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He was loved

Sunday, April 3, 2011

John 9:2
His disciples asked Jesus, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Jesus immediately turned their eyes. Turn your eyes upon God, Jesus said. "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him."

Jesus knew it was the Sabbath. He knew doing work on the Sabbath was an offense against the law. But there was something more to consider: "We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Look at everything, Jesus said ... no, I really mean EVERYTHING to see how it looks with this Light shining on it. The man who was blind couldn't look at all. Couldn't see a thing. Jesus rubbed his eyes with earth and his own saliva, and told him to wash up and see. Seeing Jesus clearly turned out to be far easier for the blind man than for the religious folks.

But isn't the Sabbath precious to God? Isn't observing the Sabbath a command from God? Jesus says, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Is that true of all the law? "The Law was made for man, not man for the Law"?

My eyes glaze over with all the possible angles of inquiry. So Jesus tells me to turn my eyes upon God. What do you see God doing here? What are the works of God for this man on this day?

The no-longer-blind-man isn't confused by the arguments over what has happened: "One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." Of all the participants in this drama, he and Jesus are the ones who seem the most grateful and the most focused on the big Story. This story is about God's creativity, his love, his mercy, and his generosity.

The man could have been bitter about the years of his blindness rather than overjoyed at his newfound sight. He could have refused Jesus' touch on the Sabbath. Even his parents seemed afraid of the religious authorities and, at least in public, refrained from showing their joy.

He didn't turn his back or turn up his nose. Self-pity did not contaminate his life. When Jesus chose to heal him, he received the healing with grace and gratitude. He must have seen God very clearly at that moment. What God was like. Who God was. How well God knew him, and how much, how thoroughly, how specifically, he was loved.

If I look at myself or anything else ... EVERYTHING ... and ask you to show me what you see, Lord, I notice much more than what I see without that prayer. Thank you for over and over showing me your love and mercy and grace and giving, for letting me live in that story and live to tell it.



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