Community Presbyterian Church, Charlestown IN -- Message 03/22/2020 SEEING AND NOT SEEING
S E E I N G A N D N O T S E E I N G
“Steve Austin, astronaut. A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology.
We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than
he was before. Better...stronger...faster.”
We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than
he was before. Better...stronger...faster.”
These words began the television show “The Six-Million Dollar Man.” This series ran from 1974 through 1978 and followed the adventures of a secret agent who was rebuilt with prosthetics and electronics after a plane crash. His two new legs allowed him to run up to 60mph and make tremendous jumps. His arm strength was comparable to a bulldozer. And he had an eye that could zoom and focus on objects at a great distance.
The series became so popular that it spawned an endless supply of toys and other merchandise...
everything from lunch boxes to bed sheets. I remember receiving a lot of the action figures as gifts:
Steve Austin, a bad-guy named Maskatron, a rocket car...I had a huge collection! But the Six-Million
Dollar man figure was my favorite. He even had a hole in the back of his head that you could look
through, using the bionic eye, to see things across the room.
everything from lunch boxes to bed sheets. I remember receiving a lot of the action figures as gifts:
Steve Austin, a bad-guy named Maskatron, a rocket car...I had a huge collection! But the Six-Million
Dollar man figure was my favorite. He even had a hole in the back of his head that you could look
through, using the bionic eye, to see things across the room.
What seemed to be science fiction in the 1970s has become reality in the 21st century. In a news item
from “The Times of London,” a headline read: Bionic Eye Restores Sight to the Blind. The Times
reported a bionic eye that restores sight to the blind could be available in the not-so-distant future,
according to scientists behind the technology. The artificial implant was cleared to begin trials on 75
people suffering from blindness. An early version of the prosthetic eye had been fitted to six patients
who were blind.
from “The Times of London,” a headline read: Bionic Eye Restores Sight to the Blind. The Times
reported a bionic eye that restores sight to the blind could be available in the not-so-distant future,
according to scientists behind the technology. The artificial implant was cleared to begin trials on 75
people suffering from blindness. An early version of the prosthetic eye had been fitted to six patients
who were blind.
All of the patients recovered the ability to detect light and motion, to make out large letters, and to distinguish between objects like a cup, a knife and a plate. Some would call this a modern miracle: the ability of the human mind to create a tiny light-sensing device and configure it to an implant that allows the brain to recognize light and motion in a person who previously did not have such ability.
However, this revolutionary bionic-eye technology is nothing compared to what we read in today's Gospel passage. For one man, sensitive electronics and advanced computers were not needed...in fact, they had even been invented yet. No, this man's sight was restored through some dirt from Jerusalem and some saliva from the mouth of the Son of God. Being able to see light and motion was just one benefit of this healing, however. Later, the man would come to recognize the Light – Jesus Christ, who came into the world for all of our good.
In John Chapter 9, Jesus is teaching in the Temple courtyards during the Passover week when he
observed a man who was blind from birth. Notice that Jesus did not see a blind man...Jesus saw a man
born blind. There's a big difference: Jesus didn't see a handicapped person...he saw a person with a
handicap. But the disciples decided that this man is more of a theological issue to be discussed than a
man who needed help. They asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born
blind?” Keep in mind that the man was standing right there within earshot of the disciples. The text tells
us the man was blind, not deaf. He heard what was being said about him.
observed a man who was blind from birth. Notice that Jesus did not see a blind man...Jesus saw a man
born blind. There's a big difference: Jesus didn't see a handicapped person...he saw a person with a
handicap. But the disciples decided that this man is more of a theological issue to be discussed than a
man who needed help. They asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born
blind?” Keep in mind that the man was standing right there within earshot of the disciples. The text tells
us the man was blind, not deaf. He heard what was being said about him.
Jesus only saw a person in need of help...and an opportunity to show God's love, compassion, and power.
He told his disciples, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be
displayed in him.” He reminded them that a time would come when he and they would not be able to
work...to help the blind to see...for the world would grow black. A time would come when darkness
would prevent them from working. But Jesus reassured them that as long as he was on this planet, he was
the Light of the world...and would bear that light to all people who wanted to see it.
He told his disciples, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be
displayed in him.” He reminded them that a time would come when he and they would not be able to
work...to help the blind to see...for the world would grow black. A time would come when darkness
would prevent them from working. But Jesus reassured them that as long as he was on this planet, he was
the Light of the world...and would bear that light to all people who wanted to see it.
