John 9:1-41 | Göttinger Predigten im Internet

Lent 4 A | March 19. 2023 | John 9:1-41 | Luther H. Thoresen |

Note: All quotes in the sermon are from the English Standard Version.

Suggestion: You might choose Balm in Gilead as the Hymn of the Day. It could be sung after the sermon, or before the sermon today since it is quoted near the end of the sermon. The choice is yours. You might also include Amazing Grace, which is also quoted in the sermon.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Sesame Street anyone? Some of you may recall the children’s TV show that was on public television for many years. It was the show with regular puppet characters like Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, The Count, and Bert & Ernie. Many of the shows were “sponsored” by a letter. Well, we might say that today’s sermon is sponsored by the letters “M” and “W.” Why? In the drama of the story of the man born blind, Jesus spat and Made Mud. There’s the letter “M.” Then, Jesus said to the man, “Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.” Wash – there’s the “W.” In addition, as an immediate follow up to the healing of that man, Jesus says, “We must work the works of the one who sent me.” We, work, and works – there is “W” again. When Jesus touched the man born blind, he was dong the works of the One who sent him, and when we do God’s works, others are touched as well. So, we begin noting that today’s sermon is brought to you by the letters “M” and “W.” (Note: I use a large paper with a letter on it that I could “flip” to make it an “M” or “W” at any time; or this could be done in projection…but without the comic element of switching the letter’s orientation.)

Someone noted that today’s reading has 41 verses, but the healing of the man born blind takes only 2 verses to tell, and the other 39 verses are the drama that surrounds those 2 verses. Along the way there are 6 scenes:

The disciples’ question about “who sinned?” and Jesus’ answer. This is followed by the healing itself.
The questioning of the man born blind by his neighbors.
The questioning of the man by the Pharisees.
The questioning of the man’s parents by the Pharisees.
The man with the Pharisees again, and then driven out.
Jesus finds the man.

In the flow of John’s gospel, Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Festival of Tabernacles (Booths) for much of chapters 7, 8 & 9. I would note two things about the Feast of Tabernacles that provide interesting background. That festival is the setting for this story in chapter 9. As part of the dramatic backdrop for the story, these may enhance our appreciation of the action in the story.

The first is that there were large lampstands in the temple courtyard, each with several flames. These lamps were not as big as the “Olympic Torch” that is lighted in the opening ceremonies in modern times, but they were large. It is my understanding that at night, with the temple on the top of Mount Zion, the lights could be seen from the city below. If people looked toward the city from a distance at night these could also be seen. In a very real way Jerusalem was a city set on a hill, a light in the darkness. The light was to symbolize revelation and the truths of scripture…yet, in this reading, with this backdrop, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.”

The second is this. It is my understanding that during the festival priests poured large amounts of water down the temple steps. There would be enough water to flow across the courtyard and start downhill into the city, as if God’s revelation was to flow out of the Temple, on out of Jerusalem to wash and to quench the thirst of the world. For all who hear the story, the Light of the World and Water for the World are in the background.

The artistry of the Gospel writer we call John is wonderful. Several themes or images are used throughout the story, and several move the drama forward or reflect on it. We do not have time to expand or reflect on all of them in this sermon. However, I would invite you later today to take your bible in hand (paper or electronic), and underline or circle or highlight several sets of words. What ones? These might be:

Light & Darkness
Blight & Sight (or seeing)
Know (I know/we know) & I/we don’t know
Sent or Driven Out
Sin & Sinner

Some of these may demonstrate contrast, others may show continuity. Yes, these are too much for a sermon; and YES I DO suggest that you do this follow up on your own! It will enhance your appreciation of this gospel story, and the artistry of the gospel writer.

But, for us together, today, I would say that the beginning of John’s gospel is also part of the backdrop for us as hearers of today’s story. Yes, chapter 1 is an introduction to the whole gospel story. In poetry and prose themes are touched upon that are expanded in the teachings of Jesus and in the drama of events in the whole storyline. For today, I note about chapter 1:

In the poetry, we hear “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… 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 1:1, 4, 5). Do you hear an echo of Jesus saying in today’s reading, “I am the light of the world”?
In the prose, we hear, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came…to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” (1:6, 7) Does not the man born blind “bear witness” to the light?
Finally for today, we hear again in the poetry, “He was in the world…yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born…of God. (1:10-13) Who is born of God in today’s story? Who receives and believes in Jesus? Who does not recognize Jesus?

