The Man Born Blind

00:00:00 Speaker 1: One thing I do know that though I was blind, now I see John nine twenty five. Heavenly Father, we come before you, recognizing our blindness, whether it be of heart, mind, or spirit. We confess our need for your healing touch, for the clarity that comes from seeing through your eyes in a world that often feels shrouded in confusion and despair. Open our eyes to your truth, your beauty, and your grace. Thank you, Father, for the miracles you perform every day, for the unseen ways you work in our lives, turning our darkness into light. May our testimonies, like that of the blind man, be filled with the undeniable evidence of your love and power at work within us. Grant us the humility to all always acknowledge your hand in our lives. Celebrating the gift of spiritual sight you provide. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast, Gospel inspired stories crafted to challenge your faith and awaken your imagination. If this podcast has blessed you so far, share it with a friend or on social media. We want the whole world to hear the hope of Jesus. Jesus passed through the marketplace with his disciples. They asked him questions about the Kingdom of God, spiritual things, and living with faith. They passed a man on the side of the road who had a bowl out in front of him. He sat cross legged begging for spare coins. He raised his head sideways to Jesus and the disciples, hearing them pass, his misty eyes glazed. 00:02:04 Speaker 2: Over gray any alms for a blind man? 00:02:08 Speaker 1: James tilted his head at the man. 00:02:10 Speaker 3: Jesus who seemed to make this man blind? Was it him or his parents? 00:02:17 Speaker 1: His question revealed an abiding fallacy of the time. Suffering was for those who were being punished. The blind man, hearing them full well withdrew in to himself and sat in a curved ball, turning his head away. He pretended not to hear, but he always heard. He had heard it all before. People often passed by him and scoffed. They figured he was blind because God was punishing him somehow. If blindness was a punishment, then that meant he deserved to suffer. And if he deserved to suffer, nobody needed to feel guilty about ignoring him. Jesus stopped and show his head at James. 00:03:01 Speaker 2: Neither, James, you have it all wrong. Everyone, come, come in and listen to me. 00:03:07 Speaker 1: Jesus gathered his followers and gestured to the man. 00:03:10 Speaker 2: This man didn't do anything to deserve blindness, nor is he being punished for the sins of his parents. 00:03:17 Speaker 1: Jesus turned to the man, but still spoke to the disciples. 00:03:21 Speaker 2: Sometimes suffering is a consequence of sin, but very often suffering leads to something greater. I tell you, the glorious work of God may very well lie on the other side of this man's pain. As long as it is day, we must do the work of he who sent me. The night is coming. When that time comes, no one can work. 00:03:49 Speaker 1: Jesus faced the man and looked down on him with compassion. He knew that this man hadn't done anything to deserve his blindness. But where others saw pain, Jesus saw purpose. With his disciples and earshot, he spoke to the man, saying. 00:04:07 Speaker 2: While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 00:04:12 Speaker 1: Jesus knelt on the ground. He spit into the dust in front of his feet. The blind man listened to Jesus carefully. He tried to listen to what was happening, tensing every nerve in his back to understand. His heart pounded in his ears. He knew this was the great healer people had been talking about, Jesus, the son of David. Jesus pushed his fingers into the clay that formed on the ground. He smeared his fingers into the mixture and rubbed it into the man's eye lids until they were completely covered. 00:04:50 Speaker 2: The pool of siloam is only a few paces from here. I assume you know the way. 00:04:55 Speaker 1: The man finally spoke, voice coarse and concerned. 00:04:59 Speaker 2: IJ Yes, I know the way. Go wash your face in the poor. 00:05:11 Speaker 4: Jesus's miracles bring testimony of him giving the blind sight, allowing the lame to walk, and restoring the sick to full health. But much more than releasing people from their physical sufferings, Jesus came to free us from our spiritual cages. He opened up our minds to see things above, strengthened us to walk worthy of our calling, and restored our souls from the pain of sin. Jesus wants to make us completely new, not just in mind and body, but in our souls. This is the Jesus podcast a year of story showcasing the depth of Christ's love and the glory of God's truth. I'm Zach, your host from pray dot com. I'm so glad you're here with us today. Take a moment to follow the podcast as we near the end of our series through the Miracles of the Messiah. Today's story comes from John chapter nine, following the story of a man who is born blind and who has his son ight miraculously restored. 