الأحد السادس من الصوم الكبير، أحد شفاء الأعمي

اعداد وجمع الياس بجاني

العمى عمى القلب وليس عمى البصر

بقلم/الياس بحاني

"جئت إلى هذا العالم للدينونة، حتى يبصر الذين لا يبصرون، ويعمى الذين يبصرون". (يوحنا 09/39)

كم بيننا من أفراد وجماعات هم حقيقة عميان بصيرة، وقليلو إيمان، وخائبو رجاء، في حين أن عيونهم من الناحية الصحية سليمة مئة في المائة، غير إن علتهم تكمن في عمى البصيرة وليس عمى البصر، فهم وإن كانت عيونهم متعافية إلا أنها تحجب عن عقولهم ووجدانهم وقلوبهم المحبة فيعشون في ظلام دامس بعيدين عن الله.

الأعمى ابن طيما الشحاذ الذي هو موضوع مقالتنا نذكره اليوم في كنائسنا المارونية ونسمي الأحد السادس هذا من الصوم الكبير باسم عجيبة شفائه، (أحد شفاء الأعمى).

يعلمنا الكتاب المقدس أن ابن طيما ولد أعمى ولم يكن يعرف الفرق بين النور والظلام، إلا أنه كان متنوراً في قلبه وضميره وإيمانه، وقوى وعنيد وثابت في رجائه. هذه العجيبة وردت في إنجيل القديس يوحنا 09(/01-41)، وفي إنجيل القدّيس مرقس (10/46-52)، وفي إنجيل القديس متى (20/29-34)

العجيبة كما وردت في إنجيل القدّيس مرقس(10/46-52): ووَصَلُوا إِلى أَرِيحا. وبَيْنَمَا يَسُوعُ خَارِجٌ مِنْ أَرِيحا، هُوَ وتَلامِيذُهُ وجَمْعٌ غَفِير، كَانَ بَرْطِيمَا، أَي ٱبْنُ طِيمَا، وهُوَ شَحَّاذٌ أَعْمَى، جَالِسًا عَلَى جَانِبِ الطَّريق. فلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَنَّهُ يَسُوعُ النَّاصِرِيّ، بَدَأَ يَصْرُخُ ويَقُول: «يَا يَسُوعُ ٱبْنَ دَاوُدَ ٱرْحَمْنِي!».فَٱنْتَهَرَهُ أُنَاسٌ كَثِيرُونَ لِيَسْكُت، إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَزْدَادُ صُرَاخًا: «يَا ٱبْنَ دَاوُدَ ٱرْحَمْنِي!».فوَقَفَ يَسُوعُ وقَال: «أُدْعُوه!». فَدَعَوا الأَعْمَى قَائِلِين لَهُ: «ثِقْ وٱنْهَضْ! إِنَّهُ يَدْعُوك». فطَرَحَ الأَعْمَى رِدَاءَهُ، ووَثَبَ وجَاءَ إِلى يَسُوع. فقَالَ لَهُ يَسُوع: «مَاذَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ أَصْنَعَ لَكَ؟». قالَ لَهُ الأَعْمَى: «رَابُّونِي، أَنْ أُبْصِر!». فقَالَ لَهُ يَسُوع: «إِذْهَبْ! إِيْمَانُكَ خَلَّصَكَ». ولِلْوَقْتِ عَادَ يُبْصِر. ورَاحَ يَتْبَعُ يَسُوعَ في الطَّرِيق".

يعطينا انجيل القديس يوحنا (09/08-34) المزيد من التفاصيل التي تبين لنا الإضطهاد والإرهاب اللذين تعرض لهما الأعمى بعد شفائه من أجل أن ينكر ما حصل: "

"فتساءل الجيران والذين عرفوه شحاذا من قبل: أما هو الذي كان يقعد ليستعطي؟ وقال غيرهم: هذا هو. وقال آخرون: لا، بل يشبهه. وكان الرجل نفسه يقول: أنا هو! فقالوا له: وكيف انفتحت عيناك؟ فأجاب: هذا الذي اسمه يسوع جبل طينا ووضعه على عيني وقال لي: إذهب واغتسل في بركة سلوام. فذهبت واغتسلت، فأبصرت. فقالوا له: أين هو؟ قال: لا أعرف. فأخذوا الرجل الذي كان أعمى إلى الفريسيين، وكان اليوم الذي جبل فيه يسوع الطين وفتح عيني الأعمى يوم سبت. فسأل الفريسيون الرجل كيف أبصر، فأجابهم: وضع ذاك الرجل طينا على عيني، فلما غسلتهما أبصرت. فقال بعض الفريسيين: ما هذا الرجل من الله، لأنه لا يراعي السبت. وقال آخرون: كيف يقدر رجل خاطئ أن يعمل مثل هذه الآيات؟ فوقع الخلاف بينهم. وقالوا أيضا للأعمى: أنت تقول إنه فتح عينيك، فما رأيك فيه؟ فأجاب: إنه نبي! فما صدق اليهود أن الرجل كان أعمى فأبصر، فاستدعوا والديه وسألوهما: أهذا هو ابنكما الذي ولد أعمى كما تقولان؟ فكيف يبصر الآن؟ فأجاب والداه: نحن نعرف أن هذا ابننا، وأنه ولد أعمى. أما كيف يبصر الآن، فلا نعلم، ولا نعرف من فتح عينيه. إسألوه وهو يجيبكم عن نفسه، لأنه بلغ سن الرشد. قال والداه هذا لخوفهما من اليهود، لأن هؤلاء اتفقوا على أن يطردوا من المجمع كل من يعترف بأن يسوع هو المسيح. فلذلك قال والداه: إسألوه لأنه بلغ سن الرشد.

وعاد الفريسيون فدعوا الرجل الذي كان أعمى وقالوا له: مجد الله! نحن نعرف أن هذا الرجل خاطئ. فأجاب: أنا لا أعرف إن كان خاطئا، ولكني أعرف أني كنت أعمى والآن أبصر. فقالوا له: ماذا عمل لك؟ وكيف فتح عينيك؟ أجابهم: قلت لكم وما سمعتم لي، فلماذا تريدون أن تسمعوا مرة ثانية؟ أتريدون أنتم أيضا أن تصيروا من تلاميذه؟ فشتموه وقالوا له: أنت تلميذه، أما نحن فتلاميذ موسى. نحن نعرف أن الله كلم موسى، أما هذا فلا نعرف من أين هو. فأجابهم الرجل: عجبا كيف يفتح عيني ولا تعرفون من أين هو! نحن نعلم أن الله لا يستجيب للخاطئين، بل لمن يخافه ويعمل بمشيئته. وما سمع أحد يوما أن إنسانا فتح عيني مولود أعمى. ولولا أن هذا الرجل من الله، لما قدر أن يعمل شيئا. فقالوا له: أتعلمنا وأنت كلك مولود في الخطيئة؟ وطردوه من المجمع"

رغم أن ٱبْنُ طِيمَا كان أعمى وحاسة النظر عنده تالفة ومعطلة، غير أنه ومن خلال إيمانه وثقته بالله أدرك بعقله وقلبه أنه في حال ذهب إلى المسيح وطلب منه الشفاء فبقدرته أن يشفيه ويعيد له نعمة النظر التي حرم منهما منذ ولادته.