Jesus then spat on the ground, formed some mud from the mixture, and placed it on the man's eyes. He
instructed the man to go to a nearby water source to wash off his eyes. The man did as he was told,
washed the mud out of his eyes, and came back...seeing.
instructed the man to go to a nearby water source to wash off his eyes. The man did as he was told,
washed the mud out of his eyes, and came back...seeing.
The man was cured. Not only were his eyes healed, but a second miracle took place as well. The brain of
a person blind from birth lacks the ability to process visual information properly. The initial response to
such a healing tends to be confusion...there's an overload of visual information to the brain. It can take a
long time for such a person to function normally. However, when Jesus healed this man's eyes, he also
gave him the mental ability to understand what he was seeing.
a person blind from birth lacks the ability to process visual information properly. The initial response to
such a healing tends to be confusion...there's an overload of visual information to the brain. It can take a
long time for such a person to function normally. However, when Jesus healed this man's eyes, he also
gave him the mental ability to understand what he was seeing.
News of this miracle spread fast. The neighbors who knew the blind man were confused as to whether or
not this seeing man was the person they remembered begging earlier that morning. Some said it was him.
Others believed there was no way it could be him. He tried to tell them that he was the man they knew as
the blind beggar. He repeated his story to them of how Jesus anointed his eyes with mud, how he washed
in the Pool of Siloam, and how he regained his sight. Unable to understand what was happening...
whether this was truly a miracle or some kind of complex hoax, the man's neighbors took him to the
Pharisees to sort it out.
not this seeing man was the person they remembered begging earlier that morning. Some said it was him.
Others believed there was no way it could be him. He tried to tell them that he was the man they knew as
the blind beggar. He repeated his story to them of how Jesus anointed his eyes with mud, how he washed
in the Pool of Siloam, and how he regained his sight. Unable to understand what was happening...
whether this was truly a miracle or some kind of complex hoax, the man's neighbors took him to the
Pharisees to sort it out.
The Pharisees interrogated the man: What happened? Who did this? The man again related his tale. But
the Pharisees were caught up in the fact that Jesus healed the man on a Sabbath. Apparently, spitting on
the ground, bending over to make mud, and applying it to the man's eyes were considered “work.” No
work was to be done on a Sabbath. And because this Jesus didn't keep the Sabbath, he didn't keep the
Law of Moses – meaning he couldn't have come from God. But some of the Pharisees weren't sure about
that logic. They disputed, saying, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?”
the Pharisees were caught up in the fact that Jesus healed the man on a Sabbath. Apparently, spitting on
the ground, bending over to make mud, and applying it to the man's eyes were considered “work.” No
work was to be done on a Sabbath. And because this Jesus didn't keep the Sabbath, he didn't keep the
Law of Moses – meaning he couldn't have come from God. But some of the Pharisees weren't sure about
that logic. They disputed, saying, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?”
How can a religious leader know if a great sign points to a true or a false prophet? In the case of the blind
man, the Pharisees applied a simple test. If the healing violated God's law, it must not be from God. That
common-sense rule, however, led them to a false conclusion: they relied on an interpretation of the law
from other rabbis, rather than the law itself, to determine what was and was not allowable. In other words,
Jesus disobeyed the human interpretation of that law, not God's law.
man, the Pharisees applied a simple test. If the healing violated God's law, it must not be from God. That
common-sense rule, however, led them to a false conclusion: they relied on an interpretation of the law
from other rabbis, rather than the law itself, to determine what was and was not allowable. In other words,
Jesus disobeyed the human interpretation of that law, not God's law.
The Pharisees were unsure of their judgment on this case. There was division beginning to develop. They
asked the man who now sees for his opinion...and he claimed Jesus was a prophet. Not believing that the
man was born blind, the Pharisees called the man's parents to the Temple to inquire of them about their
son's condition. The parents confirmed that this was their son and that he was born blind, but they
wouldn’t venture a guess as to how he received his sight.
asked the man who now sees for his opinion...and he claimed Jesus was a prophet. Not believing that the
man was born blind, the Pharisees called the man's parents to the Temple to inquire of them about their
son's condition. The parents confirmed that this was their son and that he was born blind, but they
wouldn’t venture a guess as to how he received his sight.