00:06:04 Speaker 1: Simeon stood to his feet with trepidation. He was used to people mocking him. He wondered if the mud on his face was a cruel joke. Nevertheless, he rose anyway. He knew the way to the pool, he had memorized it from his youth. He walked along the familiar short path, pebbles crunching underfoot, holding a hand in front of him, and avoiding the street noises. Simeon recognized the familiar sound of mules whining, the marketplace bustling, people shouting, and children running. He wandered a few hundred yards away from everyone and made it to the pools of Silon. The pools kept cool beneath the shade of small caves. He felt around for the base of the cave, then ducked his head under was chilled and smelled of minerals and moss. He crouched onto the soft sand at the bank of the water. Simeon slowly scooted closer to the water. All was quiet, no sounds distracted him, mixed up the small drips coming from the cave ceiling. He stepped one foot into the water, then another, Then in a quick, impulsive moment, he lunged forward and sank. His whole body in the water was refreshing. Simeon enjoyed the silence of being underwater. He loved feeling weightless, suspended, without a care in the world. Loud noises of the market place and murmurs of onlookers wearied his mind, but under the water there was peace. He remained there for a while, wiping the mud off his eyes. When he rose again, he gasped prayer and ran his hands through his face and air. Just then something stung his eyes. He pulled his hands away, figuring he had poked them somehow, But that wasn't it. His eyes were stinging from the light. Bright and brilliant colors everywhere. The outside light shone into the cave entrance, then bounced off the water's surface in a hundred different directions. He took it all in, the light blue water, the green moss, the purple light painting the wet stones. He looked down and saw a man staring at him from beneath the water. Oh, he shouted and stumbled backwards. He splashed back and laughed. Realized it was his reflection staring back at him. Simeon laughed uncontrollably, sprang water into the air and watching the light sparkle on the droplets. He stared up and all around at the wet rocks and cave. He beheld the complicated colors reflected in the water. He noticed a dark green algae growing below. 00:09:25 Speaker 2: It's it's beautiful. 00:09:28 Speaker 1: Simeon said, with a sigh of relief. He leaned back again, beaming with joy. Simeon waded from the pool on the ground, panting, dizzied and disoriented. The floor was much farther from him than he'd thought. His hands felt huge and his legs looked small. As he swung his legs under him to walk, he saw his feet do the same. He took a step, misjudged the distance and stumbled on the wet, grassy pebbles. He laid on the ground and laughed again. 00:10:09 Speaker 2: Hii I can see, I can see. 00:10:17 Speaker 1: His laughter echoed from the caves. Simeon crawled out of the cave and took in the view. He matched the sounds with the sights. Simeon saw donkeys for the first time and looked at the faces of venders and merchants, shouting what he had known in the darkness he got to behold in the light. Jesus watched Simeon walk out of the cave and take it all in. Of course, Simeon wouldn't know what Jesus looked like. Jesus put a finger to his lips and told the disciples not to say anything. They enjoyed watching Simeon smile from it, then went their way. That afternoon, Simeon walked back through the same market he'd walked all his life. He had a big, childish grin on his face. A bright orange rug hanging from a line flapped in the wind, grazing his face as he passed. Deep red apples fell off a cart and rolled past his feet. He placed his hands on the jagged palm trunk and looked up noticing the shape of the fronds swaying in the wind. Then he smelled a familiar scent, freshly baked bread. He passed by it every day, and now he could see the olive loaves and datecakes. He followed the smell of the baker and greeted him with a smile. 00:11:53 Speaker 2: Hello, dear friend, he. 00:11:55 Speaker 1: Said, without a care in the world. The baker cocked his head to the side and stared at the man for a long while. Simeon noticed how his cheeks flexed and his eyes squinted. He was trying to figure something out. It was the look of curiosity, Simeon. The baker asked, with tilted brows. 00:12:17 Speaker 2: No, that can't be you, It is me. 00:12:20 Speaker 1: Simeon couldn't keep himself from laughing. 00:12:23 Speaker 5: No, Simeon is blind. You just look like him. What kind of trick is this? Are you his brother or something? 00:12:31 Speaker 1: The baker shouted to the shopkeeper across the. 00:12:34 Speaker 5: Way, John, get over here, is this that blind beaker Simeon who lives next door? 00:12:40 Speaker 6: Nah, that man was blind. That man's looking you right in the eyes. 00:12:45 Speaker 1: Simeon couldn't help but chuckle. He knew how absurd the whole thing was. 00:12:51 Speaker 2: No, really, it's me. Look at my face, look at my clothes, Listen to my voice. 00:12:59 Speaker 1: The shopkeeper looked at the baker and then back at Simeon in disbelief. 00:13:04 Speaker 6: That's really you, isn't it. I just gave you some dried figs this morning. 00:13:09 Speaker 2: Love. 00:13:10 Speaker 6: What happened? How'd you get your eyes back? 00:13:13 Speaker 1: Simeon clasped his hands over his chest, like it was almost too much to express. 