عندما اقترب من المسيح تمرد ورفض التقيد بتعليمات وتحذيرات الذين حاولوا منعه من تحقيق غايته فلم يأبه ولم يرتد ورفع صوته عالياً ومدوياً معلناً أن المسيح هو المخلص وأنه قادر على إعادة نظره إن رغب بذلك، وطلب من المسيح أن يشفيه فكان له ما أراد.

لم ييأس ولم يُحبط ولم يقبل بوضعية العاجز غير القادر على رؤية طريق الخلاص والسير عليها. عرّف قدرة وألوهية المسيح ولجأ إليه طالباً الرحمة والنعمة فحصل عليهما ومن ثم تبعه وتتلمذ له. رفض الإذعان لهرطقات الكتبة والفريسيين وبعناد الأبطال لم يُبدل ولم يغير كلمة واحدة عما قاله عن الأعجوبة.

اتُهم بالخيانة والعمالة للغريب إلا أنه تمسك بالحقيقة وشهد لها غير مبالي بما سيوقعه عليه رجال الدين اليهود من تحريم ونبذ وعقاب ومضايقات. مشى الطريق لأنه كان في النور وهم ضلوا لأنهم عميان بصر وبصيرة وقليلي إيمان. ولو نظرنا اليوم حولنا في زمننا الحالي نجد أن الحال لم يتغير حيث أن جماعات المؤمنين يتعرضون للمضايقات والإضطهاد والذل والأذى الجسدي في معظم بلدان العالم إلا أنهم يقاومون بعناد متكلين على الله تماماً كما كان حال ابن طيما.

ما أحوجنا اليوم كلبنانيين مقيمين ومغتربين أن نقتدي بمثال هذا الأعمى المؤمن فنسير بقوة وعناد وإيمان وثبات على طريق الخلاص ونطلب من الله نعمة النور الإيماني لينير دروبنا وعقولنا وينجينا من شر عبادة مقتنيات الأرض الفانية وأن لا يدخلنا في فخاخ الشرور والتجارب الإبليسية.

من المحزن أن دفة سفينة وطننا الأم لبنان يمسك بها ويتحكم بحركتها رعاة وقادة وسياسيين ومسؤولين عميان بصر وبصير وقد أوقعوه بسبب قلة إيمانهم وخور رجائهم في آفات الفوضى والاضطرابات والحروب وزرعوا بين أبنائه بذور الفتنة وثقافة الموت .

يا رب نور عقولنا لندرك أنك محبة، وابعد عنا ظلمة الخطيئة ونجنا من التجارب.

*الكاتب معلق سياسي وناشط لبناني اغترابي

*عنوان الكاتب الألكتروني

phoenicia@hotmail.com

قراءات أحد شفاء الأعمي وشرح لمعاني وعبر العجيبة

(إنجيل القدّيس مرقس10/46-52)

ووَصَلُوا إِلى أَرِيحا. وبَيْنَمَا يَسُوعُ خَارِجٌ مِنْ أَرِيحا، هُوَ وتَلامِيذُهُ وجَمْعٌ غَفِير، كَانَ بَرْطِيمَا، أَي ٱبْنُ طِيمَا، وهُوَ شَحَّاذٌ أَعْمَى، جَالِسًا عَلَى جَانِبِ الطَّريق. فلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَنَّهُ يَسُوعُ النَّاصِرِيّ، بَدَأَ يَصْرُخُ ويَقُول: «يَا يَسُوعُ ٱبْنَ دَاوُدَ ٱرْحَمْنِي!».فَٱنْتَهَرَهُ أُنَاسٌ كَثِيرُونَ لِيَسْكُت، إِلاَّ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَزْدَادُ صُرَاخًا: «يَا ٱبْنَ دَاوُدَ ٱرْحَمْنِي!».فوَقَفَ يَسُوعُ وقَال: «أُدْعُوه!». فَدَعَوا الأَعْمَى قَائِلِين لَهُ: «ثِقْ وٱنْهَضْ! إِنَّهُ يَدْعُوك». فطَرَحَ الأَعْمَى رِدَاءَهُ، ووَثَبَ وجَاءَ إِلى يَسُوع. فقَالَ لَهُ يَسُوع: «مَاذَا تُرِيدُ أَنْ أَصْنَعَ لَكَ؟». قالَ لَهُ الأَعْمَى: «رَابُّونِي، أَنْ أُبْصِر!». فقَالَ لَهُ يَسُوع: «إِذْهَبْ! إِيْمَانُكَ خَلَّصَكَ». ولِلْوَقْتِ عَادَ يُبْصِر. ورَاحَ يَتْبَعُ يَسُوعَ في الطَّرِيق.

الأناجيل الثلاثة التي تحكي شفاء الأعمي
2-القراءة (إنجيل يوحنا9 /1-41)

يسوع يشفي الأعمى

وبينما هو في الطريق، رأى أعمى منذ مولده. فسأله تلاميذه: يا معلم، من أخطأ؟ أهذا الرجل أم والداه، حتى ولد أعمى؟ فأجاب يسوع: لا هذا الرجل أخطأ ولا والداه. ولكنه ولد أعمى حتى تظهر قدرة الله وهي تعمل فيه. علينا، ما دام النهار، أن نعمل أعمال الذي أرسلني. فمتى جاء الليل لا يقدر أحد أن يعمل. أنا نور العالم، ما دمت في العالم. قال هذا وبصق في التراب، وجبل من ريقه طينا ووضعه على عيني الأعمى إذهب واغتسل في بركة سلوام (أي الرسول). فذهب واغتسل، فأبصر. فتساءل الجيران والذين عرفوه شحاذا من قبل: أما هو الذي كان يقعد لـيستعطـي؟ وقال غيرهم: هذا هو. وقال آخرون: لا، بل يشبهه. وكان الرجل نفسه يقول: أنا هو! فقالوا له: وكيف انفتحت عيناك؟ فأجاب: هذا الذي اسمه يسوع جبل طينا ووضعه على عيني وقال لي: إذهب واغتسل في بركة سلوام. فذهبت واغتسلت، فأبصرت. فقالوا له: أين هو؟ قال: لا أعرف. فأخذوا الرجل الذي كان أعمى إلى الفريسيـين، وكان اليوم الذي جبل فيه يسوع الطين وفتح عيني الأعمى يوم سبت. فسأل الفريسيون الرجل كيف أبصر، فأجابهم: وضع ذاك الرجل طينا على عيني، فلما غسلتهما أبصرت. فقال بعض الفريسيـين: ما هذا الرجل من الله، لأنه لا يراعي السبت. وقال آخرون: كيف يقدر رجل خاطـئ أن يعمل مثل هذه الآيات؟ فوقع الخلاف بـينهم. وقالوا أيضا للأعمى: أنت تقول إنه فتح عينيك، فما رأيك فيه؟ فأجاب: إنه نبـي! فما صدق اليهود أن الرجل كان أعمى فأبصر، فاستدعوا والديه وسألوهما: أهذا هو ابنكما الذي ولد أعمى كما تقولان؟ فكيف يبصر الآن؟ فأجاب والداه: نحن نعرف أن هذا ابننا، وأنه ولد أعمى. أما كيف يبصر الآن، فلا نعلم، ولا نعرف من فتح عينيه. إسألوه وهو يجيبكم عن نفسه، لأنه بلغ سن الرشد. قال والداه هذا لخوفهما من اليهود، لأن هؤلاء اتفقوا على أن يطردوا من المجمع كل من يعترف بأن يسوع هو المسيح. فلذلك قال والداه: إسألوه لأنه بلغ سن الرشد.

