Jesus and His men were on the road again. They encountered a blind man on their way, sitting beside the road, clutching his ragged cloak around him and reaching out his hands for a few coins, a pathic picture of hopelessness and dejection.

Jesus stopped in his tracks. Once again, He saw opportunity. His disciples, ever theoretical and religious, asked Him a theological question? Perhaps their rabbi could finally put an end to this puzzling debate. Whose fault was it, this man or His parents’? If they knew the right answer, they would know who to blame.

John 9:2 NIV
[2] “His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Jesus intervened with a complete change of perspective. “This tragic situation is not about who is at fault. It’s not about who is to blame. It’s not about settling a theological argument. This is about a man being blind from his birth. He has never seen anything and never will unless…”

Jesus looked intently at them. “Don’t you understand? This is an opportunity for the Father to do something so wonderful for this man that He will get the glory.”

Every time the disciples bumped into an impossibility, Jesus intervened to show them an opportunity. Time and again He used an impossible situation to reveal the Father’s glory by turning a tragedy into a victory. For too long, the Father had been given a bad reputation because of the wicked lives and hypocrisy of His representatives. For the Pharisees, God was a strict disciplinarian who jumped at every opportunity to punish those who stepped over the line. For Jesus, everything was about His Father, showing off to the people around Him who He really is, compassionate and merciful.

Eugene Peterson, in “The Message” paraphrase, expressed Jesus’ sentiment in these words,

John 9: 3-5
[3-5] “Jesus said, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do…”

What a way to look at life! A literal way to embrace God’s promises, every obstacle an opportunity to put God’s glory on display! How different our lives would be if we took Jesus’ words seriously. Instead of bellyaching about every little interference in our trouble-free lives, we would grab the opportunity to involve our Father in our issues.

Jesus did exactly that and look at the outcome.

John 9:6-7 NIV
[6] “After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. [7] “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.”

Jesus never failed to stick His neck out, anticipating the Father’s response because they were in partnership in this mission to reveal the Father’s glory to the world.

Jesus identified this “work” as His mission in the world.

John 17:4, 6-8 NIV
[4] “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do…
[6] “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. [7] Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. [8] For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.”

Every miracle, every expression of mercy, every life transformed by grace, shone the light on the Father’s character, the God who revealed Himself to Moses as…

Exodus 34:6-7 NIV
[6] …“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, [7] maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin…”

Not only did Jesus heal this man of blindness, He also delivered him from the tyranny of the Pharisees. When the Pharisees couldn’t get the better of him, they threw him out …into the arms of Jesus. So, the story concludes…

John 9:24-29, 34-38 NIV
[24] “A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” [25] He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” [26] Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” [27] He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” [28] Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! [29] We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from…”
[34] To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. [35] Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” [36] “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” [37] Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” [38] Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.”

Life has the habit of throwing obstacles in our way. What if we, like Jesus, confronted them from a different perspective? What if, instead of bemoaning our lot, we grabbed the opportunity to involve our Father in our dilemma? What if we, instead of asking the usual frustrating question “Why?” and never getting an answer, we engaged God’s intervention with, “Let’s see what God can do!”

Surprising miracles can happen!