In the drama of today’s story, the leaders and others do not recognize Jesus; they do not receive Jesus! They do not see him for who he is. However, the formerly blind man does receive Jesus, does believe in Jesus. In the end, he says, “Lord, I believe” and worships Jesus. We might say that the formerly blind man was born of God; that he had moved from darkness into light.

The whole text and the drama is rich. For today, I highlight a couple of things. In response to the disciples’ question about “who sinned?” Jesus said, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (9:3) James Forbes, a Presbyterian pastor, said, “The man was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. As a matter of fact, that is why all of us were born. All of us were given life that the works of God might be revealed in us.”¹ I agree. Each of us. We give our lives to others so that the works of God might be revealed in you and me. In the next verse, Jesus adds, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day…” (9:4) I read a quote by Samuel Chandler, and Episcopal pastor², “Today the works of God are revealed in acts of mercy.” Agreed. Though Jesus says in this reading, “I am the light of the world,” (9:5), in the dynamic of the whole reading we are close to what we heard in Jesus “Sermon on the Mount.” Two months ago we heard Jesus say, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Mathew 5:14-16)

Works of God…Light of the world…and the formerly blind man is sent to wash in the pool called “Siloam” which means “sent.” In the rest of the reading, the man is “sent” with a message, “I went. I washed. I was blind. Now I see.” By his death and resurrection Jesus became the Light of the World in a way that others might “see” and be sent to share his light.

There is a Japanese tale in a book by Megan McKenna.³ The gist of the story is this,

There was once a man who was born blind, so that is all he knew. As he got older he became confident, arranging things in his home in particular ways so that he could find things and not trip over furniture. In time, he could also walk the streets of the village, and finally could also find his way to neighboring villages, and even over a mountain on a trail to visit friends.

One day he traveled over the mountain to visit several friends. The time was filled with food and song, conversation and tales, drinks and fun. As the sun was setting, he prepared to go home, his host friend encouraged him to take a lamp. At first he protested since he always walked in darkness as a blind person. However, the friend said that the lamp was so that others might see him and not collide into him in the dark. Then he agreed.

He savored the memories of the time with friends as he walked in the night. Suddenly, someone slammed into him head on, throwing him into a small ditch where the lamp went flying. Gathering his wits, the blind man yelled, “What’s wrong with you? Are you blind? Did you not see me and my lamp?” After an awkward silence a voice was heard, “Forgive me, I saw no lantern. Your light must have gone out.” So each went his way in the darkness.

It may seem like we are walking in the darkness on a mountain path. Yet, we must work the works of God while it is day…Jesus and us together! We have the light of Jesus to share with a world that needs it! We have been sent with a message to share and simple acts of mercy and kindness! Can you not find the words?

Perhaps we can use the words from Balm in Gilead.

One verse includes “Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work’s in vain. But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.” Maybe you could say, “I too, have been discouraged, and God’s Spirit has given me new life, revived me again.”
Another verse says, “If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul. You can tell the love of Jesus, and say he died for all.” Maybe your words could be just that simple. “I don’t preach, I don’t pray in public. But I do know Jesus loves each of us, and gave his life for us.”

Perhaps you can use the words from Amazing Grace. We often sing, “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see.” Maybe your words could be about that simple, “Without Jesus, I am lost, but because of Jesus I am found. Without Jesus I can’t see a thing clearly, but because of Jesus I see some things clearly.”

We may know our “blindedness” because of our sin, yet others need whatever light we can carry and share! We may find our way in the dark…because the light of Jesus is for all. Take the Light of the world as you walk in the dark. Take Jesus with you! Amen+

Now, may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen

Pr. Luther H. Thoresen, ELCA, STS, retired

thoresenluther54@gmail.com

¹The quote is from a sermon by Pastor James Forbes preached as part of the Chicago Sunday Evening Club broadcast, aired October 24, 1999. My source is no longer online, but the address was https://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/forbes_4304.htm

² https://day1.org/weekly-broadcast/5d9b820ef71918cdf2002685/there_was_a_man_born_blind