Monday 15 March 2010

Background

The story of a man blind from birth being healed by Jesus is astory that works at different levels, and incorporates a number ofperspectives. In addition to the astonished man receiving the giftof sight, we hear of his bemused parents. For the religiousleaders, the act of healing was an affront to their sense ofdecency in a number of ways. They were disturbed that anyone couldexercise the power to heal another of a congenital illness orimpairment, and outraged that he chose to do so on the Sabbath day- the day of rest.

This act of healing gave rise not only to amazement and gratitude,but also to tensions, arguments and opposition. The surface storyis one of physical healing which brought a dramatic change of lifeand wholeness for the one healed. The deeper meaning points to thechallenges and tensions that are experienced when 'blindness' ischanged to 'seeing'; when darkness is pierced by light; when lackof understanding gives way to insight; when denial of the truth isdissipated by a new awareness of self and God.

At the heart of this story are heard powerful words of testimony -both from the healed man and his parents, and from Jesus. The manwho received the gift of sight replied to the questioning of thereligious leaders by declaring, "One thing I do know, that though Iwas blind, now I see". His parents struggled to accept the dramatichealing of their son, yet were able to testify to his lifelongdisability and to the change they saw in him: beyond that they saidhe must speak for himself (verses 20-22).

Jesus also offered testimony. Before healing the man he declared,"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world", and atthe end of the story Jesus sought the man out in order to speak tohim of the Son of Man, declaring "You have seen him, and the onespeaking with you is he".

To Ponder

Are there people in current news stories who areoffering personal testimony or eyewitness accounts of theirexperience? Who are you willing to believe? Why?

When were you last shaken out of cynicism ordisbelief by a personal testimony that 'rang true' for you?

Which fresh insights in your own awareness ofself, or God, do you most cherish?