Right now, we all would like a big dose of cheap charity, some real bargain-bin blessings. Inflation, devastating storms and fires every week, another war that likely won’t end, cancer affecting every family, politics looking like a bad reality show. We’re all like, God, make this mess go away. Bless us with the easy life. Amen.

And like that blind dude, fix what I need. Fix me, fix my people, fix everything. Amen again. Oh yeah, don’t let us lose a dime or make us go through another economic recession. That cost’s too high. Amen and Amen.

Sorry, but here’s the real talk. God’s not handing out quick fixes like that, not the way we want, nor on our timeline. So yeah, deal with it. Take responsibility for what’s in your control. Back the folks who have the means and power to make those changes. If it’s your passion, chase it. Be proactive in your own health. Cut off the stuff that’s toxic or straight-up wrong. Make lifestyle changes. Adjust people.

Land of the Free

So, Who are you to tell me how to live? You don’t walk in my shoes. You know, this is supposed to be the land of the free. I’m free to do what I want. Just stay out of it. Mind your business.

If only it worked like that. If only we could shrug and ignore everybody whining, blaming the world, blaming God. But life isn’t a solo gig. Picture one of those mobiles hanging over a baby crib — all those little pieces dangling off one string. You touch one, the whole thing shakes. That’s us. Everything we do hits somebody else eventually. Take another look and see how both the good and bad, the positive and negative ripple out. So yeah, we’ve got to learn to see with a second set of eyes — not just what’s right in front of us, but what’s underneath it. It’s second sight.

Same with Jesus stories. The Trouble with Jesus has to be read with that second sight, a reading beyond what you’ve seen before.

On the surface, it’s the same formula every time: somebody sick, disciples saying something inane, Pharisees mad because it’s the Sabbath again, Jesus heals anyway. Boom — another believer. It’s like a Miracle Hallmark Channel. Same plot, different day, but hey, it sells. Why complicate the story line with anything more? Move to the next chapter. Start the story again.

No, go back. Look again. Then flip ahead. Then go back again.

These writers always have layers — talking about what just happened, hinting at what’s coming next. Like in the next chapter, Jesus starts talking about sheep. He says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep and they know me.” (John 10:14)  If so, what did Jesus already know about that blind man? And what did the man learn about him?

Cheap Charity

As said before, it happened as it often did. Jesus’ crew rolls up on this blind guy. They’re surrounded by sick people all the time, so the disciples start playing the blame game. “Who messed up? Him or his parents?” Jesus shuts that down. “Nobody sinned. This is for God’s glory.” (Honestly, kinda sounds like a rough deal. Thanks a lot for that one, God!) Jesus comments there’s not much time left in the day to work, and claims he is “the light of the world.”

With those thoughts spinning in everyone’s head, Jesus spits in the dirt, makes mud, smears it on the guy’s eyes, and tells him to go wash in a nearby pool. Boom. The man comes back seeing. Praise God! Story over, all should be well.

Blindsight

Not so. For the love of God, everybody loses their minds.  First, some of his own neighbors don’t seem to recognize him now that he can see. Then, the Pharisees have their turn at him, grilling him over what happened and getting all bent out of shape whining about it being the Sabbath. He’s been blind ever since he was born, and the religious bureaucrats quibble among themselves if a healing (like that kind of thing happens everyday) is appropriate on a holy day. Then these Temple officials drag in his parents who do their best to stay out of the issue all but disowning their own son. When that doesn’t work, they drag him back a second time for another interrogation.

Now maybe he can see, but he certainly didn’t see what was coming next. The legal mongers want the man to say Jesus is a sinner. He won’t bite but sticks to the facts. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” Refusing to give them what they want, he insists, “If this man were not born from God, he couldn’t do it.” Bam! He gets the boot and is thrown out of the synagogue. This glory ride for God is going nowhere good fast.

Second Sight

But Jesus? He doesn’t lose track of his people. He knows his sheep. The good shepherd finds the man and starts a conversation. And here’s the wild part — the guy had never actually seen Jesus before. He was healed of a lifetime of blindness, but Jesus wasn’t present when the healed man came back from the pool. Jesus talks with him, but the man doesn’t recognize him.

Jesus reveals who he is, the Son of God. And the man finally sees everything — physically and spiritually. With that recognition, believing, now fully seeing, the man worships Jesus, his Shepherd, and knows him for who he is. The one who brought the light of sight to him is the Light of the World.

"I have come to give sight to the blind

and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

John 9:1-41 

Named 2024 Notable Book Award by Southern Christian Writers Conference!

The Trouble with Jesus: Considerations Before You Walk Away by Constance Hastings

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