You see, word had gotten out around Jerusalem: anyone who spoke of Jesus as the Messiah would be put
out of the synagogue. Being members of the synagogue brought social status and a sense of community
among the Jews. Anyone excommunicated would most likely lose the comfort of their faith and the
fellowship of their friends. Dismissal from the synagogue would mean being ostracized by the
community and separated from God. Ezra 10:8 suggests that it might also result in forfeiture of one's
possessions: “...by order of the officials and the elders all (of a person's) property should be forfeited,
and (they themselves) banned from the congregation of the exiles.” So the parents said to the religious
leaders, “Ask our son. He's old enough to speak for himself.”
out of the synagogue. Being members of the synagogue brought social status and a sense of community
among the Jews. Anyone excommunicated would most likely lose the comfort of their faith and the
fellowship of their friends. Dismissal from the synagogue would mean being ostracized by the
community and separated from God. Ezra 10:8 suggests that it might also result in forfeiture of one's
possessions: “...by order of the officials and the elders all (of a person's) property should be forfeited,
and (they themselves) banned from the congregation of the exiles.” So the parents said to the religious
leaders, “Ask our son. He's old enough to speak for himself.”
But things turned ugly when the Pharisees asked the man for a third time how Jesus cured him. This
should have been a joyous time for him. He could see. He no longer had to beg. But the religious
leaders wouldn’t accept the truth. They wanted to continue questioning the man, making him go over
his story again and again in an attempt to find a problem with his story. Frustration and exasperation set
in upon the now-seeing man and he exclaimed, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why
do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”
should have been a joyous time for him. He could see. He no longer had to beg. But the religious
leaders wouldn’t accept the truth. They wanted to continue questioning the man, making him go over
his story again and again in an attempt to find a problem with his story. Frustration and exasperation set
in upon the now-seeing man and he exclaimed, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why
do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”
And with that, the Pharisees unloaded on him: “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We
know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from. You
were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And with that, they threw him out of the synagogue.
It's sad really: the man had been treated better when he was blind...at least then, he could go to church.
Now, he's lost fellowship within his community.
know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from. You
were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And with that, they threw him out of the synagogue.
It's sad really: the man had been treated better when he was blind...at least then, he could go to church.
Now, he's lost fellowship within his community.
Jesus heard what happened to the man...being excommunicated from the synagogue. Jesus came to him
and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man with sight was willing: “Who is he that I
might believe in him?” Jesus told him: “You have seen him and he is speaking to you.” The man
answered, “Lord, I believe,” and worshiped Jesus.
and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man with sight was willing: “Who is he that I
might believe in him?” Jesus told him: “You have seen him and he is speaking to you.” The man
answered, “Lord, I believe,” and worshiped Jesus.
By this time, some of the Pharisees arrived where Jesus was talking to the man. Jesus said, “For
judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become
blind.” The Pharisees thought Jesus was talking about them and asked, “Are we blind too?” And Jesus
responded, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt
remains.” They were blind, of course, the Pharisees because they refused to see. Jesus told them that
they would be better off blind, because they would then not be accountable for their sin. They believed
the blind man to be a sinner...their evidence being his affliction. Now Jesus portrayed them as sinners...
the evidence being their refusal to see Jesus, the light of the world.
judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become
blind.” The Pharisees thought Jesus was talking about them and asked, “Are we blind too?” And Jesus
responded, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt
remains.” They were blind, of course, the Pharisees because they refused to see. Jesus told them that
they would be better off blind, because they would then not be accountable for their sin. They believed
the blind man to be a sinner...their evidence being his affliction. Now Jesus portrayed them as sinners...
the evidence being their refusal to see Jesus, the light of the world.
These themes of darkness and light run throughout the first half of John's Gospel:
John 1:4-5 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the
darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things
hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what
is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 1:4-5 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the
darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things
hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what
is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
When I was in high school, I was the photographer for the school's newspaper and yearbook. Sports
photography was my passion. I loved to travel to basketball games, tennis matches, track and field
meets, golf tournaments...just tell me when and I'd be there. Shooting sports pictures could be difficult
back then because of the speed with which the action occurred. It's extremely difficult to capture a crisp,
clear picture when a sprinter is running past you. You can focus on a single point (like a hurdle on the
track), wait for the athlete to hit that point (like when they begin their jump over the hurdle), and hope
you're fast enough to catch the shot. However, in the beginning of my career, I found that I sometimes
missed the point at which I was to shoot. The picture would come out blurry because the focus was not
what it should have been. What does photography have to do with today's lesson?
photography was my passion. I loved to travel to basketball games, tennis matches, track and field
meets, golf tournaments...just tell me when and I'd be there. Shooting sports pictures could be difficult
back then because of the speed with which the action occurred. It's extremely difficult to capture a crisp,
clear picture when a sprinter is running past you. You can focus on a single point (like a hurdle on the
track), wait for the athlete to hit that point (like when they begin their jump over the hurdle), and hope
you're fast enough to catch the shot. However, in the beginning of my career, I found that I sometimes
missed the point at which I was to shoot. The picture would come out blurry because the focus was not
what it should have been. What does photography have to do with today's lesson?
