February 28, 2009 - Relying On Religious Ritual May Keep You Blind

Meditation on John 9

The healing of the man born blind was the sixth sign out of seven recorded in John. These signs were used to point to the divinity of Jesus who was the Messiah. Indeed, an impossible thing happened. Only God could do such a thing. Jesus made clay with His saliva to anoint the eyes of this blind man and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. John gave us the meaning of name of the pool specifically which is "Sent". (v. 7) He went to wash and came back with the ability to see. Later on Jesus looked for Him, and he worshiped Him as the Messiah. Spiritually speaking, God word is teaching us that when we are washed by the water, that is the word of Jesus, we will be made whole.

However, the Pharisees did not and would not accept the implication of this miracle. Their main objection was that Jesus healed this man with an elaborate process on the Sabbath Day which was against their interpretation of the law and regulations. Their path to God was keeping the law with their own rituals while the Bible already mentioned that their hearts were full of wickedness. Therefore Jesus considered them to be spiritually blind and sinful because they did not understand Jesus while maintaining that they were close to God. (v. 40-41)

Today, some of us may act like the Pharisees. We judge others by carefully observing whether they follow our rituals of going to church, tithing and participating in some easy projects once a while. Yet we never want to do anything more than the minimum. Our spiritual eyes are blind to God's power and might. We question anything unusual in the church. Can God do this and that? How come I don't experience that? We have no faith and vision in planning anything unless there is money. Our determination of God's will is solely dependant on income. If others do thing different than our way, we don't like it. And we think that we are better than other Christians.

May God have mercy upon us and may we admit our blindness so we can see.