Friday 01 August 2014

Background

The healing of the blind man seems at first glance to bedisconnected from the preceding argument around Jesus' identity (John8) - but this misses something of the point of the dialogue andthe miracle performed.

Firstly, it is significant that Jesus once again invokes the 'Iam' declaration, paralleling God's self- description in Exodus3:14 - "I am who I am". This is the second time Jesus includeswhat are now known as the 'I am sayings' although there are otherfrequent references in chapter 8. Throughout John's Gospel, Jesusdeclares his identity through I am sayings, often coupled with anexample. At the feeding of the 5,000 (John6:1-14), Jesus teaches "I am the bread of life" (John6:35). Here, a blind man receives sight, whilst Jesus declares"I am the light of the world" (John8:12). Later, at the death of Lazarus (John11), Jesus declares "I am the resurrection and the life" (John11:25). For Jesus, his teaching is not just about words - it isalso about relationship, touch, emotion and experience. Jesus takesa holistic approach.

Faced with the blind man at the poolside, Jesus is firstchallenged about the source of sickness (verse 2). The view of theday was that illness was a punishment - and that this man's parentsmust have sinned in the past. Jesus, however, is adamant thatillness and sickness, although not part of God's intention, is nota result of sinfulness (verse 3).

Jesus spits on the ground, makes mud, and puts it on the man'seyes (verse 6). There are no words of confession, no negotiation orexplanation of what is happening - just the simplicity and intimacyof spit, mud and touch. To Western readers, as well as for thecontemporary crowd, this was an unusual and uncomfortable act.

Faced with the pain of human experience and existence today, itcan sometimes be hard to find ways of offering healing intolong-term, chronic, life-altering, conditions. It can be evenharder, therefore, to find simple, intimate, tactile ways to offerhope and healing.

And it can be even harder to receive.

To Ponder

• Would you have rubbed spit and mud in your eyes, if you were inthe position of the blind man?

• Why do you think that Jesus spat on the ground?

• Who do we need to bring light to this week? What simple,tactile action might you be able to offer?