One thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see.

For the third Sunday in a row, our assigned gospel reading featured a rather lengthy account of someone who is transformed by their encounter with Jesus. First, there was the Pharisee named Nicodemus. Then there was the Samaritan woman at the well. And now, there is the man born blind. This man is transformed from a humble blind beggar to a fearless evangelist. By his encounter with Jesus. By his coming to see the one thing that Jesus wants for all of us to see.

The (Formerly) Blind Man
This man, we are told had been blind from birth. In those days, that meant that he didn’t have many opportunities to get anywhere in life. He became one more beggar filling up the streets of Jerusalem. To make it worse, most of the people he encountered would have assumed that he did something wrong to earn this blindness. He or his parents. Someone must have sinned. He would have endured many a whisper and innuendo through the years. Even Jesus’ disciples openly wonder what this man did wrong, or what his parents did wrong, that caused him to be born blind.
I wonder, sometimes, if things have really changed, at least in that respect. At our worst, it seems to me, we still assume that those who succeed in this life are somehow more blessed by God, and those who suffer do so because of their sin. How do we feel when we see a beggar in our own street?

But Jesus sees things differently. He tells his disciples that there is more to life than meets the eye. This particular man was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. God had a plan and purpose for his life that no one could see until Jesus came along. Is that true for you? For me? 
Today’s gospel reading is about much more than physical sight. In this story, the healing of this man’s physical sight is told. Helping this man to physically see, was arguably the easy part. After this man’s physical sight was restored, the man’s neighbours argue about whether this man really was born blind or not. They refuse to see that a miracle had occurred. They’d rather blind themselves to it than have to re-think the world and their place in it. So, they can’t see this miracle because they are unwilling to believe it.

The Pharisees, on the other hand, are less concerned with whether the miracle really happened or not. Their concern is that it happened on the sabbath. They, too, are unable to see this miracle because they are blinded by their rules and regulations.
And then there are the blind man’s parents. They were so afraid of being kicked out of the synagogue for being followers of Jesus that they refused to say what happened to their son. Let him speak for himself, they tell the Pharisees. Their fear has blinded them from seeing and celebrating the miracle they no doubt had been praying for.

Is there anyone in this story who is not blind in some way?
Ironically, by the end of the story, there will be one, and that is the man born blind. He is a remarkable man. But even he must grow in his faith before he can see and believe who Jesus truly is. After his physical sight is restored, he is brought before the Pharisees, who pester him with questions. He shares, openly and honestly, what happened. And when they ask him what he thinks about Jesus, he says to them, “He is a prophet.” You, see? He is beginning to see, but he’s not there yet. 

Later, he is brought before the Pharisees again. They demand that he tell them that Jesus is a sinner. His answer? “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” The Pharisees did not like his answer, of course. And so, they kick him out of the synagogue, just as they threatened to do to his parents. 

This once blind man, who had been physically healed by Jesus, has now been rejected by his family, friends and community. Who is left? Only Jesus.
When Jesus heard that the Pharisees had driven this man out of the synagogue, he returned. We don’t know why Jesus left. But we do know why he returned. To help him see. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” Jesus asked this man upon his return. 

The man replies: “And who is he, sir? Tell me so that I may believe in him.” By his very question, we can see that this man is ready to see and believe. 
This man’s question reveals a humility, an openness, and a faith that we don’t see in anyone else in this story. 

Jesus answers, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” And this man believes what Jesus says. “Lord, I believe,” he says.
And he worshiped Jesus. And, now this man born blind can see it all. He can see it all, because he believes it all. He believes Jesus. What else can he do, then, but worship him? What else can he do but worship the one who has helped him to see?

So, what about us? What does Jesus want us to see and to believe this day? What do we need to remember this day? Where are our blind spots? Where do we need to work for change in our world? What is God’s amazing grace doing in our lives right now? Asking these questions takes us into the heart of today’s gospel reading. 

We are reminded today that if there is one thing we know, it is that though we once were blind, now we see. 

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, and how great the gift. May we see ourselves through the grace-filled eyes of Jesus. And may we help others to see themselves through those same loving eyes. 

To the glory of God. Amen.