00:13:19 Speaker 2: This man called Jesus. He made some clay from the mud and rubbed it on my eyes. He told me to wash it in the pool of siloam, so I went. When I came out of the water, I was healed. It's a miracle. 00:13:37 Speaker 1: The woman gawked at him, seeing him meet her exact eye contact. His eyes were light brown with gold along the edges. She looked down the road. 00:13:49 Speaker 6: Where is your miracle man? 00:13:51 Speaker 1: Simeon only shook his head. 00:13:54 Speaker 2: I don't know. He could be right before me, but I wouldn't know him. I couldn't see him when he first came to me. It was a miracle, and I don't understand it any more than you do. I don't know what to do or who to speak with. 00:14:08 Speaker 6: You should talk to the Pharisees at the synagogue. They'll know what to do. 00:14:13 Speaker 1: Both the baker and the shopkeeper escorted Simeon to the synagogue. Simeon's excitement glowed from every pore. He took in every sight with elation. He noticed the intricate archways and the vibrant plants lacing the edge of the courtyard. Joan took Simeon by the arm and brought him before one of the pharisees. 00:14:36 Speaker 6: You recognize this man at all? He says he's been healed from blindness. 00:14:41 Speaker 1: The pharisee squinted at Simeon healed on the Sabbath. How the Pharisees feared the worst. All signs pointed to Jesus of Nazareth. 00:14:53 Speaker 2: I was begging on the streets when a man approached me. His companions caught him. Jesus he he rubbed mud on my eyes and told me to wash them in the pools. I went to the pools, washed the mud, and. 00:15:10 Speaker 1: Then Simeon stretched out his arms and widened his. 00:15:14 Speaker 2: Eyes, and then I could see. 00:15:18 Speaker 1: Simeon smiled, didn't rub off on the Pharisee. He frowned and flared his nostrils in anger. 00:15:26 Speaker 3: You should have knowne to stay away from that man. He's a sinner. He doesn't even respect the Sabbath. 00:15:33 Speaker 1: The baker laughed, thinking that the pharisee might be choking, but when he saw his seriousness, he replied, ha ha ha. 00:15:42 Speaker 5: Wait, how could a man like that be a sinner? He performed a miracle and gave this man his sight back. 00:15:50 Speaker 1: Some of the other religious leaders gathered to be deliberate. Some said that Jesus was a sinner or maybe even had a demon. Others couldn't fathom that such a man could be evil. People clamored amongst themselves. They were divided. Finally, they asked Simeon, what do you have to say. 00:16:13 Speaker 5: Is Jesus a man of God or a liar? 00:16:17 Speaker 2: Why he has to be a prophet? Or perhaps more. 00:16:21 Speaker 3: What do you know about prophets? And how can we even trust you're not lying? Someone sent for this man's parents we are doing a full investigation to see if this is even a matter worth deliberating. 00:16:35 Speaker 1: The lawyers of the synagogue sent for Simeon's parents. They had been estranged from Simeon for quite some time, so this reunion with him was awkward. To say The least. The Pharisees questioned them, asking if he was who he said he was. 00:16:51 Speaker 3: Now confirm for all of us that your son was in fact born. 00:16:56 Speaker 1: Blithe, Simeon's mother glanced at him sideways, then turned back to the pharisee. She cleared her throat and answered. 00:17:05 Speaker 6: That's definitely our son. But we don't want any trouble. We don't know who healed him, or why ask him. He's of age to speak for himself. 00:17:13 Speaker 1: Simeon's parents were clearly afraid of the Jewish leaders. They had already decided that any one who acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah would be excommunicated from the synagogue. The head ruler of the synagogue puffed out his chest and clenched Simeon by the robe. 00:17:31 Speaker 3: Give glory to God and God alone, tell the truth and declare that Jesus is a sinner. 00:17:38 Speaker 1: Simeon was dumbfounded. He pulled away from his grip and sighed, stretching his arms and shaking his head. He exclaimed, I don't know this Jesus. I don't know if he was a sinner, Horace saint, but one. 00:17:54 Speaker 2: Thing I do know is that I was blind and now I can. 00:17:58 Speaker 3: See didn't answer us these How did he open your eyes? What did he do to you? 00:18:06 Speaker 1: Simeon groaned, wondering how these people could be so stubborn. He felt weary of the constant questioning. The best day of his life was turning into an inquisition. 00:18:19 Speaker 2: I've told you already and you haven't listened. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his followers too? 00:18:27 Speaker 3: Last, Pheob, you're one of his rogue disciples. We are disciples of Moses and follow his holy law. We don't even know where this Jesus came from. 00:18:38 Speaker 1: Simeon shook his head and sighed. 00:18:41 Speaker 2: Now, that certainly is remarkable. You don't know where Jesus came from and he could perform this miracle. Maybe he came from above? Have you ever stopped to consider that? Even I know that God doesn't do the bidding of the wicked, He listens to the righteous. How righteous does does Jesus have to be for God to give me back my sight? If Jesus wasn't from God, then where did his power come from? 00:19:08 Speaker 1: The rulers were flustered at Simeon's response. His logic was air tight, but they were too prideful to ben. 00:19:18 Speaker 2: You are steeped and seen from Beth. 00:19:20 Speaker 3: That's why you are blind to begin with. How dare you let us? 00:19:25 Speaker 1: They took Simeon by the arms and carried him down the synagogue steps. They tossed him into the dirt underneath the archways. 