Was to be delivered March 2, 2008
(storm day)
by Pastor Eric Henderson
Miss Bottomley ruled the elementary schools I attended. When she clapped her hands and called for quiet during lunch, everyone obeyed. Her strong voice could stop a running child from one end of the hall to the other. I left elementary school with a fear of Miss Bottomley.
About the time I moved to Jr. High School, our family moved from the Mennonite Church to a Baptist Church. And there was Miss Bottomley! And my parents talked with her and I noticed she could laugh and smile and c
My mother was a teacher while Miss Bottomley was principle and highly regarded her as a person and leader. My youngest sister was a student when Miss Bottomley returned to teaching and found her to be a competent and kind teacher- if you behaved.
I began to see Miss Bottomley in new ways. My perspective of her identity was maturing and changing. My understanding of her identity as a person was different the more I knew of her and the more contact I had with her. Regrettably there were probably many who left elementary school who would have only known her or identified her as a cold heartless tyrant gladly punishing any disobedient child.
John's gospel tells the story of individuals and groups encountering Jesus. Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman and her neighbors and others. John 9 describes a blind man, his parents, Pharisees, and others who encounter Jesus.
As you read the story of Jesus notice the various responses to Jesus identity. Is their vision of Jesus identity growing or dying?
John 9
A Man Born Blind Receives Sight
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.' When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam' (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, 'Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?' Some were saying, 'It is he.' Others were saying, 'No, but it is someone like him.' He kept saying, 'I am the man.' But they kept asking him, 'Then how were your eyes opened?' 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.' They said to him, 'Where is he?' He said, 'I do not know.'
The Pharisees Investigate the Healing
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, 'He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.' Some of the Pharisees said, 'This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.' But others said, 'How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?' And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, 'What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.' He said, 'He is a prophet.'
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, 'Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?' His parents answered, 'We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.' His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, 'He is of age; ask him.'
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, 'Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.' He answered, 'I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.' They said to him, 'What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?' He answered them, 'I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?' Then they reviled him, saying, 'You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.' The man answered, 'Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.' They answered him, 'You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?' And they drove him out.
Spiritual Blindness
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' He answered, 'And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.' Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.' He said, 'Lord, I believe.' And he worshipped him. Jesus said, 'I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.' Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, 'Surely we are not blind, are we?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, "We see", your sin remains.
Throughout the story people respond to Jesus' identity. For some there is a change in their own identity after the encounter for others there seems to be little change.
If we were to conduct an interview with the various people or groups who encountered Jesus and ask them who they are the responses might be something like what follows.
Blind man's story
Who are you?
" I was once a blind beggar just minding my own business when a man approached, smeared some mud on my eyes, told me to go wash the mud off and then I could see. Some neighbors wouldn't believe me when I told them, but drug me in front of the Pharisees who grilled me about my identity and the identity of the man who healed me. I didn't know and told them so. Then they started arguing. Some said Jesus was a sinner because he healed me on the Sabbath, others argued that he had to be from God otherwise he couldn't have healed me. When they asked again I said Jesus was a prophet."
"Next the Pharisees grilled my parents and scared them but weren't satisfied. So they gathered again and had me tell the story again. That time I ask them if they wanted to be Jesus disciple. That really got their blood boiling."
"After they kicked me out for my last comment it occurred to me that I was becoming more convinced that Jesus was from God. Soon after that Jesus came to me again and said he was the Son of Man and I believed him and bowed in front of him. I have changed from someone who didn't see to someone who can see, from one who didn't know Jesus to knowing Jesus and believing that he is from God."
Parent's story
Who are you?
"We're scarred, lonely and miserable parents. Since the birth of our blind son, many people were convinced we had committed some terrible sin and that God was punishing us by making our son blind. We tried to convince them that we hadn't committed any sin, but they didn't believe us! We confessed everything we knew to confess, and offered sacrifices and just wanted to be accepted by our neighbors."