وعاد الفريسيون فدعوا الرجل الذي كان أعمى وقالوا له: مجد الله! نحن نعرف أن هذا الرجل خاطـئ. فأجاب: أنا لا أعرف إن كان خاطئا، ولكني أعرف أني كنت أعمى والآن أبصر. فقالوا له: ماذا عمل لك؟ وكيف فتح عينيك؟ أجابهم: قلت لكم وما سمعتم لي، فلماذا تريدون أن تسمعوا مرة ثانـية؟ أتريدون أنتم أيضا أن تصيروا من تلاميذه؟ فشتموه وقالوا له: أنت تلميذه، أما نحن فتلاميذ موسى. نحن نعرف أن الله كلم موسى، أما هذا فلا نعرف من أين هو. فأجابهم الرجل: عجبا كيف يفتح عيني ولا تعرفون من أين هو! نحن نعلم أن الله لا يستجيب للخاطئين، بل لمن يخافه ويعمل بمشيئته. وما سمع أحد يوما أن إنسانا فتح عيني مولود أعمى. ولولا أن هذا الرجل من الله، لما قدر أن يعمل شيئا. فقالوا له: أتعلمنا وأنت كلك مولود في الخطيئة؟ وطردوه من المجمع. فسمع يسوع أنهم طردوه، فقال له عندما لقـيه: أتؤمن أنت بابن الإنسان؟ أجاب: ومن هو، يا سيدي، فأومن به! فقال له يسوع: أنت رأيته، وهو الذي يكلمك! قال: آمنت، يا سيدي! وسجد له. فقال يسوع: جئت إلى هذا العالم للدينونة، حتى يبصر الذين لا يبصرون، ويعمى الذين يبصرون. فسمعه بعض الحاضرين من الفريسيـين، فقالوا له: أعميان نحن أيضا؟ أجابهم يسوع: لو كنتم عميانا، لما كان عليكم خطيئة. ولكن ما دمتم تقولون إننا نبصر، فخطيئتكم باقـية.

القراءة: (متى 20/29-34)

يسوع يشفي أعميـين

وبينما هم خارجون من أريحا، تبعت يسوع جموع كبـيرة. وسمع أعميان جالسان على جانب الطريق أن يسوع يمر من هناك، فأخذا يصيحان: ارحمنا يا سيد، يا ابن داود! فانتهرتهما الجموع ليسكتا. لكنهما صاحا بصوت أعلى: ارحمنا، يا سيد، يا ابن داود! فوقف يسوع وناداهما وقال لهما: ماذا تريدان أن أعمل لكما؟ أجابا: أن تفتح أعيننا، يا سيد! فأشفق يسوع عليهما ولمس أعينهما، فأبصرا في الحال وتبعاه.

رسالة القدّيس بولس الثانية إلى أهل قورنتس10/1-7

دفاع بولس عن نفسه

أنا بولس أطلب إليكم بوداعة المسيح وحلمه، أنا المتواضع في حضرتكم والجريء عليكم عن بعد، راجيا أن لا تدفعوني وأنا عندكم إلى تلك الجرأة التي أرى أن أعامل بها الذين يظنون أننا نسلك سبيل الجسد. نعم، إننا نحيا في الجسد، ولكننا لا نجاهد جهاد الجسد. فما سلاح جهادنا جسدي، بل إلهي قادر على هدم الحصون: نهدم الجدل الباطل وكل عقبة ترتفع لتحجب معرفة الله، ونأسر كل فكر ونخضعه لطاعة المسيح. ونحن مستعدون أن نعاقب كل معصية متى أصبحت طاعتكم كاملة. واجهوا حقائق الأمور. من اعتقد أنه للمسيح، فليتذكر أنه بمقدار ما هو للمسيح، كذلك نحن أيضا للمسيح. ولا أخجل إن بالغت بعض المبالغة في الافتخار بسلطاننا الذي وهبه الرب لنا لبنيانكم لا لخرابكم. فأنا لا أريد أن أظهر كأني أحاول التهويل عليكم برسائلي. فيقول أحدكم: رسائل بولس قاسية عنيفة، ولكنه متى حضر بنفسه، كان شخصا ضعيفا وكلامه سخيفا. فليعلم مثل هذا القائل أن ما نكتبه في رسائلنا ونحن غائبون نفعله ونحن حاضرون. نحن لا نجرؤ على أن نساوي أنفسنا أو نتشبه ببعض الذين يعظمون قدرهم، فما أغباهم! يقيسون أنفسهم على أنفسهم، ويقابلون أنفسهم بأنفسهم. أما نحن، فلا نفتخر بما يتعدى حدود عملنا، بل نقتصر في ذلك على ما قسم الله لنا من حدود بلغنا بها إليكم. فنحن لا ندعي أكثر مما لنا، كما لو كنا ما بلغنا إليكم، لأننا بلغنا إليكم حقا ومعنا بشارة المسيح.

ولا نتعدى تلك الحدود فنفتخر بأعمال غيرنا، ولكن نرجو أن يزداد إيمانكم فيتسع مجال العمل بينكم في الحدود التي لنا، حتى نحمل البشارة إلى أبعد من بلادكم، فلا نفتخر بما أنجزه غيرنا في حدود عمله. فالكتاب يقول: من أراد أن يفتخر، فليفتخر بالرب، لأن من يمدحه الرب هو المقبول عنده، لا من يمدح نفسه.

حول الرِّسالة

يعلّمنا مار بولس بأنّنا تعلّمنا أو اكتسبنا الوداعة من المسيح الّذي يحيا فينا. في هذه الرسالة، يردّ بولس على التهمة الموجّهة إليه: "في الحضرة ذليل ... وفي الغيبة متجاسر" أي أنّه يضعف أمام خصمه بينما يتجاسر في غيبته، عن طريق رسائله وهو يردد التهمة ليرد ّعليها. لقد فهمت الجماعة محبّته ووداعته على أنّها ضعف. أمّا هو ففي محبته ووداعته تشبّه بالمسيح، وتصرّف معهم بوداعة بل حتّى كذليل وذلك لحبه لهم ولخوفه على مشاعرهم. أمّا في غيابه، ولخوفه عليهم من الذئاب الخاطفة، كان وبقي قويًّا، يعمل لا بحسب الجسد بل بحسب الروح، وأسلحته روحيّة لا ماديّة

صلاة

ربَّنا، أنر عيوننا كما أنرت عيني الأعمى، فنرى وجه قيامتك ونبصر جمال رأفتك ونهتدي بأنوار محبتك، ونعرفك ونسير طريقك، طريق الجلجلة، ونصل معك إلى القيامة، رغم كل ما يدور حولنا من أصوات تحاول إسكاتنا، وإسكات صوتك فينا. إرحمنا، كما رحمت برتيماوس وإبن طيما وغيرهما من الذين شفيتهم وحننت عليهم، حيث نمجِدك وأباك وروحك القدوس إلى الأبد، آمين .

شرح للأعجوبة من اعداد الأب فرنسوا نصر

تحتفل الكنيسة اليوم من زمن الصوم الكبير بشفاء الأعمى برتيماوس، وقد ذُكر أيضاً في انجيل القديس متى 20/29-43 وفي انجيل القديس لوقا 18/35-43 .

