“One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see,”

It is so unfortunate, but not surprising, that truth has lost true meaning in our current culture. With the advent of “fake news”, if stories are repeated long enough, even though they are untrue, are believed.  This speaks to the blindness to Jesus and the news He wants to bring to all of us.  If we would only allow him to give us new eyes to see, in our humility we can say like the blind man in our text, I once was blind, but now I see. 

Brueggemann reminds us that the old managed truth can blind us to the truth that Jesus wants us to see in Him, ourselves and in others. “And now we stand before the new chance of gospel possibility and old managed truth. Old managed truth, like the rule of Sabbath, takes many forms.  It can be the old world of privilege and power and control. It can be the old truth of settled church orthodoxy.  It can be the old mantra of market ideology that reduce life to owning and having and eating.  It can be the old paralysis of privilege according to race, class, or gender. It can be an old image given to you by your mother or your father that has kept you from the freedom and joy of God’s love.”    

When Jesus moves into our lives there are always new possibilities because of the truth he offers, often unexpectedly. “Jesus is an invitation and a chance and a summons to a different way of life.”   

Before we come to Christ, we are blind to him and the life he wants to give us. After we come to him and receive new life, we still have blind spots of old truth that must be removed.  The cataracts of old thinking have to be transformed so we can see clearly; then we can love more dearly the one who gives sight and those he has given us to love, including our enemies. 

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

As the log is removed from our eyes, we can then see clearly to help take the speck out of our brothers’ eyes, so they can see him and others. Then we can all see clearly, love dearly and follow near Him.   

“You are the God who unleashes well-being into the world.  May we see; may we love; may we follow. Amen.” 

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Brueggemann, Walter. A Way Other Than Our Own: Devotions for Lent. Kentucky: Westminster John Know Press, 2017.