Isaiah 42:14-21; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It’s very hard to comprehend what it’s like to be blind if you are not. We often take for granted these things, things like sight, touch, taste, smell, and hearing. Our five senses are so integral to life that we don’t often think about what it would be like to go without one of them. This is part of what we call “First article gifts” … gifts that God has given to us out of his pure Fatherly goodness.

Yet, this also begs the question, why then are some born blind, or deaf, or without any one of these senses? This is what Jesus’ disciples wondered when they saw a man who was blind from birth. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” John 9:2. The disciples wanted to know that this didn’t happen to just anyone. They wanted to know that there was a reason this man was blind, that he somehow deserved this “punishment.” 

Many people today believe in the idea of Karma, that whatever you do, whether good or evil, will be returned to you. If you generously help someone in need, they believe you should experience that same generosity. If you cheat and steal from others, they say you will likewise be cheated and stollen from. All the actions of our world must be for some specific reason, according to Karma. Of course, it’s not that simple and never truly is. The “good” will often experience pain and suffering while the “evil” will lead comfortable lives, getting away with much.

What the disciples show is that they have their own blindness. They may not be physically blind, but they have a spiritual blindness, just as the Pharisees show. “Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” John 9:40-41. All humanity was born “blind” from birth. We’re spiritually blind to the ways of God, unable to comprehend or see the truth even right in front of us. In sin, we have blinded ourselves to even our own faults and evils. We like to ignore all the ways we commit evil, trying to convince ourselves that we’re “good.” The real answer is that no one is good. No one is innocent to be undeserving of punishment.

Consider now Jesus’ answer to his disciples, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him,” John 9:3. The surprise isn’t that evil is in our world, it’s that good things happen to us who are evil! Jesus chose to display the mighty works of God to this blind man by giving him sight, that others may see the grace of God through him. For all his miracles though, Jesus wasn’t repaid with good, but evil. Jesus was sent to be crucified for our sins, for our evil. He suffered the punishment which we truly deserved. From the cross, though, Jesus opens our eyes. He gives us eyes of faith to see the truth. We see that God has chosen to display his mighty grace in you by granting you salvation through the cross! Give glory to God!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!