هذه الأعجوبة هي الثانية لشفاء أعمى بحسب الإنجيليّ مرقص. فالأولى تّمت في بيت صيدا (مرقص 8/22-26) قبل أن يشهد القدّيس بطرس لحقيقة يسوع، والنبوءة الأولى للسيّد المسيح عن موته وقيامته.

أمّا الثانية فتمّت بعد النبوءة الثالثة للسيد المسيح عن موته وقيامته. وهذا الشفاء هو الأخير الذي أجراه المسيح قبل دخوله المسيحاني إلى مدينة أورشليم.

يوضح لنا النص الإنجيلي أن برتيماوس كان أعمى وشحاذ، "جالس على جانب الطريق" يستعطي خارج أريحا من جمهور الحجاج الحاجين إلى مدينة أورشليم لقضاء عيد الفصح. إنَّ ذكر مدينة أريحا يُظهر أهمية هذا الموقع للذاهبين إلى قضاء الفصح في المدينة المقدسة فهي تُعتبر كمحطة أساسية للبلوغ إلى أورشليم علماً أنها ذُكرت في بشارة القديسين متى ولوقا.

هذا الأعمى سمع بأن المسيح ماراً بين "جمع كبير" لا بل شعر بحضوره، فآمن بأنه المسيح إذ أخذ يصيح: "يا يسوع يا ابن داود ارحمني".

إنها صرخة الإيمان والرجاء لأن المسيح هو القادر على منحه الغفران والخلاص، والنعمة والرحمة. نعم لقد آمن برتيماوس بيسوع جاهراً إيمانه بكل قواه وأنه هو المسيح المنتظر، هو المخلص الوحيد القادر أن يعطيه النّور والبصر. هذا الصياح ما هو إلاّ تسبيقٌ لهتافات الجموع عندما دخل المسيح أورشليم كملكٍ ظافر: "هوشعنا ! تبارك الآتي باسم الرب! تباركت المملكة الآتية مملكة أبينا داود! هوشعنا في العلى (مرقص 11/9-10).

نلاحظ من خلال النص أن الكثير من الناس انتهره لربما لأن ساعة المسيح لم تأتي بعد كما صنع المسيح مع القديس بطرس عندما شهد لمسيحانيته (مرقص 8/30)، أو أن لم يُعجب الناس الأعمى هذا اللقب للمسيح، لقب إبن داود فهو يعني المسيح المنتظر ببُعده الوطني والسياسي الذي يتناقض مع روح رسالة المسيح المسيحانية والخلاصية.

لكن الأعمى لم يعبأ بالجمع فراح يصرخ ثانيةً ومشدداً في الصياح: "رحماك يا ابن داود". فلقد عرف المسيح في جوهر طبيعته، خلافاً للجمع الكثير الذي كان يرافقه. ولقد انفتح قلبه وعقله على المسيح وآمن بأنه معلّمه وسيّده قادر أن يمنحه البصر والنّور: "رابوني أن أبصر".

أما موقف المسيح فكان الإستجابة لهذا الإيمان الحيّ الذي يحمله هذا الأعمى الشحاذ والفقير: "إذهب إيمانك خلّصك" (مرقص 10/25).

لقد آمن الأعمى برتيماوس بالنور الذي يمنحه المسيح: "أنا نور العالم الذي يتبعني لا يمشي في الظلام" (يوحنا 8/12)، وآمن بحقيقة هذا المعلم الإلهي وقوة نور المحبة: ("فيه كانت الحياة وحياته كانت نور الناس ("يوحنا 1/9). إذاً نرى أن الأعمى برتيماوس نال قوة الخلاص، والرحمة الإلهية بفضل ايمانه وبُعد فكره وبساطة حياته. رأى في المسيح الإبن المتجسد، مخلص العالم، المسيح إبن داود ونور العالم.

إن مغذى هذه الأعجوبة هذه الأعجوبة لا يتوقف على شفاء الأعمى فحسب، إنما يرتكز على أهمية إتباع يسوع المسيح إلى أورشليم على مثال الأعمى برتيماوس الذي لم يكتفِي بإعادة يسوع البصر إليه، إنما: "(تبع يسوع في الطريق" (مرقص 10/52). هذا الإتباع ليس عرضياً أو لأغراض مادية، إنما هو الإلتزام الفعلي في مدرسة يسوع، والتتلمُذ له والقبول على مثاله، طريق الألم والجلجلة والموت، ومن ثم القيامة.

هذا هو هدف الإنجيلي مرقص في رواية حدث أعجوبة شفاء الأعمى برتيماوس: يدعونا لنقتدي به والدخول في سرّ آلامه وموته الخلاصية وهو الذي قال: إن ابن الإنسان لم يأتٍ ليُخدم بل ليَخدم جماعة الناس" (مرقص10ظ45).

إن كنيستنا المارونية تضع هذا الإنجيل في مسيرة هذا الصوم المبارك لتهيئنا للدخول في عيش سرّ آلام ربّنا يسوع المسيح الخلاصية ولفهم حقائق تعالميمه المحيية، ولندرك أهميتها في مسيرة حياتنا ونبصر جوهرها فنكون على مثال معلّمنا يسوع المسيح الذي أحبنا حتى الموت موت الصليب.

فيا ربّ ندعوك بأن تقوّي إيماننا وتنير دربنا فينجلي ظلام حياتنا بذلك نصل إلى فرح دائم معك ومع أبيك وروحك القدّوس. أمين.

شرح آخر للأعجوبة

إنجيل اليوم يظهر أنّ الأعمى الحقيقي ليس من فقد النظر بالعين لأن هذا الأعمى، رغم انه فقد النظر بعينيه، إلا أنّه يبصر بقلبه وعقله وفكره وما قوله ليسوع : "يا ابن الله"، في وسط الجموع، إلا تأكيداً على أنّ قلبه وفكره كانا مستنيرين ومبصرين. العمى الحقيقي إذاً هو العمى الداخلي أي العمى عن الحقيقة الّتي أضحت البشرية بأمس الحاجة لمعرفتها.

"يا يسوع ابن الله الحي ارحمني"، فالرحمة البشرية جيّدة ولكن الرحمة البشرية هي عطف وحنان إلى حين أمّا الرحمة الإلهية فهي تُدخل المرء في الرحم الروحي لتلده ثانية معافًى، متمتعاً بمواهب الروح القدس السبع. صوت قلب الأعمى يصرخ في حين أنّ صوت العالم يريد إسكاته. لكنّ إصراره وإيمانه جعلا صوته أعلى من صراخ العالم، فمن هو في العالم وليس من العالم يكون صوته صوت الحق، الصوت المدوّي الّذي لا يقف بوجهه ضجيج الألوف المؤلّفَة. دهش يسوع من إيمان الأعمى فسأله: "ماذا تريد أن أصنع لك؟" كان جواب أعمى العينين: "أن أُبصر... " فالرب هو نور الأنوار وهذا النور هو الوحيد الذي يمكنه أن يعطي الأنوار نورها. النور هو عطيَة السيد لمن يطلبه كما نرى ذلك في نص إنجيل تلميذي عماوس حين تفتّح بصرهما وعرفاه من كسر الخبز.

طلب أن يبصر الطريق ليسير مع الطريق وفي الطريق وبالطريق إلى نهاية الطريق، طريق الحق والحياة لأنه، أي يسوع، هو وحده الطريق والحق والحياة.