00:19:32 Speaker 3: You are hereby banished from this synagogue until you renounce your wicked ways. 00:19:38 Speaker 1: Simeon picked himself up and brushed the dust off his tunic. 00:19:42 Speaker 2: What on earth just happened? 00:19:45 Speaker 1: He shook his head and limped over to a bench. He leaned his head against the wall, wondering what to do next. He was happy to have his sight, but wondered what he would do as a social pariah. Shunned from the unity. He buried his face in his hands, pondering his next step. A stranger sat beside him. The man sighed and patted Simon on the back. 00:20:11 Speaker 2: Rough day. Well, yes and. 00:20:14 Speaker 1: No, he replied with a sigh and grinn. 00:20:18 Speaker 2: My life changed to day. But the rulers of the synagogue they don't seem to care. 00:20:24 Speaker 1: Simon looked at the man. He had a warm smile. Although Simon had only been able to see for a day, this man's face somehow looked familiar. 00:20:35 Speaker 2: Do you believe in the Son of Man? Simon smiled, Sir, I've come to believe in miracles. Tell me who the Son of Man is, and I'll believe in him. You've seen him, In fact, you've heard his voice. 00:20:50 Speaker 1: Jesus smiled with his eyes. 00:20:52 Speaker 2: He's speaking to you right now. 00:20:55 Speaker 1: Simon jumped to his feet in excitement, unsure of how to respond. Now he knew why this man seems so familiar. 00:21:04 Speaker 2: Jesus, Jesus, oh Lord, I believe. 00:21:10 Speaker 1: Simon fell at his feet and worshiped him. 00:21:14 Speaker 2: I have come to this world so that the blind will see, and those who see would become blind. 00:21:22 Speaker 1: Some of the Pharisees, who were spying from a distance emerged. 00:21:26 Speaker 3: What didn't, Jesus? Are you calling us blind? 00:21:30 Speaker 2: You are worse than blind, Jesus replied quickly. If you were simply blind, then you wouldn't be guilty of anything. But you're blind and claim you can see, and not only that, your claiming you can lead others. There's no helping you. Your guilt remains. 00:21:48 Speaker 1: The rebuke from Jesus hung in the air. Simeon, once blind, was able to see the truth. These pharisees, spiritually blind, retreated deeper and deeper into darkness. 00:22:08 Speaker 4: When the disciples passed this man who was born blind, they brought up some questions on the outside that might seem absurd. However, it was a common way of thinking about things back then. Why is this person suffering? Is it because he did something bad? Or was it because his parents did something bad? At its core, it is a question birth from the idea that God punishes people with suffering when they do something wrong. Therefore, to suffer means you send in some way and deserve it. This is a comforting answer because it gives us control. Something bad happens to me because I am bad, So if I am good, good things will happen to me. I remember being a little kid having a stomach ache or a stomach cramp and feeling like God was punishing me somehow. What did I do to deserve this? I would pray, But that's not quite the way it works. The Bible doesn't teach us this. In fact, the Bible goes to great lengths to get us out of that mind. In the Book of Job, all is taken away from him despite him being blameless, and when he does suffer, his friends do the same thing the disciples are doing. They say that Job must be suffering because he or his children did something to deserve it. My sister in law has often struggled with chronic illnesses for her entire life. She offered some insights in the midst of this. She said that Job never finds out the meaning behind his suffering, but his suffering and his story end up being a story of comfort for future comforters. In Job, you see that God does not cause suffering in our lives, but he does in fact redeem it. I've had this own experience in my life as I have struggled with chronic illness. It can be easy for someone who's new to the character of God thinking that God is just going to punish people with suffering. But if God punishes people with suffering, that means he rewards people with bliss. And we know from the Bible, especially in the Book of Acts, that the most righteous among us, the most faithful among us, are not rewarded with bliss, but with blisters. Jesus answered the question honestly. He said, neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. Jesus's reaction to this tells us that we ought to be less interested in the why of suffering and more focused on the what of suffering. Instead of saying, why is this happening? We ought to be more concerned with what is God doing in it? And what is God going to do through it? Suffering is valuable whether Jesus heals or not. This introduces us to a very pivotal concept in our faith. Suffering is valuable whether Jesus heals us or not. Suffering teaches us something, whether