Lesson from a Blind Man
Have you ever heard a high school coach make this statement to motivate his team, there is no I in TEAM? Usually, the coach is encouraging his team to stop playing individually but merge their talents into a team performance like the sound of a well-organized orchestra. When I read the story of Jesus healing the blind beggar, my mind drifted to playing a team sport in high school. Team sport teaches us valuable lessons that we practice throughout life. A similar lesson is noted when the blind man received his sight in John 9.
At the height of Jesus’ ministry, He and his disciples crossed the path of a blind beggar. Out of curiosity, the disciples wanted to know the root of his blindness by questioning who sinned to cause this blindness. Likewise, we ponder similar thoughts like why bad things often happen to good people or why a loving God allows people to suffer? Yet, Jesus explained that this man was born blind solely for God's purpose.
Jesus answered Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9:3 KJV)
Remember, all teams have both role players and key players. Make no mistakes; the key players get all the publicity and credits when a team wins. Notice who gets to interview with the media after a game. Yet, a good coach knows the value of role players and their significance when winning.
The blind man in this story was a role player. The writer, John, fails to give his name. Yet, with the miracle of seeing, the blind man’s role shifted from beggar to teacher. Because he challenged others, especially the religious leaders, to decide their belief in Jesus as the Messiah.
Therefore, some of the Pharisees said that this man (Jesus) is not of God because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. (John 9:16)
The beggar turned teacher because he forced the religious leaders to decide the identity of Jesus by questioning that I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? (John 9:27)
Such powerful words will unlock our spiritual eyes as we see the true purpose of becoming disciples of Jesus. Discipleship includes joining the Kingdom team and becoming a role player. Like team sport, you will have role players like a designed hitter on a baseball team who sacrifice a fly ball to left field so the 3rd base runner can score the winning run. In football, the offense lineman offers his body to create a hole for the running back to make a touchdown. Role players make a difference in winning or losing. So, the blind man made the difference by separating the faithful followers of Jesus by opening their spiritual eyes with his testimony of seeing. Even Jesus declared, “I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind.” John 9:39 MSG
Believers must use their spiritual eyes to become role players for Kingdom work. For instance, are we blind to our role by thinking more of ourselves because we are not the key players on the Kingdom team? Are we accepting our role in the Kingdom and removing our selfish intent to the will of the Father?
In high school, our basketball team had an essential role player who failed to receive the prestigious recognition of the All-Tournament team after winning the conference championship my senior year. He became distraught and began crying when the key players received their awards. Upon realizing that this disgruntled teammate may destroy the chemistry of the team and our chances of playing in the state tournament, each one who received a certificate immediately ripped it apart. This response signified that team unity was more important than an individual award. As a team, we realized that his sacrifice went unnoticed by the media and those who selected the All-Tournament team, but we knew his value, and our chances of winning would decrease without him. As a role player, he elevated our status as a winning team instead of a winning individual. Likewise, the blind beggar who became a believer opened the eyes of others to accept Jesus as the Messiah and blinded the eyes of some who thought they knew the way. So please refrain from wondering why bad things are happening to good people but look with your spiritual eyes to see the bigger picture of God's glory appearing because of the bad thing that happened.