في الطريق إلى أورشليم، يدرك كل منا عماه تجاه سرّ يسوع وكل من يتبع خطى المعلِّم دون استعداد يبقى أعمى وكلّ من يجلس ولا يطلب ما يكمِّل وجوده يبقى على طريق الآلام، دون أن يتمكن من مواكبة يسوع إلى القيامة، فالمهم هنا هو أن لا تجعل الظلام عادة لا نسعى بعدها إلى النور .

يسوع يسأل الأعمى ويسألنا: "ماذا تريدون أن أفعل لكم؟" يسوع يمر باستمرار بحياتنا ولكنه يبقى غير مرئي لمن لا يرون فيه معنى لوجودهم وحياتهم، إنه لا يزال يدعو كل واحد إلى الخروج من الظلمة والعالم الفاسد ليسير معه.

الأعمى مُنع من الصراخ ليس لأن صوته مزعج بل ليبق على حاله يعيش تحت رحمة وفضلة هؤلاء. فليس مطلب الفقير أن نعطيه فضلتنا ولكن أن نجعل له حصة في حياتنا.

إن كلاً من الفقير والمريض والمضطهد يجهد لأن أن يجد ذاته وأن يعي أنه بشر كباقي البشر وأن له حقٌ أن يحيا وواجبٌ أن يأمل. فعلينا أن نجد وسيلة ليؤمن بنفسه رزقه ورزق غيره وأن لا نكتفي بتركنا له أموالاً نأخذها من حقيبتنا، وإنما يترتب علينا أن نشاركه ألمه وحزنه كما فرحه وأن يشاركنا في ما يخصّنا، على حد قول المثل الصيني : "لا تطعمه سمكاً بل علِّمه اصطياد السمك" فبهذا تقدم حقيقة حبنا له .

إن معجزة فتح عيني المولود أعمى، هي من المعجزات الخارقة، فهذا الإنسان كان أعمى منذ ولادته، والسيد المسيح بمعجزته هذه اخترق الطبيعة كلها، لأنه عندما تفل على الأرض وصنع من التفل طيناً، وطلى بالطين عيني الأعمى، وأرسله إلى بركة سلوام ليغتسل فيها، وبعد أن اغتسل أتى بصيراً، أراد يسوع المسيح أن يؤكد للجموع بأنه قادر على عملية خلق أو عملية خلقة تصحيحية، وهنا ينقلنا التفل الذي أصبح طيناً إلى سفر التكوين، وكيف خلق الله الإنسان إذ جبله من الطين. فالعودة إلى يوم الخلقة هو العودة إلى قدرة الخالق على كل شيء.

أما سؤال الرسل من أخطأ هذا أم أبواه حتى وُلد أعمى ؟ فله جذور وخلفيات، أولها : أن الخطيئة التي دخلت إلى حياة الإنسان أدخلت معها معاني العقاب والألم والموت. من هنا فكّر الرسل أن ولادته مرتبطة بالخطيئة، وهذا كان في مفهوم الناس أيام السيد المسيح. أما الجواب فكان لا هذا أخطأ ولا أبواه، لكن لتظهر أعمال الله فيه. والسيد المسيح قال عن نفسه ما دمت في العالم فأنا نور العالم، فهو يعطي نوراً لكل الناس خاصة عميان البصر والبصيرة.

Sixth Sunday of Great Lent: Sunday of the Man who was Blind

The Healing of the blind
By: Elias Bejjani
John 09:5: "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world".
We become blind not when our two eyes do not function any more and lose our vision. No, not at all, this is a physical disability that affects only our earthly body and not our Godly soul. We can overcome this physical blindness and go on with our lives, while our spiritual blindness makes us lose our eternal life and end in hell.
We actually become blind when we can not see the right and righteous tracks in life, and when we do not walk in their paths.
We actually become blind when we fail to obey God's commandments, negate His sacrifice on the cross that broke our slavery bondage from the original sin, and when we refuse to abandon and tame the instincts' of our human nature, and when we stubbornly resist after falling into the evil's temptation to rise to the Godly nature in which we were baptized with water and the holy spirit.
Meanwhile the actual blindness is not in the eyes that can not see because of physical ailments, but in the hearts that are hardened, in the consciences that are numbed and in the spirits that are defiled with sin.
Ephesians 4:29: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear"

When we know heart, mind and soul that God Himself, is LOVE, and when we practice, honour and feel LOVE in every word we utter and in every conduct we perform, we shall never be blind in our hearts, conscience and faith, even though when our eyes cease to perform.

In its spiritual essence and core, what does love mean and encompass? Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians (13/01-07), answers this question: " "If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing.  If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.  Love is patient and is kind; love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,  doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;  doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails"

In every community, there are individuals from all walks of life who are spiritually blind, lacking faith, have no hope, and live in dim darkness because they have distanced themselves from Almighty God and His Gospel, although their eyes are physically perfectly functional and healthy. They did not seek God's help and did not repent and ask for forgiveness, although they know that God is always waiting eerily for them to defeat the evil, get out his temptations and come to Him.
On the sixth Lenten Sunday, our Maronite Catholic Church cites and recalls with great piety Jesus' healing miracle of the blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus. This amazing miracle that took place in Jerusalem near the Pool of Siloam is documented in three gospels; Mark 10/46-52, John 9/1-41, Matthew 20/:29-34.
Maronites in Lebanon and all over the world, like each and very faithful Christian strongly believe that Jesus is the holy and blessed light through which believers can see God's paths of righteousness. There is no doubt that without Jesus' light, evil darkness will prevails in peoples' hearts, souls and minds. Without Jesus' presence in our lives we definitely will preys to all kinds of evil temptations.
The Miracle: Mark 10/46-52: " They came to Jericho. As he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, “Jesus, you son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him, that he should be quiet, but he cried out much more, “You son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still, and said, “Call him. ”They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!” He, casting away his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabboni, that I may see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
The son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar who was born to two blind parents truly believed in Jesus. His heart, mind and spirit were all enlightened with faith and hope. Because of his strong faith he knew deep inside who actually Jesus was, and stubbornly headed towards him asking for a Godly cure. He rebelled against all those opportunist and hypocrites who out of curiosity and not faith came to see who is Jesus. He refused to listen to them when they rebuked him and tried hardly to keep him away from Jesus. He loudly witnessed for the truth and forced his way among the crowd and threw himself on Jesus' feet asking Him to open his blind eyes. Jesus was fascinated by his faith, hailed his perseverance and gave him what he asked for. He opened his eyes.
John's Gospel gives us more details about what has happened with Bartimaeus after the healing miracle of his blindness. We can see in the below verses that after his healing he and his parents were exposed to intimidation, fear, threats, and terror, but he refused to succumb or to lie, He held verbatim to all the course details of the miracle, bravely witnessed for the truth and loudly proclaimed his strong belief that Jesus who cured him was The Son Of God. His faith made him strong, fearless and courageous. The Holy Spirit came to his rescue and spoke through him.
John 9/13-12:  "As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been born blind. 2 His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parents' sin?” Jesus answered, “His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents' sins. He is blind so that God's power might be seen at work in him.  As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me; night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.” After he said this, Jesus spat on the ground and made some mud with the spittle; he rubbed the mud on the man's eyes  and told him, “Go and wash your face in the Pool of Siloam.” (This name means “Sent.”) So the man went, washed his face, and came back seeing.  His neighbors, then, and the people who had seen him begging before this, asked, “Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “He is the one,” but others said, “No he isn't; he just looks like him.” So the man himself said, “I am the man.” “How is it that you can now see?” they asked him. He answered, “The man called Jesus made some mud, rubbed it on my eyes, and told me to go to Siloam and wash my face. So I went, and as soon as I washed, I could see.” “Where is he?” they asked.“I don't know,” he answered.
Sadly our contemporary world hails atheism, brags about secularism and persecutes those who have faith in God and believe in Him. Where ever we live, there are opportunist and hypocrites like some of the conceited crowd that initially rebuked Bartimaeus, and tried with humiliation to keep him away from Jesus, but the moment Jesus called on him they changed their attitude and let him go through. Meanwhile believers all over the world suffer on the hands of ruthless oppressors, and rulers and men of authority like the Pharisees who refused to witness for the truth.
But despite of all the dim spiritual darkness, thanks God, there are still too many meek believers like Bartimaeus who hold to their faith no matters what the obstacles or hurdles are.
Colossians 03:12: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience"
Lord, enlighten our minds and hearts with your light and open our eyes to realize that You are a loving and merciful father.
Lord Help us to take Bartimaeus as a faith role model in our life.
Lord help us to defeat all kinds of sins that take us away from Your light, and deliver us all from evil temptations.
In conclusion, let us never blind ourselves from knowing where is the light and who is the light: “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.” (John 09/39)
Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/.
Face Book address https://www.facebook.com/elias.y.bejjani
Tweeter address https://twitter.com/phoeniciaelias