we get out of it or not. In tewod Corinthians twelve, Paul explains something profound. You see, after he had asked God over and over and over again for him to remove a certain type of suffering from his life, Jesus responds to Paul by saying, my grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. Says therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Jesus says to his disciples something interesting. He says this in verse four of our passage today. He says, I must work the works of him who sent me. While it is day, the night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. Jesus seems to be suggesting that the focus should not be in wasting time discussing the theology behind suffering, but rather the opportunity that suffering presents because time is limited and time is wasted and trying to explain why things are hard, when the real satisfaction comes from pressing into what is difficult. Luke nine twenty three says this, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow after me. So Jesus acts. He moves to the aid of this man, so the testimony of God can be showcased. So Jesus heals this man. Then the people doubt and wonder why the man was healed in the first place. They're confused. All the Pharisees jump in and begin to question him. They say he's evil for healing on the Sabbath. And then they even bring his parents into the mix, and the parents want nothing to do with it. And then towards the end of our passage in John nine, it says they call the man who was born blind and said to him, give God the glory. This man is a sinner, he answered, and said, whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing. I do know, though, that I was blind, and now I can see. It's profoundly important for us to realize this one thing. Your testimony does not need to be backed with a doctorate in theology. Your testimony doesn't need to include the metaphysical reasoning for why you suffered and sinned for so long. You don't need to explain predestination and how it works into free will or the Greek translation of your life verse. You need to know this one thing. I was blind then Jesus came. Now I can see. This is who I was before Jesus, and this is who I am after Jesus. And now that Jesus has come into my life, here's where I'm going. Paul says this in First Corinthians too. And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit of power, that your faith should not be in wisdom of men, but in the power of God. With all the content you consume, articles you read, podcasts you listen to, and clever sayings you recite, are you relying on the character and the work of Jesus to convince others. People return to this man again, and they keep asking them questions, why did he do this to you? How did he open your eyes? When did this happen? And the man simply responds, I told you already. Do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciple as well? And that's when they were really ticked off. They said that you are his disciple, but we are Moses's disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this fellow, we don't know where he's from. The man answered and said to him, why this is a marvelous thing that you do not know where he is from. Yet he has opened my eyes. Now we know that God does not hear sinners. But if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will. He hears him. Since the world began, it has been unheard and from anyone opened the eyes to the one who is born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. They answered and said him, you're completely born in sins, and you're teaching us. And then they cast him away. Just as Jesus's disciples wanted to explain away suffering, the Pharisees wanted to explain away healing. Suffering is confusing to us because we don't want to believe that bad things can happen to good people, But grace is confusing because we don't want to believe good things can happen to bad people. You see, Jesus flips the theology of karma upside down. Karma says that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. But our lived experience doesn't showcase that, does it. That's not how the world works. Good things happen to bad peace people all the time, and bad things happen to good people all the time. Jesus wants to totally dispel this karma theology, this theology that the more good deeds you do, the more good things you get, and the more bad things you do, the more bad things you get. The reality is suffering and grace are available to everyone, especially the believer. You're going to have high highs of grace and power and prosperity, You're also going to experience low lows of suffering, of heartache, of drama. And what God wants to communicate to us through this man's life and through the entire testimony of scripture is that God's present in it all. He's teaching us something through it all. Notice how this man did not try and convince people that he deserved to be healed. He simply testified that Jesus must come from God because of what he did. Instead of testifying to his own goodness, he allowed the goodness of God to speak for itself. And that's what we're going to do today. Just simply testify to the goodness of Jesus on the highest of peaks and the lowest to valleys.