tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594057.post115607986216395356..comments2009-06-27T12:39:28.332-04:00Comments on The Journey -By "one who seeks His face": chickefitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05943298557937115540noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30594057.post-1156127883426059892006-08-20T22:38:00.000-04:002006-08-20T22:38:00.000-04:00Interpreting the scripture from the underside: Joh...Interpreting the scripture from the underside: John 9<BR/><BR/>While living in Mozambique, I encountered many blind Mozambicans that were somewhat of a depiction of the blind man in John 9. As I observed them the first few weeks, I was somewhat uncomfortable around them because I felt as though I was only useful to them if could give them something. I can still hear their desperate voices “Senora, Senora, dinero por favor, fome fome, Senora, fome.” In english this means “ please give me money, I am hungry.” The cries of the poor in Mozambique were overwhelming at times. I did not know how to deal with their pain, so sometimes I closed my eyes, or I pretended to have deaf ears. But when you’re smacked in the middle of poverty everyday, it is hard to ignore their cries. Though I tried to remain hard, I eventually broke. I cried “Lord what are you doing to me, I can’t take this, there is too much need, I am dying. The Lord convicted about this as he said “how can you say you love God if you can’t love the one that he puts in front of you to love. In myself, I knew that I could not stop for these people, so everyday I asked God to change my heart so that I could stop for his bride. The Lord relieved me of feeling overwhelmed when he revealed to me his love for the one, he told me that I needed to look in the face of one. He told me to love one at a time, hold one at a time, befriend one at a time, and in doing this he would reveal his heart to me for the one. Later along down the line, we were asked to take a passage of scripture and approach it as if we were poor and prepare a message on it. I chose John 9, and it is amazing how God used my experience with the poor to help me to preach on John 9. Here are the main points:<BR/><BR/>In the culture that Jesus lived in: If you were blind or had some kind of physical impairment it was reasoned that the condition had resulted from sin. People perhaps thought that he was rejected from God, hence he is excluded from the community around him.<BR/><BR/>Jesus fulfills the law. He loves God and loves others by stopping for the man and not just by observing religious tradition. Jesus leads his disciples through practical demonstrations. Jesus is inviting his disciples to partnership with what he is doing ( “We” should do the works, not just “I”<BR/><BR/>The way Jesus approaches the healing of the man is messy, not clean. Jesus is willing to get in the dirt in order to heal the marginalized.<BR/><BR/>Jesus finds worth and meaning in a man that is considered meaningless in society. Jesus says, “he is born to bring God Glory.” He moves from the place of insignificance (beggar) to significance. <BR/><BR/>The man is dehumanized by his neighbors and the Pharisees. He is nameless to those around him who see him daily. He is labeled a beggar. (that beggar!) His worth lies in his ability to beg. This hit me really hard in Mozambique because before I came face to face with the poor, they were nameless. They were “the poor, the crippled lady, the blind man.” Once I came face to face with them, I realized that they were human beings that we shared similar human characteristics. (the need to be loved, accepted, protected, etc)<BR/>Once Jesus heals him, he emerges with a voice, but still he is ignored. Even his testimony is not valid. It is quite patronizing that the Pharisees would request the testimony of his parents to prove that he is indeed telling the truth.<BR/><BR/>The man that was once blind becomes the teacher of the Pharisees as he explains that the works that Jesus has done is evidence of Jesus’ divinity. The Pharisees should be schooled in the things of the Kingdom after being in the synagogue all their lives, but instead the one who has spent less time in the synagogue becomes their teacher. <BR/><BR/>The Blind man’s declaration of his encounter with Jesus is simple. (I don’t know how…<BR/> I ‘m blind but now I see) whereas the Pharisees want explanations, and the how’s. Some need to figure everything out intellectually before they believe. The poor in Mozambique showed me the simplicity of receiving the gospel. <BR/><BR/>Though the once blind man is kicked out of the synagogue, Jesus does not forget him. Jesus returns a second time to give him the free gift of salvation. The man does not have to be in the synagogue to worship God. Jesus is not bound to any specific place of worship. The once blind man has church right where he is. <BR/><BR/>Jesus touched him with hands of love by healing him, and then Jesus returned with salvation. Jesus is about restoring the whole person. <BR/><BR/>Application<BR/><BR/>1. I see this passage as a call to be open to the things of the Kingdom. It is not enough to do the ritualistic church events. We need a relationship with God. Our hearts should be constantly open with a cry to see the Kingdom of God come in our lives and the lives of people around us. We need to constantly be in a place of needing God. <BR/>2. We need to ask for eyes to see the marginalized. We need to stop for them and bring them back into our church community. <BR/>3. We are called to minister to the whole person (body, mind and spirit) not just bring the message of salvation, but be active in showing people love.heldtogetherbythefatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00812440636273520712noreply@blogger.com