Sixth Sunday of Great Lent: Sunday of the Man who was Blind

Second Letter to the Corinthians 10,1-7.
I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold towards you when I am away! I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards. Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete. Look at what is before your eyes. If you are confident that you belong to Christ, remind yourself of this, that just as you belong to Christ, so also do we.

The Maronite Church
Today the Maronite church remembers the healing of the blind man miracle and dwells on its lessons that Jesus meant to deliver. The miracle is mentioned in the bible in three places as shown below. The blind man believed in Jesus, knew who he was and stubbornly headed to him asking for a Godly cure. Jesus was fascinated by the man's faith and hailed his perseverance and gave him what he asked for, He opened his eyes. The man followed Jesus and witnessed for the truth. We believers are convinced that Jesus is the light of this world and without him darkness will prevail. He said: "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”. On this holy Sunday we ask Jesus to make us see his light and that His light enlightens our life, fills our hearts as well as our souls and purifies our thinking from all evil inclinations.

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
John 9/1-41: " As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 9:2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
9:3 Jesus answered, “Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. 9:4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 9:6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, 9:7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing. 9:8 The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?” 9:9 Others were saying, “It is he.” Still others were saying, “He looks like him.”
He said, “I am he.” 9:10 They therefore were asking him, “How were your eyes opened?”
9:11 He answered, “A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.’ So I went away and washed, and I received sight.”
9:12 Then they asked him, “Where is he?”
He said, “I don’t know.”
9:13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. 9:14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 9:15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.”
9:16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them. 9:17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”
9:18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight, 9:19 and asked them, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”
9:20 His parents answered them, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 9:21 but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.” 9:22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 9:23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.”
9:24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”
9:25 He therefore answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
9:26 They said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
9:27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his disciples, do you?”
9:28 They insulted him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 9:29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.”
9:30 The man answered them, “How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 9:31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.* 9:32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind. 9:33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
9:34 They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” They threw him out.
9:35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of God?”
9:36 He answered, “Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?”
9:37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.”
9:38 He said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshiped him.
9:39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”
9:40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
9:41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 10,46-52.
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians
10:1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 10:2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, 10:5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; 10:6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full. 10:7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also we are Christ’s. 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed, 10:9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters. 10:10 For, “His letters,” they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.” 10:11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present. 10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. 10:13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you. 10:14 For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ, 10:15 not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence, 10:16 so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done. 10:17 But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”* 10:18 For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

Explanation of the Miracle
By Gary DeLashmutt
Introduction
In this miniseries on the miracles of Jesus in John's gospel, we come now to the sixth miracle—in which Jesus heals a man born blind.
The Setting
This miracle took place in Jerusalem, near the Pool of Siloam. Read 9:1,2. The disciples ask this question because it reflected rabbinic theology. The rabbis wrongly extrapolated the general principle that sickness is a result of human rebellion against God (the Fall) to a rigid casuistic system which attributed each and every sickness to specific sins. In congenital cases like this one, some rabbis argued that the cause was pre-natal sin by the fetus; others argued that the cause was the mother's sin while pregnant.1
Read 9:3. Jesus rejects this explanation, and explains instead—not that God caused this sickness—but that God's sovereign purpose included both permitting this man's sickness and effecting his healing.
The Miracle
Read 9:4-7. Why did Jesus heal the man in this way, instead of in his usual way (instantaneous upon speaking the word)? The best explanation is that he was again provoking a controversy with the Pharisee's concerning their Sabbath laws. 9:14,16 tell us that Jesus healed the man on a Sabbath. As we have seen earlier in this series, rabbinic teaching perverted this humane Old Testament provision into a straight-jacket catalogue of Blue Laws. In healing this man on the Sabbath, Jesus violated four of their rules: plowing (spittle rolling on the dirt), kneading (making the clay), anointing (putting clay on the man's eyes), and of course healing (illegal unless a life-threatening emergency).2 Jesus hated the way man-made religion elevated ritual observance over human need, and never hesitated to break its rules. Once again, his actions precipitate a conflict over his identity . . .
The “Sign”
But there is more going on here than a spectacular healing miracle that doubles as a protest against unbiblical Blue Laws. Like all of the miracles in John, this miracle not only helped a real person by meeting his real physical need (blindness). It was also a "sign" (sumeion)—an "attesting miracle," meaning that its ultimate significance is not in the miracle itself, but in what it reveals symbolically about Jesus' unique ability to meet humanity's spiritual needs (Jn. 20:31). In other words, this "sign" is a picture of the salvation that Jesus offers to the world, including you and me. John makes the specific meaning of this miracle clear.
John is careful to tell us that Jesus performs this miracle “having said these words” (9:6). What words? The words of 9:5—“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” The miracle follows the claim in order to validate it. 9:5 echoes Jesus’ claim in 8:12 (read), spoken shortly after the Feast of Tabernacles which lit huge lamps at the Temple to commemorate the pillar of fire in the wilderness—signifying God’s presence and guidance. Jesus is claiming to be the sole source (“I and I alone”) of spiritual enlightenment to a spiritually blind humanity (contra pantheism: “We already have the divine light; we’re just ignorant of this”). In other words, Jesus' unique ability to restore physical sight to a congenitally blind man both illustrates and validates his claim to be the only One who can provide spiritual revelation and understanding to a spiritually blind humanity.
But although Jesus graciously grants all of us access to his spiritual light, this does not automatically enlighten us. Jn. 8:12 tells us it is our response to this light that determines its effect on our lives. Like the sun that softens butter but hardens mud, so Jesus is the light who has radically different effect on our lives depending on how we respond to him. Light received results in more sight; light rejected (exposes and) results in greater blindness. The rest of chapter 9 illustrates this principle positively in the man and negatively in the Pharisees. As I read the narrative, look for this (read 9:8-41) . . .
Light rejected results in greater blindness: The Pharisees
This healing was unique in Israel’s history, and the Old Testament prophets predicted that this kind of healing would herald the Messiah (cf. Isa. 29:18; 35:5; 42:7). As leaders of the synagogue, the Pharisees had a responsibility to investigate such claims carefully and fairly for the spiritual welfare of the people. But this is not a fair appraisal. They were unwilling to re-examine their Sabbath or and their view of Jesus. Instead, they expose and increase their spiritual blindness by suppressing the light.
First, they try to claim that the man wasn't healed (9:18a): “You were never really blind.”
When his parents testify that he was in fact blind from birth (9:18b-23), they posit another explanation (implied from 9:24): “Someone else other than Jesus must have healed you.”
When the man reiterates his testimony (9:25-27a), they revile him (9:27b-29): “You're too ignorant to know what you're talking about.”
When that doesn't intimidate the man into withdrawing his testimony (9:30-33), they get rid of him (9:34): “You’re a big-time pre-natal sinner—we excommunicate you!”3
To the very end, they insist they see clearly, but Jesus disagrees (9:40,41). Claiming to see, they have become spiritually blind, and they are morally culpable for their own blindness.
This passage teaches us an important lesson about the relationship between faith and evidence. We often think that if God gives us enough of the right kind of evidence, our faith will follow naturally and inevitably. But this passage clearly disagrees. Evidence is important (contra BLIND FAITH), but it is not the final and decisive issue. Both parties got the same abundance of evidence—yet they responded in totally different ways. Why? Because the main obstacle to faith in Jesus is not insufficient evidence, but rather unwillingness to bow to God.
When it comes to the God of the Bible and Jesus Christ, no one is completely neutral in his perspective. We all have a bias—a “grid” through which we interpret the evidence. If you are biased against bowing to God, you will interpret the evidence accordingly and find it (however irrationally) unpersuasive. If you are biased toward bowing to God, you will find the evidence sufficient.
This bias is not something culturally or sociologically determined; it is something you choose, something you can change, and therefore something for which you are morally responsible. That’s why Jesus says Jn. 7:17 (read). We would reverse the order of his statement (rephrase), but his order is correct. If God exists, we should be willing in principle to bow to him and submit our lives to him. It is immoral not to choose this bias, and our unwillingness to do so will both expose our blindness and increase it.

