Opportunity for Ministry

John 9:1-5 My daughter and I are on our way to get lunch at one of our favorite hamburger restaurants. Abra is driving. Suddenly she says, “I forgot my box.” I ask her about the box. She tells me that at the traffic light near the restaurant homeless people are there with their signs. She carries a box with money and supplies to give to these people in need. Abra has a big heart for homeless people. I do not know where she got it from. She has never been homeless. She has never been hungry. Why does she have a heart for homeless people to the point that she carries supplies to give to them? In our culture we easily understand when a person has a heart for people who they can identify with because of their own needs. For example, a teenage boy stays in trouble with the law, and he spends time in jail. Someone gives him a break in life, and he grows up to be a man that has a heart for young men in trouble. He develops a nonprofit to help young men in the community. However, there are many people in our society that have harsh feelings for these same young men. They see only the negative in these young men, and they advocate for stiffer penalties. Are these people heartless? Maybe their attitude stems in part, at least, from a lack of understanding about these people and the truth about their situations. Maybe it is because our society passes on a lot of ignorance about people and the circumstances that they face. In this article I will draw upon an experience that Jesus and His disciples encounter found in John 9:1-5. My goal is that we take a closer look at how we view people and that we become more sensitive to the needs of people and less critical of them. Jesus and His disciples are leaving the temple. They are leaving because Jesus has been in discussions and debates with the Jews. The Jews become angry with Jesus because He claims to be from God and He points out errors in their understanding of the Scriptures and their religious beliefs. “Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. As he passed by, He saw a man blind from birth” (John 8:59-9:1, NASB). Who is this man? What do the people believe about this man? Does Jesus share the people’s beliefs? How do the people treat the blind? How does Jesus treat the blind? We will see that this blind man represent people who are powerless, helpless, and dependent upon the goodness of other people. In verse two the disciples ask Jesus a question that gives us insight into the opinion of blind people by the culture. “And His disciples asked Him ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?’” I find this question not so strange because I grew up in a time when people believed that what was said while the baby was still in the womb could have an adverse effect upon the baby. Do the disciples believe that a baby can do something while in the womb that causes him to be born blind? Is there a relationship to this belief and the story of the birth of Jacob and Esau (Gen. 25:21-27)? When we think about what we believe about people we should ask ourselves the questions. What do I believe? Why do I believe what I believe? Where did this belief originate? What I believe, is it true? What is God’s perspective? Let us look at Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question. Jesus’ answer illuminates the fact that Jesus’ view of the man is different from that of the current religious belief. Jesus’ answer also gives us insight as to how God wants us to relate to people in need. First, Jesus clears up the issue of sin being the cause of the man being born blind. “Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him’” (v. 3, NASB). Jesus’ answer raises the question: Are parent always the blame for what is wrong with their children? There are many struggling mothers who work two or three jobs to support their children. Is it the mother’s fault that one of her sons mingle with a rough crowd, become addicted to drugs, and ends up shot to death by a policeman? If your answer is “yes,” explain how it is that this woman’s other son mingles with scholarly students in his school, becomes valedictorian of the class, goes to college, and is now occupying an important position in a major corporation? Regardless of our answer to these questions, Jesus’ answer gives us insight into God’s perspective about the man, and more importantly what He expects us to do about this blind man. No one sinned to cause this man to be born blind. The reason for the man being born blind is not to be our primary concern. Our concern is what God expects us to do about the man. Jesus does not elaborate, but He says that God’s work is to be displayed in the man. ‘“We must work the works of Him who sent me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work’” (v. 4). Did God determine beforehand that this person was to be born blind? Does God cause some people to suffer so that others have an opportunity to see the works of God, come to faith in God, and be saved? People are blaming this man and his parents for his blindness. Jesus wants us to move from blame to ministry. Does it really matter why people are in the predicament that they are in? So, the man used what little money that he had and bought liquor instead of food. Am I to use this as an excuse for not helping the man get food that is necessary for life? Who am I to judge this man? God is a God with grace. Grace means that God gives us an undeserved change to get things right with God, ourselves and other people. God is a God with mercy. God has every reason to punish us; even destroy us, but God holds back His wrath so that we are protected and given another opportunity to make things right. God is a God with compassion. God does not have sympathy. He not only shares our sorrows and griefs. He not only feels bad for us. God reaches out His hands to give us what we need to make things right. God gives us an opportunity to display God’s love for all people. Jesus gives sight to the blind man. The people are confused because they do not understand how a blind man can be made to see. This leads to great controversy about the man. It also leads to discussion and debate about Jesus. Who is Jesus? It also raises the question of what it means theologically to be born blind. What is symbolized in the story in chapter nine? When a person is blind they live in darkness; unable to see. Restoration of sight gives them light and they can see. The symbolism in this account is that all people are born blind. All people are born in darkness. Darkness symbolizes ignorance. In this case, blindness and darkness symbolizes that all people are born in sin, darkness, and ignorance of God. Jesus dies on the cross so that people can be forgiven of sin, have light, and knowledge of God. Jesus dies on the cross because God is not interested in finding blame with people. Rather, Jesus moves from blame to ministry. God expects no less from His ambassadors. Ambassadors represent their government. We are to represent the kingdom of God. Let us not be fault finders when we see the misfortunes of people. Let us look for an opportunity to show forth the love of God.