voice as being that of Jesus. He said to me ' John, do you believe in the Son of God?'
I said ' I dont know the Son of God so how can I believe in him?'
Jesus said ' You're looking at him' and smiled.
I said ' Well in that case I most certainly do believe Lord' and I took hold of his hand and kissed it.
As this conversation was happening a few of the Pharisees and some of Jesus's disciples had appeared. Jesus embraced me as I thanked him over and over again for the gift of my sight. Then he turned to the gathering crowd and started telling them that he had come so that the blind might see and that those who could see might be blinded. That didnt make much sense to me. Why would he want to make sighted people blind?? One of the Pharisees said to him ' So are we blind then?'
There was clearly something political going on here which I didnt really understand
Jesus said ' If you claimed no capacity for illumination and understanding you would not be guilty, but you claim to have perfect spiritual vision. And yet you can't see what is under your very noses. So unfortunately you remain in sin. You can't see that I am the good shepherd. I look after sheep such as John here and will go to any lengths to protect and save and heal them. I know my sheep. I know my Father and He knows me and we are willing to give everything for our sheep. I am willing to give up my life for them and I shall give them eternal life. But you dont believe it because you are not my sheep'
Half of the crowd was upset by what Jesus was saying and shouted that he was posessed by a demon or was mad. But others pointed at me and said ' But how could a demon open the eyes of a blind man? Look! This man here received his sight today. Surely that must be God's doing'
It all started to get very heated and I was worried that a riot was about to break out - all because I was no longer blind. I wonder why the religious people can't just be glad for me and allow Jesus to do what he has come to do. I certainly believe that God has sent him. Since I met him that day I have heard of lots of people who have been healed by him. And Ive also heard about people who have been changed by his words, his teachings and his lessons on how to live life. You woudl think the Pharisees would be happy that someone was causing people to turn to God and become more devout. But it seems that the more Jesus does and says the less happy they are.
Jesus managed to leave that day just before the crowd turned nasty. I was glad to see him go on his way in safety. I hope he manages to avoid trouble in the future, but somehow I fear he will not. He seems destined to cause joy and upset in equal measure.
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