March 28th, 2005

CENTER STAGE

 A newborn son! How his parents were overjoyed as they cradled the tiny baby, who himself held the promise of continuing the family line. Someday, because of this baby, they would be holding their grandchildren as well. And until that day, they would savor all the joys that would come from parenting such a fine child.

But then there was a concern. They noticed he was not tracking the little objects they placed before his eyes. Their gaze into his face brought no hoped for sign of visual connection. Slowly and reluctantly they had to accept the conclusion that their son had been born blind. 

How could this be? What sin had they committed that merited such a consequence? Or had the child sinned in the womb? Everyone knew that the only explanation for suffering like this was iniquity of some kind lurking in a corner.

Jesus’ disciples knew this too, so they asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2).

I wonder how many times the boy heard this question whispered behind his back as he grew up. He, too, wanted to know why he had no mental image for a bright, blue sky or what a sycamore tree looked like. Perhaps he wanted to be in on the discussion when his friends talked about a beautiful girl. But what did it matter? What father would arrange a marriage to a blind man whose destiny could only ever be that of a street beggar?

Jesus’ answer must have startled the disciples. “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened that the works of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3). This answer could not be found inside the box of the disciples’ thinking. Did the disciples remember God’s words in Isaiah 55:8, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways?”

Or perhaps the story of Job came to mind. Similar to our blind friend, Job was accused by his friends of some secret sin as an explanation for his great suffering. (We humans do like to make sense of life by offering understandable explanations.) Job himself was baffled. He did not know that he had been set up to be the main character on a stage the size of the universe.

Like Job, the blind man did not know that the story of his blindness was part of a much larger story---a story of how the Son of God had come to give light and sight to a dark and blind world. Truly, it is a story of God’s works on display. For the rest of history, his life would be an illustration of how the Lord longs to give sight to all who recognize their spiritual blindness and come to Him to be made whole.

As the man’s vision is restored, gradually his spiritual eyes come into focus as well. He first refers to his healer as “the man called Jesus.” Then he calls Jesus a prophet. The story climaxes when he declares his belief in the Son of Man and bows in worship. Can’t you just hear the thunderous applause coming from the “great cloud of witnesses” in the heavenly theater? (Hebrews 12:1)

Like the blind man, each of us will most likely meet up with suffering that seems grossly unjust and defies explanation. If we are honest, we will question the goodness of God and the wisdom of His ways. Yet, this is the time to remember that we are standing on an unseen stage, surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses, and the plot we are living is larger than our own autobiography. Isaiah 61:3 reminds us that He desires to make us into “a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” When we allow Him to heal our hearts even when things make no sense, He gives us the privilege of playing a role that results in reflecting His glory for all of eternity.

~Lord, when life makes no sense, give me the grace to embrace the truth that You have purposes and plans beyond my understanding. Help me to remember that my life is on a “bigger” stage, and give me the courage to respond in a way that will bring You glory in the midst of my mystery. Amen.

Written by Linda Baumann

Submitted by Paul Neighbors

© 2005 TeamRFC