"We were ecstatic our son was healed until the Pharisees questioned us and threatened to shun us. We just want to belong, to be treated as normal. We were scared, so we told them what they wanted to hear."
Pharisees story
Who are you?
"We are men who love God and have totally committed our lives to obey the commandments given by God to Moses. We diligently study Torah and help others live pure lives pleasing to God. We are leaders concerned that fellow Jews obey the law to show love for God. Because we have diligently studied God's word, we help people decide what is faithful to God and what is not."
"We are a divided group because of this Jesus. He is creating conflicts among us. We have been accused of being guilty of sin and not understanding God. We are deeply troubled and uncertain how to respond to this Jesus. "
Jesus story according to John
Who are you?
"I am the light of the world. I am sent by God to heal the physically and spiritually blind, sick, lame. I came to my own people, but they did not accept me. But to everyone who receives me, who believes in my name, I give power to become children of God, who are born of God."
"I am light that gives life to people. I help them understand how to live for God not selfishly. I show them how to order their life, so they don't stumble through life, like someone stumbling in the dark."
"I am like bread or a vine that sustains and gives life. If anyone keeps taking in my life and stays closely connected to my teaching they will have life abundant and help others."
"I am like a good shepherd. I know my sheep and they know me. I love them give them food and water for their souls and bodies. I guide them to places that give life. I give my life for them. I am always with them, unless they stray from me and refuse me as a shepherd for their life. I am like a gate for sheep opened by a shepherd. Anyone who comes to God through me will be saved from condemnation and eternal death."
"I am the way the truth and the life. My life is like a map that shows you how God intends for you to live. My spirit will help you know which way to take that leads to abundant life. I am the one who shows you the truth about you, the world and God."
"I am the resurrection and life." (If you want to know more about that, come back next Sunday when Marilyn will reveal Jesus identity more fully.)
Our story
Who are you?
Jesus comes to us and tries to help us know his full identity by using things that help us understand and believe in his life for our life. Jesus comes to us and says I am life, truth, bread, vine, way, light, a shepherd. Some allow their identity to be changed by Jesus. My understanding of Miss Bottomley's identity changed or matured. The blind man's vision or understanding of Jesus matured and changed. I believe many of you have been maturing in your understanding of Jesus and in your relationship with Jesus.
Some, like the parents and Pharisees, say, "no-I don't need or want you."
"I will shape my identity without any help."
"I am my way."
"I am my truth."
"I take care of myself, I will follow who I want and believe what I want."
"No thank you Jesus."
Who are you?
I would like you to respond to that question as a way of encouraging others. You might respond by saying, "I am a spiritually hungry person who finds a relationship with Jesus fills my hunger. I sometimes stumble in my sin and ignorance and find the way of Jesus helps me know how to live and make decisions, like light in a dark place helps you not stumble of things." Or I remember only believing Jesus was the way to get to heaven, but over the years have come to know Jesus as a shepherd that guides me in all areas of life.
Petitcodiac Mennonite Church story
Later in John Jesus said, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
Who are you as a group or church? Or another way to ask the question, what is your group identity?
As a group you claim a desire to practice Christ-like living. Your identity as a group has been shaped by Jesus identity. As a way to encourage one another let's name ways that you are being shepherds, bread, light, life, etc.? You might respond, "we are like bread to people as we help feed people physical food and spiritual food in worship." Or you might respond, "we are like a shepherd that guides people to nourish their souls by teaching people how to have a relationship with Jesus through prayer and Bible study." Or you might respond, "we are spiritual light, as we help people understand and see Jesus by the way we live, by preaching and teaching, or by the way we love one another and other people."
As you encounter Jesus in others, in silent meditation, in Scripture, with the help of the Holy Spirit may your vision of Jesus identity become clearer and clearer. May your identity as one who has seen Jesus grow to a place where you willingly and boldly proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Petitcodiac Mennonite Church