Another approach in the reading the lessons of the Miracle
http://www.washingtonubf.org/BibleMaterials/John2002/John9a_msg.html
“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”
In the previous passage we learned that we have to hold on to Jesus’ teachings to become his true disciples and then we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. In the first part of chapter 9, Jesus heals a man born blind. Through this event Jesus declares that he is the light of the world. Jesus found the work of God in the man born blind. He reveals that we can do the work of God as long as it is day. This means that night is coming when no one can work. We have a limited life span to work for God. Jesus dispelled his disciples’ fatalistic view of life by healing this man born blind. Let’s find the work of God in our life. May God give us a bright view of life through this passage. I pray that we may serve the work of God while we are young and powerful.

PART I TO DISPLAY THE WORK OF GOD (1-5)
Look at verse 1. "As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth." What did the disciples do when they saw this man? Look at verse 2. “His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind.’” When the disciples saw the man, many questions arose in their minds. This man was blind before he was born. (1,2) The disciples' question, "Who sinned this man or his parents." is very fatalistic. Hebrew people thought that blindness came as a result of someone's sin. The Old Testament suggests that parent's sins result in the suffering of their children.(Ex. 20:5,34;7) The disciples wanted to know whose sin was the cause of his misery. Their thinking structure was based on cause and effect. When something went wrong, people used to find someone to blame. Who is the cause of all these troubles? If they could not find any answer, either they blame themselves or feel miserable. When we listened to the life testimonies, most people blamed their parents for the cause of their problems. They said, “Who sinned? My parents sinned. My father’s abusive life style was the cause of all my problems. My parents’ divorce was the source of all my problems.” This kind of view of life causes people to suffer endlessly. They cannot find the meaning of life and become unforgiving and live in sorrow and despair. Job’s three friends suggested that all of Job’s miseries were caused by his sin. Our fundamental question is “Why do men suffer? Why do many tragedies happen? Why did God allow 9-11 happen? Who is fault for my endless suffering?” Many say, “I got an accident because I sinned before God. God is punishing my children due to my sins.” This kind of fatalistic view of life causes us to become a child of sorrow and bitterness. Fatalism causes men to become a prisoner of darkness and negative thinking. Many people think, “My life is a God’s mistake. I am here by an accident.” Jesus’ disciples became very sorrowful when they saw the blind man's fatalistic elements of life.
How did Jesus answer their question? Look at verse 3. " 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened that the work of God might be displayed in his life.'" Jesus did not blame this man or his parents for his blindness but found the work of God. Jesus said the same thing when he heard that Lazarus was sick in John 11:4, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus confirmed that human misfortune is not caused by someone’s sin but it is to reveal the glory of God. This verse clearly tells us that man's life purpose is not to feel miserable because of one man's human condition, but to display God's glory, whatever situation he or she might be in. According to Jesus' words, human conditions or circumstances do not make men miserable at all. At the same time, whatever situation we may be in or whatever kind of person we may be, we must not sit down and complain and be miserable. We must find the way to display the glory of God. We must find the work of God in all situations. We should not think that God failed us or made us miserable when we face many difficult human situations. Rather, we must find the way to render glory to God. Then God will bless us beyond our imagination. This is God's truth for mankind. As we know, Shannon Smith lost his parents when he was young. I cannot find a proper word to comfort him. Can we find the work of God in this situation? Yes, God wants Shannon to be a shepherd for many fatherless people. He struggles to live by faith. We were amazed when he memorized the entire book of Romans last year. Recently he found the work of God and volunteered to mow the lawns in our center. Folake Jagun had many reasons to be sorrowful and fatalistic about her life situation. But she refused to allow fatalism to dictate her life. She found the work of God in her life. She shared her powerful life testimony sharing God’s love in her life and attended Guatemala International conference. She found the work of God to become a missionary for many students with broken families using her Spanish. According to Shep. Steve, many Guatemalan students came from poor and broken families. But they are happy when they found the work of God in Jesus. Moses Chon was sorrowful because his parents did not have college degrees. But he found the work of God to be a man of prayer like Moses. Abraham Lincoln was born in a poor family in Kentucky. But he overcame his fatalistic element of life and became one of the greatest presidents of United States of America.
In brief, man should not live according to situations; man must live with God’s provision and creation faith. Each person is made to display God's glory. This man was born blind with an obligation to display God's glory through his blindness. Jesus teaches that this man is not born to be miserable, but to display God's glory. There is no accident in God. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” We find God’s purpose in all human situations. We must accept this truth and overcome our human conditions and give glory to God. When one does not live for the glory of God, he cannot but live for selfish human desire. The result is drug abuse, alcoholism, and all kinds of evildoing. Therefore, in whatever situation we may be, whatever kind of person we may be, each of us must live for the glory of God. That’s the purpose of life given to man. God made man to live for the glory of God, not for the glory of perishing world. The seed of the tragedy of mankind is self-seeking. The fountain of happiness is to live for the glory of God.
Many a person says, "I am the most miserable person who ever lived since the world was made because of my human conditions and circumstances." Someone may think, "I am very miserable because I have red hair." Other may think "I am very miserable because the angle of my nose is too low." One young girl said, “I am miserable because I have many pimples.” Jake said, “If I were a little bit taller, I could have attracted all the women of the world.” But God made him uniquely as he is so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. God removed all the possible headaches from me by giving him the best height. One second-generation kid said, “I am fatalistic because I was born as a missionary kid. This is my destiny that I did not choose.” But later he realized God’s purpose in his life and gave thanks to God for giving him a privilege to live with God’s people from young age. There are many gorgeous young men and women in this world. They seem to be happy and have no problem at all. But each of them carries one secret element of sorrow in their life. They have to find the work of God in their life.
The man born blind might have thought he was the most miserable person, because he could not see the beautiful world with his eyes. He could not enjoy the bright sunlight. He could not see all kinds of color combinations. He could not go sightseeing of D.C. His eyes were there only to cry. He could not see his mother's beautiful face. Because he could not see, he could misunderstand many things. As a result, he lived in prejudice and the darkness of night all the time. But to Jesus, he was not miserable because of his human conditions and circumstances; he was miserable because he had no purpose of life in Jesus. We know the story of Fanny J. Crosby who wrote many beautiful hymns touched millions of people's hearts. Though she was a blind, she could see the beauty of the spiritual world better than normal person with two eyes. She saw rapture now bursting in her sight and angels descending bring from above though she did not have physical eyes. (Hymn 437) Her spiritual eyes were always up into the heaven not down in this ugly sinful world. Jesus' words, "...but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life," are the words of life that can heal any person's dark thinking and transform any kind of wretched person into a child of God.
Look at verses 4 and 5. "As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." In this allegorical expression, "day" refers to "lifetime." "Night refers to "after death." Jesus is telling us that God gives man his lifetime to display God's glory, not to grieve over his miserable human condition or destiny. The night of darkness is coming when no one can work. Some people work in the night shift. How tragic it is for a man to discover too late that he wasted his time with miserable feelings and that he wasted his life, when he might have done something with it to glorify God. The most dreadful thing in the world is that we cannot work any more. But it is a cold reality that a time is coming when we cannot work any longer. Whether we like it or not, death is coming surely and slowly to all men. Hymn number 339 says, “Work, for the night is coming, under the sunset skies. While the bright tints are glowing, work for daylight flies. Work till the last beam fades, fades to shine no more. Work while the night is darkening, when man’s work is over.” We have a limited time to do the work of God. We have to maximize our lifespan to do the work of God. Dr. Daniel Hong was eager to serve the work of God in spite of his failing health due to his liver problem. He wanted to use every minute to serve God’s flocks. His life motto was “life is like a balloon and grab it while it is available.” God used his life to display his glory. One Chinese philosopher said, “It is easier for a young man to become old but it is harder to master the way of learning.” I agree with him totally. It was like yesterday when I met M. Luke Lim as a young medical student carrying a heavy study bag. Now we are growing old together. Many senior missionaries work hard to do the work of God while it is day. M. Moses Chang wants to pioneer another country after he retires. Many young people have a habit of postponing thinking, "There will be plenty of time to do the work of God. So let me enjoy little bit of sin and this world. I lose too much if I do the work of God now." Jay Jagun is the youngest Bible teacher among us. Is she a big loser because she came to UBF too early? I see a great hope of God when I see young YDJ members who are eager to do the work of God while it is day. Don’t delay to do the work of God. We do not know when night will come for us. The night comes, it will come certainly, may come suddenly, is coming nearer and nearer. Now is the best time to do the work of God. Did you find the work of God in your life today?
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” When any person accepts Jesus in his heart, Jesus drives out all the dark and dead things in him and fills him with the Holy Spirit. So the author said in his prologue, “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (1:9). The blind man was in utter darkness. But when he accepted Jesus into his heart, he could see the light. Those who have accepted Jesus have the light of life. They know what they are doing, and they are happy in Jesus. Here we must remember Jesus’ words, “I am the light of the world.” Here we learn that we must firmly believe that Jesus is the light of the world. Where there is no Jesus, there is only the darkness of sin and death. Where there is the light of Jesus in one’s heart, there is peace and joy, and the glory of God shines upon him. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."