Over the course of this story, the man born blind hit some points that we might have missed because of
the other action happening...the theological debates of the disciples; the curiosity of the neighbors; the
interrogations of the religious leaders. When the man was first asked by his neighbors how his sight was
restored, he answered that the MAN called Jesus had healed him. Later, when the Pharisees were trying
to determine who would do work, like kneading spit and dirt to form mud, on the Sabbath, they asked
the man who he thought Jesus was. The man said Jesus was a PROPHET. In an angry exchange with
the religious leaders, the man later stated his belief that only a MIRACLE WORKER from God could
have given him back his sight. And finally, when the man saw Jesus again, he recognized him as the
SON OF MAN and called Jesus LORD.
the other action happening...the theological debates of the disciples; the curiosity of the neighbors; the
interrogations of the religious leaders. When the man was first asked by his neighbors how his sight was
restored, he answered that the MAN called Jesus had healed him. Later, when the Pharisees were trying
to determine who would do work, like kneading spit and dirt to form mud, on the Sabbath, they asked
the man who he thought Jesus was. The man said Jesus was a PROPHET. In an angry exchange with
the religious leaders, the man later stated his belief that only a MIRACLE WORKER from God could
have given him back his sight. And finally, when the man saw Jesus again, he recognized him as the
SON OF MAN and called Jesus LORD.
This progression is similar to bringing a picture into focus on an old-fashioned camera. As you turn the
wheel, the image becomes more clear. You recognize things you didn't see before. Through the flow of
this tale, the man has received physical sight...but he's also received spiritual sight as well. The man
knew exactly who Jesus was. Jesus is the Light of the world who brought the man out of the darkness
by opening not only his eyes...but his mind and heart as well.
wheel, the image becomes more clear. You recognize things you didn't see before. Through the flow of
this tale, the man has received physical sight...but he's also received spiritual sight as well. The man
knew exactly who Jesus was. Jesus is the Light of the world who brought the man out of the darkness
by opening not only his eyes...but his mind and heart as well.
Contrast this view with that of the Pharisees. These religious leaders thought they saw everything crystal
clear. They knew Jesus was a sinner because sinners do not keep the Sabbath... sinners do work on the
Sabbath. There's no way Jesus could be from God...even less so the Messiah whom they were expecting
at some point. But, Jesus did not rob the Pharisees of their sight – they are blinded by their refusal to see.
In their pride, they assumed they saw clearly and rejected anything counter to their established beliefs.
Jesus did not condemn them, but they were condemned already...because they, unlike the man born blind,
had not believed in the Son of God.
clear. They knew Jesus was a sinner because sinners do not keep the Sabbath... sinners do work on the
Sabbath. There's no way Jesus could be from God...even less so the Messiah whom they were expecting
at some point. But, Jesus did not rob the Pharisees of their sight – they are blinded by their refusal to see.
In their pride, they assumed they saw clearly and rejected anything counter to their established beliefs.
Jesus did not condemn them, but they were condemned already...because they, unlike the man born blind,
had not believed in the Son of God.
Jesus told his disciples earlier in the passage that while it was day (when there is light), there was work
to be done. Night (when there is no light) was coming. He said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the
light of the world.” And with that phrase “as long as...”, Jesus was giving us a clue that he wouldn’t be
around forever. When he was no longer there, darkness would creep back. Jesus was pointing to his
death on the Cross.
to be done. Night (when there is no light) was coming. He said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the
light of the world.” And with that phrase “as long as...”, Jesus was giving us a clue that he wouldn’t be
around forever. When he was no longer there, darkness would creep back. Jesus was pointing to his
death on the Cross.
Although that death was short-lived, Jesus himself was no longer in the world. He relies on us and the
Holy Spirit he has given us to heal those who are blind to God's truth and grace. He relies on us and the
Holy Spirit he has given us to help those who are deaf to hear and understand the Word of God. He
relies on us and the Holy Spirit he has given us to assist those crippled by despair, loneliness, depression,
to enjoy the same love and gift of salvation that we have received.
While it is still light, there is still work to do. Now do you see? Amen.
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