“Who do you say that I am?” 

Matthew 16: 15

Although these words do not appear in yesterday's Gospel account of the healing of the man born blind (John 9: 1-41), this question is at the heart of it. It is a story about healing, how people react to Jesus, and how they decide who he is. It makes the growing controversy about the identity of Jesus visible. 

As we move further into Lent, we see that many of the miracles and actions of Jesus unsettle people and especially the religious establishment. Their beliefs and ideas are challenged, and they are left floundering, angry, confused and scared. 

Different things are happening for the various protagonists. The Pharisees are disturbed and doubt that Jesus comes from God because he does not keep the Sabbath. Some even say: "For our part, we know this man is a sinner." Many of them are uncomfortable because the actions of Jesus do not fit their "template."  Jesus does not stick to the letter of the law - or at least how they interpret the law: he heals on the Sabbath. Their whole frame of reference is challenged, and implicitly, so is their authority as religious leaders. They are divided among themselves, with some condemning him as a sinner and others saying: “how could a sinner produce signs like this?” 

The man's parents are questioned about his healing but refuse to answer for fear of getting into trouble with the authorities. They know what has happened is miraculous, but they fear what they might lose if they speak publicly for Jesus. Perhaps they fear their safety, reputation, or isolation from their community if they are expelled from the synagogue. They choose silence. 

The blind man initially speaks of Jesus as a prophet and later in the story recognises him as the Son of Man. The man speaks, of his experience, with the authority of someone whose life has been changed. He isn't concerned with why or how but with the more important reality that Jesus put the mud and spittle on his eyes, sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and that he can now see. 

What is it that enables you to say with conviction who Jesus is? And what gets in the way?

Is it what you have been taught, witnessed or experienced? What has Jesus done for you that allows you to know and proclaim that he is the Christ, the anointed One?

Gracious God, 

May I trust what you show me and what you do for me.

You choose to free and heal,

unconstrained by laws or religious protocols. 

May I let go of whatever gets in the way

of my being able to proclaim that you are the Christ.

Amen.