PART II. "GO...WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM” (6-12)
Jesus taught his disciples how to overcome the fatalistic way of thinking in their hearts. Here, Jesus teaches how to put what we know into practice. In chapter 6 we learned that Jesus fed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. So, he could have opened this blind man's eyes with one word. But Jesus wanted to teach his disciples how to overcome the fatalistic elements of life practically. Look at verse 6. "Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes.” When he had no water, he used his saliva as water. When he had no medical instrument, he used mud on the ground as medicine. He spit on the ground, made some mud, and put it in the man’s eyes. In this way Jesus found the way to heal the man. When we see Jesus’ way of healing the man born blind, it looks very funny. Jesus might have been accused of medical malpractice. But this is the expression of divine love; it is the expression of God’s shepherd heart for mankind. Those who imitated Jesus in this, all became great leaders in the world. Everyone has saliva and ground. Shep. Steve said that he trained 5 Guatemala messengers though he speaks little Spanish. How? He used his two years Spanish study and a Spanish dictionary and a computer translation software and an interpreter as his saliva and mud. He became a powerful message trainer. This is the way of making things work out. This is the way to overcome the fatalistic elements of life. No one can overcome his or her fatalistic element of life by just sitting and begging for others' sympathy. But most importantly, we learn Jesus' shepherd heart. When Jesus, the Good Shepherd, saw this man, he was determined to help him out, and he did.
How did the blind man respond? The blind man had already been enough humiliated during his short lifetime as a blind beggar. So he must have been very sensitive to others. When Jesus put mud on his eyes mixed with saliva and told him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam," he could have become very rebellious and cried with a loud voice, "You also despise me! Take your hands off of my eyes!" But the blind man obeyed. He was not upset because he trusted Jesus. He could have washed his muddy eyes in the first fountain he found but he went to all the way to the pool of Siloam. He endured Jesus’ obedience training very well. He was not emotional but was very patient. What happened to him? Look at verse 7b. He came home seeing. What a great miracle it was! This miracle, "He went and washed, and came home seeing", is more victorious than Caesar's victory chant, "Veni, vidi, vici--I came, I saw, I conquered." Then this man experienced God's healing when he obeyed Jesus' method though he could not understand why. What a surprise! Here we learn that God can work together with those who obey him.
By the great mercy of Jesus, the blind man could see the beautiful world. He did not need eye surgery because Jesus gave him 20/20 vision. What did the people in his community think of him when he could see? In the past, they must have felt good to see a person inferior to them, begging on the corner of a street, "Alms for the blind!" But the blind man's eyes has been opened, and now he was going around with a big smile. "How are you today? It is a beautiful day. PTL." When his neighbors saw him, they said, "Isn't this the same man that used to sit and beg?" (8) Others said, "No, he only looks like him." (9a) This man's changed life brought identity crisis among the neighbors. You know that Shep. Anthony Ahmed used to be a disciple of Mohammed. Now he was changed to become a disciple of Jesus. His old friends said, "Isn't this the same Anthony who engaged Jihad in the past?’ When we are changed by the grace of God, suddenly old buddies began to feel strange about our new identity as God's children like the neighbors of the blind man. At that time we must testify clearly, " I am the man." In verse 11 he replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." Did you come here not knowing Jesus the light of the world? I pray that you may go home seeing Jesus after this worship service.
Today Jesus teaches us how to overcome fatalism. Today Jesus teaches us that the purpose of life is to display the glory of God. Today Jesus teaches us that we can see the kingdom of God and enter the kingdom of God when we obey his words, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.” Finally, we must remember that Jesus is the light of the world. There is no fatalism in the light of Jesus. There is only joy and happiness and burning hope in Jesus.