The Man Formerly Known as Blind (John 9)

To anyone who actually reads this blog, I apologize for a 5 day break. The last few days were crazy for all sorts of reasons, but things have settled down so on to John 9.

I find John 9 to be a very encouraging passage. The story of the blind man healed by Jesus is a story that reminds us of the fundamental purpose for which we were created. It also gives us hope in our weakness and failings. In Jesus' day, handicaps were considered to be a judgment of God. Both the disciples and the Pharisees reflect that attitude in the passage. If someone were blind or lame or deaf, the assumption was that either that person or their parents had sinned. The "handicap" was the way that God settled scores.

Jesus tells a very different story. In verse 3, Jesus explains that a handicap is not judgment but an opportunity. He tells the disciples that it is in weakness that the strength and power of God is revealed. I find this personally encouraging on 2 levels. First, I find this encouraging in regard to my son. Born with cerebral palsy (albeit a minor case), my son has challenges ahead in his life. I am sure that there are times that he will stand out at different. It hurts me to think that there are times that he might be teased or looked down upon. But it gives me hope to know that his life is a unique vessel where the glory of God might be revealed. What man sees as weakness, God sees as strength.

That is encouraging not only in regard to my son. It is encouraging in regard to myself as well. I am full of weaknesses. Mine may not be as pronounced as blindness or CP, but they are there no matter how deeply hidden I may try to keep them. There are many areas where I do not excel. I tend to view these areas as a curse. But God suggests something different. He suggests that if I look to Him in faith, these areas of weakness can become the very areas where His glory shines through. Most people never get to experience the benefit of weakness because they never confess those weaknesses. They never look to God to be their strength in the "handicaps" that they have.

The story of the formerly blind man is a great reminder that God works to His greatest glory in the places where we are not strong.