March 22, 2020
John 9:1, 6b-11 

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth…. 

Jesus spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes,  7  saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.  8  The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”  9  Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”  10  But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”  11  He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.”
Grace, peace and mercy be multiplied to you from God our Father, and the Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

You will hear all of the 9 th Chapter of the Gospel of John in worship today. Yes, it is a long lesson, but the whole story is helpful in how things transpire.

The key for me is the vision of the man born blind, and how his vision becomes clearer throughout this story.

Notice the man’s answer in the verses above. Who is Jesus? The man knows Jesus as the mud maker, the one who told him to go and wash.

That is what he sees. But as the questions and the challenges to his story continue, it becomes clear to the man that Jesus is more than the maker of mud, the one who told him to go and wash.

As the story comes to a close, the man sees Jesus with his own eyes, maybe for the first time. He SEES Jesus as someone who is so much more.

John 9:35b-39
35  … when [Jesus] found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  36  He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.”  37  Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”  38  He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. 

Lord, I believe. Lord, I see.

May our vision be clear and see who Jesus is. Healer, teacher, leader, and Lord.

Do you remember this song?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Turn your eyes, your hearts, your ears, your attention to Jesus.

Hear the good news that only Jesus can give:

  • “I am the resurrection and the Life.”

  • “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

  • “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Let us pray:
Once again, may we use the words of a hymn for our prayer today.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art

High King of Heaven, my victory won
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heav'n's Sun
Heart of my own heart, whate'er befall
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all. Amen.

Be Thou My Vision by Audrey Assad

Be Thou My Vision lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Conexion Media Group, Inc.
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